Derby County are currently in a reasonable fifth place in the Sky Bet Championship and have seven points to make up on the automatic promotion places, with just eight games remaining.
The Rams have a squad which cost a hefty amount of money to assemble and promotion at any cost will be the aim for the club between now and the end of the campaign.
With such a star studded squad already in place at the East Midlands-based club, it remains to be seen whether or not current boss Darren Wassall will be tempted to dip his toe into the loan market before the window slams shut this Thursday.
Football League World writer Lee Clarke took a look at FIVE players who the Rams should look to sign on loan, in order to ensure promotion to the Premier League come May.....
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PRESS THE IMAGE BELOW TO SEE THE FIVE PLAYERS!
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Tom Carroll
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has featured for the first-team at White Hart Lane recently but his sporadic appearances are hardly doing his development any favours.
The youngster could move to Derby County and be part of their run in at the end of the season, with the club looking likely to finish in the top six at the very least.
Carroll would slot in nicely into a Rams midfield that already possesses several players who are decent with the ball, allowing him to compliment them with some flair and some goals.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek
For some unknown reason Chelsea are not keen on given this naturally talented youngster a game in the first-team at the moment.
A loan move is a must for his development and I thought the player may depart Stamford Bridge in January, although takers were not forthcoming.
Loftus-Cheek is clearly a boy with huge potential but stagnating on the bench and in the development squad is not going to do much for his progression in years to come.
The 20-year-old would suit the Rams’ free-flowing style of football and his passing and ability to drive forward would make him a shrewd loan signing.
Adnan Januzaj
What a coup it would be for Derby County to pull off a player like this Manchester United forward.
Januzaj was recalled from a loan spell with Borussia Dortmund in January but the emergence of striking sensation Marcus Rashford, has meant an unhappy return for the Belgian.
The little magician has featured just twice for Manchester United since his return and a move to the Championship would allow him to play some much needed football.
The signing of Januzaj would really send out a message to the rest of the Championship, that Derby are not content with a play-off place.
Jordon Ibe
The Liverpool winger is a familiar face with Derby County supporters having spent time on loan at the Rams during last season.
He played 20 games in the Championship for the Rams and his return to Liverpool coincided with the club’s end-of-season collapse, such was his importance to the team.
Ibe has struggled for game time under Jurgen Klopp at Anfield and to play 10 games or so between now and the end of the season would really help the player ahead of the next campaign.
Tiago Ilori
The Portuguese central defender could be a potential target for the Rams, following Jason Shackell’s injury which he picked up in last weekend’s 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
The 23-year-old has not featured for Liverpool for months and a loan move could help the defender get back on track with his fitness.
Illori has been at Liverpool for three years now but is yet to make his league debut for the club, with doubts raised over his ability to hold down a regular place in the first-team.