Derby County secured their Championship status on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign but off-field issues appear to have hampered their preparations for next season.

The Rams are yet to release their retained list, so we don't yet know exactly how Wayne Rooney's squad looks heading into the summer.

On top of that, multiple takeover attempts have fallen through and there have been questions raised about how capable current owner Mel Morris is of giving Rooney the backing he needs in the upcoming window.

That means there is a fair bit of uncertainly surrounding the Rams at the moment, particularly in relation to exactly how they'll line up next season.

Clearly, the Pride Park outfit will be determined to be competing higher up the Championship table in 2021/22.

Taking into consideration some of the recent transfer reports, we've put together an early look at how Derby could line up...

Goalkeeper proved a problem position for Derby last season but at the moment it seems as though they could be heading into 2021/22 with the same options available to Rooney.

Kelle Roos may have finished the season as number one but should he have an impressive European Championships with Scotland, it would not be a huge surprise to see David Marshall back in possession of the number one jersey.

The arrival of a new shot-stopper could bump him down in the pecking order but, as of yet, there have been few indications that is definitely like to happen so it could well be the Scotsman between the sticks.

Derby's transfer business in recent years has not always worked out but the signing of Nathan Byrne from Wigan last summer is undoubtedly one that we can put in the 'smart moves' column.

The right-back was a reliable presence at right-back, showcasing his defensive quality at Championship level and often contributing further forward as well.

He missed just five league games last term and looks likely to be a mainstay in Rooney's side once again in the 2021/22 campaign.

Though more cover may be needed, you feel right-back is one of positions that Derby have proper, reliable quality heading into the new season.

Andre Wisdom's future should be cleared up when the Rams' retained list is published but, for the time being, we're assuming that he's going to be staying on at Pride Park.

The right-back turned centre-back was outstanding at points last season and given the number of defenders that have left the club, will be a shoo-in to start should he stay.

Matt Clarke, George Edmundson, and Teden Mengi have all returned to their respective clubs at the end of their loan moves, and it remains unclear whether any of them will be back.

With that in mind, keeping hold of Wisdom and having him as a starting centre-back next season will be a boost for Rooney.

Given Derby's centre-back shortage, it seems only sensible to assume that Rooney will turn to the transfer market to add defensive reinforcements this summer.

They've been handed a boost in that regard as it has recently been confirmed that Crystal Palace are releasing Gary Cahill at the end of his contract.

According to The Athletic, the prospect of the Rams boss trying to tempt his former England teammate to Pride Park is plausible and it seems the door is open to such a move now.

He may be 35 now but you feel Cahill's experience would make him a fantastic addition to the Derby squad, with the hope that he could form a strong partnership with Wisdom.

Keeping hold of Lee Buchanan may not be easy this summer given the interest from the likes of West Ham United.

However, assuming he remains at Pride Park, you'd imagine the 20-year-old will be Rooney's first choice left-back for the upcoming campaign.

The departure of Max Lowe last summer allowed Buchanan to have the most significant season of his career to date – featuring 37 times in all competitions for the Rams.

Craig Forsyth was preferred to him at times last term but you'd imagine that the position is the England U21 international's for the taking moving forward.

Assuming Rooney will line up his side in a 4-2-3-1, we could see Newcastle United's Matty Longstaff making up part of the Rams' starting midfield.

The East Midlands club have been linked in previous windows and it's one that just won't go away, with Chronicle Live reporting recently that Derby are keeping tabs on him once again.

The 21-year-old has struggled for game time under Steve Bruce and a move to Pride Park could allow him a chance to flourish.

Should he join, you feel he'll likely be the player chosen to partner Derby's 2020/21 Player of the Season in holding midfield.

There wasn't a huge amount of consistency at Pride Park last season but Graeme Shinnie was certainly a player that Rooney could rely on and deservedly won the club's Player of the Season award.

The 29-year-old is likely to be one of the first players on the team sheet next season and could function really well in a holding midfield two alongside the energy of Longstaff.

Max Bird will no doubt be pushing for a place in the side as well, while the return of Krystian Bielik from injury could mean things are shuffled around a bit – such was his influence when fit last term.

Derby's attack were toothless too often last season. In fact, no side in the Championship scored fewer goals than the Rams.

Changes up top seem likely but Rooney may be keen to add some more quality on the flanks as well.

Josh Bowler, a 22-year-old winger that has been released by Everton, has emerged as an early potential target for the Rams.

Should they sign him, it could be no surprise to see Bowler force his way into the starting XI given Derby's attacking issues last term.

There's clearly talent there, he may just need a fresh start to really kick on, and playing under a legend like Rooney would surely appeal to him.

After dazzling in 2019/20, last season was a bit of a quiet one for Jason Knight but there's no doubting his talent.

Shifting him into the number 10 role should allow him to have maximum influence on the game and that can surely only be a good thing for the Rams.

His impact in the Republic of Ireland's recent 4-1 victory against Andorra, which saw him grab a goal and an assist, illustrated just how dangerous he is as a goalscorer and a creator.

Knight will surely be someone that Rooney looks to start regularly in the 2021/22 campaign.

Kamil Jozwiak didn't exactly pull up trees in his first season at Pride Park but there were glimpses of what an exciting player he is.

His quick feet and dynamic running make him such a threat off the left wing.

Supporters will be hoping that having had a season to settle, 2021/22 can see him rediscover the form that he showed in his native Poland.

If he can do that then it's hard to see him not becoming a key attacking weapon for Rooney and a regular in the starting XI.

Jozwiak becoming the signing that many hoped he would last summer would be a massive boost for the Rams.

While it was Martyn Waghorn that scored the brace to keep Derby in the Championship and journeyman striker Kyle Lafferty is understood to be on the club's radar this summer, it's hard to look past Colin Kazim-Richards up top.

He seemed like a desperate signing last October but became a key figure and a leader for Derby, as well as finishing as their top scorer.

The 34-year-old has earned the chance to lead the line again next season and seems to be someone that Rooney trusts.

However, should Derby sign a new striker this summer, he may slide down the pecking order.