Derby County is facing significant decisions regarding player contracts as they prepare for their return to the Championship next season.
The Rams’ promotion to the second tier was celebrated jubilantly over the weekend, with Paul Warne’s team amassing 92 points in a record-breaking campaign. Now, the focus shifts to navigating the challenges of the Championship, which Warne acknowledges as being exceptionally competitive and thrilling.
Discussions are underway as preparations for the upcoming season intensify, especially regarding players whose contracts are expiring this summer. Among them are goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith and striker Martyn Waghorn, both of whom will become free agents as their current contracts conclude.
The future of Dwight Gayle and top scorer James Collins will also be topics of discussion. Warne mentioned that certain players have contract clauses that could trigger extensions, subject to specific criteria being met, details of which are likely to be finalized in the retained list.
Derby has already taken steps to secure Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Jake Rooney, and Eiran Cashin with improved contracts. Cashin, in particular, has signed a new deal extending until 2027, while Mendez-Laing and Rooney’s contracts now run until 2026.
Players whose contracts expire this summer include Joe Wildsmith, Liam Thompson, Tom Barkhuizen, Conor Hourihane, Korey Smith, Martyn Waghorn, Louie Sibley, James Collins, Craig Forsyth, Scott Loach, and Dwight Gayle.
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