Paul Warne drops Derby County transfer hint | OneFootball

Derby County manager Paul Warne has revealed which area of the team he would like to strengthen in the January transfer window.

Derby County manager Paul Warne has admitted that strengthening his forward line will be a priority in the January transfer window.

Derby are back in the Championship after winning promotion from League One last season, and they made an excellent start to the campaign, winning three of their first five league games.

However, the Rams' form has declined since then, with Warne's men winning just two of their last 12 matches, and they suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Swansea City at Pride Park on Wednesday night.

Goals from Zan Vipotnik and Ronald gave the Swans a two-goal lead inside the first 14 minutes, and while Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's second half penalty halved the deficit for Derby, they could not find an equaliser, despite applying plenty of late pressure.

It was a decent performance from the Rams, but their wastefulness in front of goal proved costly, and they are now 15th in the table, five points clear of the relegation zone, ahead of the home game against Sheffield Wednesday on Sunday afternoon.

Paul Warne outlines Derby County transfer priority

While he confirmed it is not the only area he is looking to strengthen, Warne revealed that bringing in a new striker is a priority for Derby in January, and he admitted that his side do not have a player capable of scoring a goal like Vipotnik's opener for Swansea.

"It's always a priority. In games that are tight you score from set-pieces or a wondergoal. In fairness, I might be wrong, but I felt their (Swansea's) first goal, a turn and hit, was unbelievable," Warne told Derbyshire Live.

"We haven't scored really any of those this year. You always want to strengthen the frontline and I would say that even if I had Liverpool's. That's not offensive to the players I have, but you need goals in the team. If you can't get it through a nine, then maybe it's a number eight or a wide player who can chip in.

"It's not an exclusive look for a nine but if you want to improve the team, and everyone moved down the bus and you can get better than who you've currently got, that's how football is. It's a harsh world. We are in the job of winning games and sending fans home happy and maybe we didn't do either.

"Meetings have started. It's still November and even if you think you can have this player there are six or seven games to go before January. Everything is going in to get us prepared as we can, but you are always in the hands of fate really."

Paul Warne could be set for Derby County transfer disappointment

It is no surprise to see Warne confirm that Derby are looking to bring in a new striker in January.

There is no doubt a new number nine is needed as none of Jerry Yates, James Collins, Conor Washington or Kayden Jackson are prolific at Championship level, and while Dajaune Brown is an exciting prospect, the Rams should not expect too much from him at this stage of his career.

Jackson's horror second half miss from just a few yards out against Swansea on Wednesday night highlighted exactly why Warne is keen to bolster his forward line, but prolific strikers are often incredibly expensive, and it remains to be seen whether Derby will be able to afford such a player in January.