Gelhardt in, Rooney out: Derby County transfers we urge the club to make before February 3rd | OneFootball

The Rams need more firepower up front, and to do that, they need to free up space in their squad.

Derby County have had a difficult couple of months in the Championship, and after starting the season extremely well, they have slowly started to struggle.

The Rams won just twice in October and November, and they have slipped away from those in the top 10 in recent weeks after an excellent first few games in the second tier.

However, the January transfer window gives Paul Warne another chance to strengthen his side ahead of a busy second-half of the campaign, but he will need to act quickly to ensure that they bring in the players needed to fight against any potential relegation threat.

Football League World has taken a look at two potential signings that Derby should make this winter, while also picking out two players that should leave Pride Park, one permanently and the other on loan.

IN - Joe Gelhardt

The Rams need another goalscorer in DE24 right now, as Jerry Yates is currently the only player that is scoring on a semi-regular basis.

Joe Gelhardt could be the man to bring some of those in the Championship after a difficult few years at Leeds United. The 22-year-old has featured for only a handful of minutes for the Whites so far this season, and it looks as though time is running out for him at Elland Road.

With Premier League ambitions, it seems unlikely that Gelhardt will be a Leeds player for much longer, and with Plymouth Argyle, Preston North End and Stoke City interested, as well as Rangers and two Belgian clubs, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, there is a lot of competition for the forward.

Derby should join those sides in targeting the youngster, and at his age he has more than enough time to turn his career around and become a game-changer for the Rams and prove some of his doubters in Yorkshire wrong.

OUT - Jake Rooney

Jake Rooney has had a torrid year, and after suffering an ACL injury in September 2023 against Bolton Wanderers, he was set to come back into the fold at the start of this season.

However, he suffered a setback in the summer, and is slowly coming back to full fitness. He has been playing for the Rams' U21s team, racking up vital minutes on the pitch before a full return to the first team.

However, with game-time potentially hard to come by in the coming months, a loan move for the rest of the campaign could be the best thing for the cousin of Wayne Rooney. Warne has recently spoken about the chance of the versatile defender leaving the club temporarily, with the 51-year-old not ruling it out.

A jump down to a top-half League One side could be the perfect way to ensure that Rooney gets consistent minutes in senior football once again, and he will be ready for next season back with Derby, when he could prove to have a huge impact.

IN - Ryan Kent

Ryan Kent left Turkish club Fenerbahce in October by mutual consent, and is looking for a new club to ply his trade for.

The winger has a wealth of experience to his name already, and the likes of Leeds and Preston have already taken an interest in him ahead of January. However, he will be able to join a club before that date due to his free agent status.

The Rams need to make space in their squad before mounting a move for a new talent at all, but if they do manage to off-load some of their outcasts, then bringing the former Rangers ace to Pride Park would be a huge sign of intent.

Derby are in need of another winger, and Kent has more than enough quality to improve Warne's team, and at 28, he is just entering his prime years as a footballer.

There will be some fitness concerns over the Oldham-born man, but he has proven in the past that he can score the goals and get the assists that the Rams need to gain vital points.

OUT - Conor Washington

Conor Washington looks destined to leave Derby in the January transfer window, with the striker seemingly completely out of favour at Pride Park at the moment.

The 32-year-old has not featured in either the league or cup this season at Pride Park, and instead he has been playing mostly for the U21s. The Northern Ireland international has had a difficult time in the East Midlands since making the move last summer, and it may come to an end sooner rather than later.

Offloading the striker would work out for both player and club, and freeing up another place in the squad to bring in more quality is a must this winter.

Washington is not in Warne's plans, and he will want consistent football in the senior game once again, and therefore a sale next month is a must to allow the ex-Rotherham United player to get playing regularly once again.