The saga at Derby County continues to rumble on, with Chris Kirchner having an extended period to finalise his takeover of the club after his exclusivity ran out on Saturday.

The American businessman though faces a challenge from former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley if he fails to complete in the new time period, with the purchase of Pride Park from Mel Morris still a major issue which is holding up a deal being done.

Until a takeover of the Rams is completed and they are taken out of administration, Wayne Rooney cannot get to work when it comes to sorting out his squad ahead of the 2022-23 League One season.

It's not just the current crop of County players that Rooney has to worry about as well, as retained lists are starting to be published and we get a clear idea of who will be on the market for Derby to bring in this summer.

Let's look at EIGHT players who could be of use to the Rams when they are allowed to start making moves once again.

When it comes to players who are under contracts beyond this year at Derby, the Rams have both Krystian Bielik and Max Bird in the centre of midfield - although Bielik can play in defence.

If that was to happen, Bird would need some experience next to him and Smith could be a brilliant addition to the fold.

The 31-year-old played 35 times this past season for Swansea in the Championship but is a confirmed release from the club, and he has promotion-winning experience from League One with Bristol City, so with the young squad that is set to be left at Pride Park, he would add leadership qualities.

One position that Derby aren't going to be well stocked in is out wide - Jason Knight and Louie Sibley can both play out there but in Rooney's 4-2-3-1 system it is not their natural position.

A player who could do with a bit of luck is Mahoney, who is set to be released by Millwall this summer after featuring just eight times this past season.

Having cost the Lions a seven-figure fee in 2019, there were clearly high expectations for him, but at the age of 25, Mahoney can still make an impact in the EFL and Rooney could help him rebuild his career.

County are set to be thread-bare in defence going into the summer if Rooney decides he doesn't want to offer any new deals, especially at right-back where Nathan Byrne may decide he wants to move on.

Rafferty would be a solid but unspectacular replacement having just had his release from Preston North End confirmed, having racked up 62 Championship appearances in his time at Deepdale.

Before that though, the Liverpool-born defender was a regular in League One for Rochdale, so he knows what the third tier is about which would make him a good squad player to have.

Derby are used to having experienced defenders, with the first half of the 2021-22 campaign seeing a partnership of Curtis Davies and Phil Jagielka do better than expected.

You'd imagine that Eiran Cashin will be offered a new contract and if he signs, he could do with some experience to guide him along if Davies does not stay.

Having just been released by Middlesbrough, Bamba could be a perfect fit in League One, even at the age of 37, and having played 24 Championship matches this season the Ivorian still clearly has something left to give.

With the aforementioned point of Derby perhaps needing some more experience in midfield next season, there could be a return on the cards for Johnson.

Having just been released by Blackburn Rovers, the 35-year-old may fancy a return to Pride Park, having left in 2019 for Ewood Park having played 141 league games for the Rams.

Johnson featured 18 times for Rovers in the league this season in a number of different positions, and like other players mentioned he would add some know-how to the team.

Whilst he's not as experienced as some of the players on this list, Brown brings knowledge of League One as well as slight international experience, having been capped twice by Northern Ireland.

The 24-year-old is out of contract at Cardiff City and it doesn't look like he will be staying, and with the versatility to play at centre-back, left-back and left wing-back, he could be an ideal option for Rooney in different formations.

Brown played 13 times for Oxford United in the second half of the 2021-22 season on loan, so it wouldn't be a shock to see the U's make a play for him, but Derby could be a good destination for him as well.

Derby's only striker on the books going into the 2022-23 season will be young Jack Stretton, who could perhaps have a breakout campaign in League One.

Colin Kazim-Richards is likely to leave though - there's other target men out there though who know how to score goals in League One and one that will be looking for a club is Oliver.

The 30-year-old has just spent two years at Gillingham and scored 27 goals in 82 League One matches - whilst he may not be a regular starter for a club like Derby, he could be a good option to have off the bench and he would not demand too much in wages you'd imagine.

The winger conundrum for Derby was discussed earlier on with the potential arrival of Mahoney, and another one who could use the Rams as a platform to rebuild his career is Barker.

After several stints out on loan from Manchester City, Barker joined Rangers on a permanent basis in 2019 but he failed to make an impact at Ibrox, and his short-term deal with Reading in the Championship this past season only saw him appear four times.

Still only 25 years old, Barker needs a new lease of life and he could get the freedom to impress at Derby on the wing - he scored three times for Oxford United in the 2020-21 League One season when on loan though so he knows the level and would perhaps flourish.