Fikayo Tomori features: 3 August transfers Derby County will want to emulate before Deadline Day | OneFootball

At FLW we have taken a look at three excellent August transfers that Derby County have previously completed.

Highlights

Derby County will be desperate to make some more additions before the transfer deadline arrives on Friday 30th August.

So far in this window, Derby have been active, but the new signings haven’t sparked much excitement among fans.

These worries were brought into full focus in their opening fixture against Blackburn Rovers, where they were comfortably defeated 4-2 by John Eustace's side.

This has made it all the more apparent that the transfer market will have to be utilised efficiently. Rams fans will be hopeful then that they can add a couple more new players, and that their talent will be the catalyst for a strong campaign.

With this in mind, at Football League World we have detailed three previous August signings that have lit up Pride Park.

The first name on this list is Fikayo Tomori, who signed for the Rams on loan from Chelsea on the 6th of August 2018.

In what was a blossoming squad under Frank Lampard, Tomori was a rock at the back as he featured in 44 out of the 46 Championship games.

Playing alongside the experienced Richard Keogh, his pace to get his side out of dangerous situations was apparent throughout the season. These powers of recovery earned him chants from the Derby faithful of "You'll never beat Tomori".

In April of that campaign, he was voted Player of the Season and he and his team followed that up with that remarkable 4-2 play-off victory against Leeds United to secure a spot in the final against Aston Villa.

Unfortunately, Lampard and Derby didn't earn promotion, with the Villains defeating them 2-1 in the play-off final.

Despite this adversity, Tomori's journey to stardom has been nothing short of remarkable. A short spell back at his parent club, Chelsea, was followed up by a permanent move to AC Milan, where he has been a star ever since.

Now approaching his 150th game for the Rossoneri, Rams fans can look back at this August deal as one of the best in their history.

Tom Lawrence

Tom Lawrence signed for Derby County on the 16th of August 2017 from Leicester City and went on to have a stellar five years with the club.

After impressing on loan at Ipswich Town in 2016-17, the Rams would fork out an estimated £7 million for the versatile winger.

Initially, he provided a campaign to be built on as he notched six goals and eight assists across 39 appearances in the second tier.

The following season, he would return with significant contributions, but it was 2019-20 when he really found his goalscoring boots, netting 10 goals in 37 games.

As the 2021-22 campaign arrived, off-field financial issues were beginning to scar the club, but Lawrence continued to stand up in the face of adversity. Despite being relegated due to a points deduction, he captained the side efficiently and showcased his talent as he finished the campaign with 11 goals and five assists.

That season, Lawrence was praised immensely by pundits and fans alike, but the drop-down to League One would see him move away from Pride Park. Rangers were the team to snap him up, but unfortunately, injuries have plagued his time north of the border.

Matej Vydra

Whilst Derby fans won't expect the current owners to spend £8 million, as they did on Matej Vydra back in August 2016, a signing of a similar quality wouldn't go amiss.

Vydra had long been a persistent threat in the Championship, but his 2017-18 campaign at Derby took him to new levels.

After a season of getting to grips with the club in 2016-17, where he scored a disappointing five in 33 games. The following year, he stepped up and became a star for Gary Rowett, playing just behind the striker.

Signed for a record-breaking fee, the expectations were sky-high - and he delivered in style, netting an impressive 21 goals in just 40 league appearances.

A particular standout was his performance away at Middlesbrough, where he netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory at the Riverside.

His goal and assist on the final day were also vital, as a 4-1 victory against Barnsley earned them sixth place and a spot in the play-offs.

Disappointingly, the play-offs ended in defeat, with Fulham overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to secure a spot at Wembley.

£11 million - securing Derby a £3 million profit.