Derby County urged to sign "big, powerful centre-forward" to complement Jerry Yates | OneFootball

The Rams are in need of a goalscorer, with Jerry Yates often left isolated up front.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Derby County's struggles in front of goal have followed them throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and in recent weeks, they have suffered greatly.

The Rams are currently on a three-game losing streak in the Championship, and will be hoping that this weekend's FA Cup third-round tie against League One outfit Leyton Orient will be a reprieve for them.

However, the O's are the form team in the third tier currently, and Paul Warne's side will have to be at their best to progress through to the fourth round for the first time since 2023.

Derby will be looking to utilise the transfer market this month to help them in their fight against relegation from the Championship, and there is one easily identifiable department that needs fixing.

Verdict made on the area Warne needs to target in the transfer window

The Rams are sitting four points above the relegation zone after 26 matches, but their form has taken a huge hit over the course of the last month, and those below them are starting to make ground.

At times, they have had an inability to capitalise during games when they are on top, and this has come back to haunt them. Conceding late goals has become a theme as of late, and Warne's side need to start finding the back of the net more themselves to stop this from becoming a bigger problem than it already is.

Therefore, when asked by Football League World which position he feels the club needs to strengthen most this January, Derby's Fan Pundit, Shaun Woodward, identified the attack.

"It's been clear all season that Derby need to strengthen the forward line," he started. "Depending on whether we play a 3-5-2 or a 4-3-3, we need that focal point, or we need someone to support Jerry Yates.

"I think it's clear with the way Paul Warne likes to play that we need a big, powerful centre-forward who's going to occupy centre-backs, support Yates and bring our wide men into play, because right now we don't have that type of player, and I think as a result Yates gets isolated.

"Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Kayden Jackson or whoever may be out the wings just aren't getting into the game enough. They're not contributing with goals or assists, so we need someone that's going to knit all of that together."

Shaun continued: "So, if Warne’s trusted with money and he's still the manager, I think that's the kind of player we are desperately going to need; a big, strong, powerful centre-forward who's kind of a throwback.

"That's the way Warne wants to play. It's not necessarily how I would want to play, but he's the manager, so I think that's something we've got to accept. He’s the manager and a big target man is what we need to be looking to prioritise in the transfer window."

Jerry Yates has done well but needs more support

Derby brought in Jerry Yates from Swansea City in the summer, signing the striker on loan for the season. After a slow start in front of goal, he has slowly started to find the back of the net more, and has now scored six times.

His link-up play is a huge part of his game, and at the start of the campaign, he was responsible for nearly everything good that the Rams were doing on the pitch.

However, it is clear that he is starting to struggle more and more each week, with the gap between himself and his teammates growing visibly, and he is having to work harder when he does get on the ball.

It is vital that Warne brings in a striker who is clinical to help support the 28-year-old more in the second half of the season. Yates has played nearly every game since he made the move to Pride Park, and Derby can ill-afford him to be unavailable for a sustained period of time.

If the Rams can bring in a target man, then the former Blackpool ace will have the perfect accompaniment, and his team may start to make inroads in their battle to stay in the division.