‘No formal negotiations have taken place’ with Derby County’s out-of-contract trio Andre Wisdom, Curtis Davies or Martyn Waghorn.
That’s according to Ryan Conway, the club’s correspondent for The Athletic.
The lowdown
Derby finished the season just a point clear of the relegation zone after a dramatic final day clash against Sheffield Wednesday.
The club are set to face sanctions for a breach of financial rules, but reports suggest that those won’t be imposed until next season. That means the Rams can tentatively begin planning for another year in the Championship.
Wisdom is among those who will depart as a free agent unless an agreement can be reached in the coming weeks. He made 38 appearances for the Rams over the course of the season, missing the last three games through injury.
Meanwhile, Davies was limited to 13 outings after sustaining an Achilles tendon rupture in December. He returned to the action for the final eight minutes against Wednesday.
Finally there’s Waghorn, who finished the season as the club’s second top-scorer with five goals. He was the hero on the final day, twice hauling his side level.
The latest
According to The Athletic, the club have only held ‘informal chats’ with the players up to this point ‘as all parties wait to discover the fate of the takeover’.
Conway reported that Davies would like to stay for another season and accepts he will not be able to play every week at the age of 36. Waghorn is also said to be happy at Pride Park and shares a close relationship with manager Wayne Rooney.
The verdict
It’s very difficult to plan for next season with so much uncertainty surrounding the club. Every effort should be made to retain Wisdom, while Davies’ presence could be valuable.
In the case of Waghorn, he may be a decent backup option, but it’s clear that Derby need to bring in more firepower if possible. Their dismal tally of 36 goals was the lowest in the division.
In other news, read Derby fans’ reaction to this takeover update.
About the Author
