Derby County fans will be wanting to forget the 2020/21 season in a real hurry after everything they've been put through in the last eight months.

Poor results on the pitch, unpaid wages and failed takeovers meant it was a season of struggle for the Rams, and they only secured their Championship status for next season on the final day of the campaign with a 3-3 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

The drama doesn't promise to stop there though as County look set to face a points deduction next season from the EFL and there's also the Erik Alonso takeover saga that could plunge Derby into further crisis if the Spaniard isn't declared fit and proper to run the club.

Wayne Rooney will want this all sorted in the coming weeks though as he will want to press on and add to his squad before pre-season begins in July, but he may also want to get rid of some players as well.

Let's look at some transfer moves that could occur both in and out of Pride Park in the next few weeks if the club's issues get sorted.

It's no secret that Derby really need to bolster their striking options if they want to be a top half team next season, and bringing Delap back to the club would surely be a statement of intent.

The 18-year-old swapped the Rams' academy for Man City back in 2019 and he's clearly highly-rated at the Etihad Stadium as he scored his first senior goal in the EFL Cup this season at the age of just 17.

Delap has scored 24 goals in 20 Premier League 2 games for City's under-23 squad and it's clear to see that he's ready for the step into regular senior football.

The Rams are one of a number of clubs apparently tracking Delap and because of his ties to the club, surely the forward would pick Derby if they came in for him.

Delap or any incoming striker could replace Martyn Waghorn at Pride Park as his contract is set to expire this summer.

Waghorn penned a three-year deal back in 2018 and has failed to hit the heights of last season, where he netted 12 league goals.

The 31-year-old found the back of the net just five times in the Championship this season - two of those coming on the final day of the campaign - and that's not good enough for someone who cost £5 million.

You can imagine that Waghorn is on a decent salary as well so it wouldn't be a shock if his contract isn't renewed, and transfer speculation has recently emerged linking the striker with a return to Ipswich Town.

Derby ended the season with just two fit centre-backs - both loanees in Matt Clarke and George Edmundson - so that's another position that needs looking at going into the summer.

There could be another loan deal in the offing though for next season in that area as County apparently have interest in Shane Duffy according to Football Insider.

The Republic of Ireland international hasn't had the best season at Celtic and he will be looking for a new club to play for next season as he has no chance of getting back in at Brighton.

With spots up for grabs in Rooney's side, Pride Park could be an ideal destination for Duffy and he could even link up with Brighton team-mate Matt Clarke if he returns to the Rams for a third season in a row.

Duffy could replace Andre Wisdom who after four years at the club could be departing on a free transfer.

Wisdom is one of a few players to have his contract expiring this summer but in some ways he's had one of his more successful seasons with the club, having played 38 times in the league which is the most appearances he has made in one season.

The former Liverpool man even skippered the club on occasion which must show that Wayne Rooney rates him, however wages could be an issue here and if he doesn't want to take a pay-cut then he will probably find himself battling his way through free agency this summer.

One transfer that was rumoured in January that could very well be revisited is Dursun, who Derby were keen to bring in in January according to The Athletic but it never happened.

The 29-year-old has been in scintillating form for Darmstadt in Germany's second tier this season, scoring 21 goals in 32 2. Bundesliga outings.

Form like that doesn't go unnoticed though and if you believe reports in Germany, then Schalke are looking at a deal to bring him in, but under international transfer rules Derby could make a pre-contract approach for Dursun today if they wanted to.

It remains to be seen whether or not that happens but for no transfer fee, a punt on Dursun would be quite risk-free.

If Derby's financial issues don't sort themselves out soon - or Alonso's takeover breaks down - then the Rams may find themselves in a position where they have to sell a key asset.

The one that will have the most links to his signature will be Jason Knight, who since debuting in the senior side in August 2019 has been a key figure in the first-team set up.

Now an Ireland international, Knight was linked with Burnley, Leeds and Crystal Palace back in January and even though he couldn't quite match his six Championship goals from his first season in this campaign, his all-round abilities will make him a transfer target for many.

Derby signed a host of loanees at the back end of the January transfer window and we don't know how many will return next season, but one Rooney will be hoping to get his hands on again is Mengi.

The Manchester United prospect showed promise in his nine games for the Rams, despite results for the club not going that well when he played, and he showed versatility by playing at both right-back and centre-back.

The 19-year-old's season was cut short due to a hamstring injury but United will be keen for him to get more senior experience next season and Rooney could be the man once again to be entrusted with his development.

In what could be seen as an incredibly risky move, Davies signed a waiver to make an appearance if needed for Derby's game against Sheffield Wednesday on the final day - just five months after rupturing his achilles for the second time in his career.

The defender ended up being needed in the final minutes and he came through without any injuries, and that could have been his final moment in a Derby shirt.

His contract expires this summer and he's already commented on potentially returning to Hull City if he's approached by the Tigers, so that seems to suggest that he's already on his way out of Pride Park.