Exclusive: Derby County ready to offload £5k-a-week star | OneFootball

Sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World that the Rams are willing to let Curtis Nelson depart Pride Park next month

Derby County are open to either loan or permanent offers for recently returned defender Curtis Nelson in January, sources have exclusively revealed to Football League World.

The 32-year-old centre-back has been included in the Rams' 25-player squad after Owen Beck's Liverpool recall, making the bench in the last two league games against Swansea City and Middlesbrough respectively.

Despite this, Nelson is yet to play any first-team minutes for Derby since suffering a knee ligament injury in a 2-0 home defeat to Watford last January.

Two years on from an impressive debut campaign at Pride Park in 23/24, where he was named both Players’ Player and the club’s Jack Stamps Player of the Season - Nelson looks set to depart the East Midlands outfit next month.

Derby County open to loan or permanent offers for Curtis Nelson in January

FLW understands that Derby have made a big decision regarding the future of Nelson, with the club willing to listen to offers for the defender during the January transfer window.

Our sources disclosed that the Rams would consider both loan and permanent deals for the defender - as he does not figure in John Eustace’s plans going forward.

Nelson, who is estimated to earn a base salary of £5k-a-week at Derby signed a contract extension to keep him at Pride Park until the summer of 2026 back in November last year, but the earlier-mentioned injury has, quite obviously, impacted his standing at the club. Across all competitions in black and white, the veteran defender has managed 81 appearances and scored four goals.

In truth, his contract situation makes January a logical point for potential movement away from the club - with the 32-year-old set to become a free agent next year, Derby may be looking to recoup some value for the defender if possible.

Excluding Nelson, Eustace currently has four other centre-backs within his squad to pick from on a match day - in Sondre Langås, Matthew Clarke, Dion Sanderson and Danny Batth - and that's also without considering Craig Forsyth can also do a job there when required.

It's quite clear that Eustace's preferred back three are the first names on this list, injuries and suspensions permitting, of course, so you can perhaps understand why there is room to move Nelson on.

The head coach revealed on December 3rd that he expects interest in "a lot" of his players - and Nelson is likely to be one.

Curtis Nelson not part of John Eustace's future Derby County plans

With 12 players having left Derby during the past summer window - and 13 joining - Eustace has already shown his intentions are clear about wanting to build a squad capable of competing in the Championship.

As FLW understands, there is no room for sentiment when it comes to Nelson, and unfortunately, he appears not to fit into the head coach's future plans.

Which means potential clubs interested in acquiring the former Cardiff City man will seemingly have the chance to make their move when the January window opens.

Whether Derby opt to let him leave on a temporary basis or sanction a permanent deal remains to be seen, but what is clear is that his Derby future appears to be coming to an end in January rather than next summer.