{"id":547812,"date":"2020-03-31T04:00:44","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T08:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=547812"},"modified":"2020-03-30T18:46:38","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T22:46:38","slug":"players-derby-county-free-transfers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/03\/31\/players-derby-county-free-transfers\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Players Derby County Could Lose as Free Transfers This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

As football has been brought to a halt for what seems likely to be a while; Last Word on Football has taken a look at the Derby County players who could leave on a free transfer this summer.<\/p>\n

Four Players Derby County Could Lose as Free Transfers This Summer<\/h2>\n

Contracts Expiring<\/h3>\n

Derby County could lose four players to free transfers with the coronavirus pandemic causing immediate concern.<\/p>\n

The Rams’ season will not continue until April 30 at the earliest but the suspension could run into the summer.<\/p>\n

Phillip Cocu’s side already have to reschedule eight of their nine remaining league outings.<\/p>\n

Outings against Millwall (a), Reading (h), Preston North End (a), Nottingham Forest (h), West Bromwich Albion<\/a> (a), Brentford (h), Cardiff City<\/a> (a) and Leeds United (h) will all have to be given new dates in the calendar.<\/p>\n

The Rams’ next Championship<\/a> outing, against Birmingham City, is currently set to be played on May 2.<\/p>\n

While no clear plan for the remainder of the campaign has materialised, it is unknown how the FA will deal with players whose contracts expire on June 30.<\/p>\n

Chris Martin<\/h4>\n

Martin is in his seventh season with the Rams having joined in July 2013. Since arriving from Norwich City<\/a> on a loan deal, the forward has made over 200 appearances, scored 74 goals and added 38 assists.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old, a popular figure at Pride Park, has been an instrumental cog in Derby’s preferred 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 set-up.<\/p>\n

His strike rate this term has been exceptional – a goal just shy of every three matches – and it is no wonder he is regarded as one of the Championship’s best.<\/p>\n

Ikechi Anya<\/h4>\n

Anya, 32, has fallen down the pecking order at Pride Park. His chances have come far and few between, not making an appearance for almost two years.<\/p>\n

His last outing for the Rams, the second leg of the play-off semi-final with Fulham, came in May 2018.<\/p>\n

The left-sided midfielder has struggled to even break into County’s youth set-up. He has made only two appearances for the Under-23 side in the Premier League 2 this term.<\/p>\n

Tom Huddlestone<\/h4>\n

Huddlestone had been slowly working towards fitness when the coronavirus pandemic caused him to take a different type of rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

When he had been fit, he had been a regular fixture in Cocu’s side; however, the midfielder’s season has been impacted by a calf injury.<\/p>\n

Craig Forsyth<\/h4>\n

Similarly to Huddlestone, Forsyth has consistently started in defence under Cocu. He emerged into the defensive set-up midway through the campaign after returning from a knee injury.<\/p>\n

Having struggled to break into the matchday squad, the 31-year-old made his first appearance this season in a 1-0 win over Preston.<\/p>\n

The left-back has made 15 appearances this term, contributing one assist, but has the option of a 12-month extension based on reaching an appearances target.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

  Embed from Getty Images<\/a>