Derby County were unable to prevent a number of their players from moving on during the January transfer window.

Graeme Shinnie sealed a permanent move to Wigan Athletic whilst Phil Jagielka opted to join fellow Championship outfit Stoke City following the expiry of his short-term contract at Pride Park.

Meanwhile, Luke Plange was purchased by Crystal Palace on deadline day before being loaned back to Derby for the remainder of the campaign.

David Marshall and Dylan Williams also moved on to pastures new whilst Sam Baldock has yet to find a new club after leaving the Rams.

Unable to draft in replacements for Shinnie. Jagielka, Williams, Marshall and Baldock due to a transfer embargo, Derby may find it extremely difficult to secure survival without these players.

Here, we have decided to take a look at two Derby players who didn't leave last month but could depart in the summer...

Tom Lawrence

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Tom Lawrence was the subject of a great deal of transfer speculation in January as two Championship sides were keeping a close eye on his situation at Derby.

A report from the Mirror suggested that Bournemouth had a bid believed to be in the region of £250,000 rejected by the club's administrators.

Meanwhile, Queens Park Rangers were also looking into the possibility of strengthening their attacking options by swooping for Lawrence.

Yet despite the interest shown by these two clubs, Derby decided to keep Lawrence at the club for the second half of the campaign.

When you consider that Lawrence's contract is set to expire later this year, it wouldn't be at all surprising if he joins another club as Derby are not in the position to offer him an improved deal.

Lawrence may not be short of suitors at this level as he has provided an impressive total of 12 direct goal contributions in the second-tier this season.

Festy Ebosele

Soccer Football - Championship - Derby County v Queens Park Rangers - Pride Park, Derby, Britain - November 29, 2021 Derby County?s Festy Ebosele in action with Queens Park Rangers' Yoann Barbet Action Images/Carl Recine

Another player who was linked with a move away from Derby last month was Festy Ebosele.

A report from the Mail on Sunday (as cited by the Nottingham Post) in January suggested that Nottingham Forest had a £500,000 offer for Ebosele rejected by the Rams.

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old also recently attracted interest from several Bundesliga sides.

 

 

Despite the financial uncertainty surrounding the club, Derby opted not to cash in on Ebosele and thus the teenager is now set to feature for them for the remainder of the season.

Having already made 20 appearances for the Rams in the Championship during the current term, Ebosele could potentially improve as a player if he continues to feature regularly at this level.

Providing that Derby fail in their quest to achieve survival, it wouldn't be a shock if Ebosele decides to move on to pastures new as he will unquestionably want to play at a higher level than League One.