Paul Warne responds as Derby County close to January transfer breakthrough
Paul Warne says Derby County are still not in a position to announce their first January transfer as the club looks to finalise a deal for Lars Salvesen.
The Viking FK striker is expected to complete the formalities of his switch to Pride Park today in a deal thought to be worth £800,000. Should the move be completed, he will become the club's first signing of the January window as Derby turned to Europe to help bolster their attack.
Derby head coach Warne stopped short of confirming the player's identity when asked about the move after the FA Cup defeat to Leyton Orient last night, but accepts the club needs a new forward.
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"There could be a European one on the way and once it is done, I will be the first one to shout from the rooftops," he said. "We are still not there yet. We do need a striker. In fairness, we didn't have Jerry (Yates), I wasn't going to play Ben Osborn. We'll have Eiran Cashin and Ryan Nyambe back. We'll get David Ozoh back.
"A lot of our key players were not playing, but I thought Dajaune Brown led the line really well. He blew up as well. Both of his calves tightened up. He deserved his goal and he was one of the highlights of the performance. But it does suggest we need to freshen the squad up and we've been saying that for a while. Everyone is working really hard to try to help us."
Salvesen scored 12 goals and registered four assists last season as Viking FK finished third in the Eliteserien with their campaign finishing in December. The 6ft 1in forward fits the profile of what Warne has been chasing this January with Salvesen described as a mobile target man who likes to attack crosses.
But he is not expected to be the only deal that Derby will look to do this month. Tawanda Chirewa's return to Wolves has given Derby room to add another loan while some players are expected to leave with defender Sonny Bradley having already made his departure to promotion-chasing Wycombe.
