Derby County should push to sign Al-Hamadi and Danns as soon as next week | OneFootball

Paul Warne wants to add to his Derby County squad during the January transfer window.

Derby County boss Paul Warne wants to strengthen his squad during the January transfer window.

The Rams were beaten at home by promotion-chasers Leeds United in their final game of 2024, before they suffered a disappointing 4-2 defeat against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough on New Year's Day.

Those results highlighted that there is room for improvement in Derby's squad, and Warne made his own feelings clear following the game against Leeds at Pride Park in an interview with BBC Sport Derby.

"I would improve everything, because who wouldn't? If you are a manager who wants to win every game, you would improve every player," said Warne.

"It's about what we can do, what we can move around, but there are certain elements of our team that I think we need some help.

"Hopefully, we can just enhance the squad in a couple of little areas. I think from an attacking phase we just need a little bit more, and that could come in a ten, a seven, an eleven, a nine."

With that in mind, let's take a look at two players who could help to improve the Rams in the final third this month.

Ali Al-Hamadi

Ipswich Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi is a player who Derby are reportedly 'huge admirers' of, according to Derbyshire Live.

The Iraq international has often been called upon from the bench by Kieran McKenna during the Tractor Boys' Premier League fixtures so far this season, but he has failed to make a significant impact and Derby are expected to monitor his situation closely during the current transfer window.

The 22-year-old helped Ipswich win automatic promotion to the top flight last season following his January move to Portman Road from AFC Wimbledon, so he could be a useful signing for Paul Warne as he looks to add to his attacking options.

Jayden Danns

Another striker who has been linked with a move to Pride Park this month is Liverpool youngster Jayden Danns, as per journalist Alan Nixon via his Patreon account.

The teenager scored twice for the Reds in an FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Southampton at Anfield in February 2024, displaying the kind of finishing ability that has enabled him to be so prolific for Liverpool's under-21 side during the last couple of seasons.

His only first-team opportunity since the arrival of Arne Slot in the summer came in the form of a substitute appearance against the Saints in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup, so he could benefit from a temporary spell away from Merseyside during the second half of the campaign in order to gain regular senior minutes.

Derby will likely need to move a couple of players on before they are able to bring in reinforcements, as their 25-man squad is already full, but if they are able to do that early in the window, then they should look to strengthen as soon as possible.

With back-to-back home games against Watford and Sunderland midway through January, and an important trip to Cardiff City later on in the month, Warne will surely ideally want to make one or two signings in the next week or so.

Al-Hamadi and Danns are two players who could help Derby push on in the Championship during the remainder of the season rather than being dragged into a relegation battle.