Al-Hamadi signs, goalscoring midfielder arrives - Derby County's dream transfer window
Derby County will be aiming to add to their squad in the January transfer window in what will be a pivotal month for the Rams and their rivals.
Head coach Paul Warne is eager to add more firepower to his attack but that's not the only position that will come under scrutiny when the market opens for business.
Derby have had a solid start to the season but with teams around them sure to strengthen, adding players who can make a real difference will undoubtedly help them achieve their ambitions of Championship survival.
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But what would a dream window look like for Derby? Here DerbyshireLive takes a look at what would be the ideal scenario for the club as it aims for a comfortable end to the campaign.
Ali Al-Hamadi signs
The Ipswich striker has been on Paul Warne's radar for some time, but the club's post-administration restrictions in the transfer market made it difficult to lure him away from Wimbledon.
Ipswich eventually made their move and the striker now finds himself in the Premier League although he has only been restricted to substitute appearances so far.
An injury earlier in the season hasn't helped his cause in trying to nail down regular first-team football and Derby's interest has never really waned. They were interested in him throughout the summer, but the forward stayed put despite several Championship clubs demonstrating interest.
But he would be offered guaranteed football at Derby under a manager who has been a long-term admirer. You sense Derby would not need much encouragement to make a move for him again if they were given an indication that he could leave Portman Road.
And if there was a dream transfer that would tick Warne's boxes then it would be having Al-Hamadi signed, sealed and delivered before the end of January. He would certainly make a massive difference to the forward line.
A goalscoring midfielder arrives
Warne has admitted that he wants to add more goals to his team whether that be a forward, midfielder or a winger.
Every manager desires a goalscoring central midfielder who can contribute 10 to 12 goals a season. Derby's midfield packs aggression, tenacity, and a dash of creativity, but in terms of goals, it doesn't really carry much punch.
Should Tawanda Chirewa head back to Wolves in January, that would at least given him the room to add another loan from the top flight if need be.
But if Derby could land a midfielder capable of regularly contributing from now until the end of the season, that would be most welcome and a dream scenario for the fans.
Finding room in the squad
In order to add to the team, Derby must let players go. Conor Washington remains a player who has yet to kick a ball in the Championship this season and looks a good bet to leave in January.
Other players are in the final six months in their contract that may also see their futures elsewhere. Tom Barkhuizen is another contender that may be the subject of offers given he has found gametime hard to come by.
You sense Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, Corey Blackett-Taylor and Marcus Harness are ahead of him meaning his chances do look to be limited particularly starts.
The idea for January is to leave it stronger than you started and in order for Derby to do that, they have to find moves for those players who aren't going to feature much.
Given Derby are at the maximum 25-man squad limit, if they can move three players out and bring three in, that would be a dream outcome.
