Rams Show Interest in Chelsea Striker While Three Player's Touted for Departure

Derby Set to Splash the Cash, with Out-of-Favour Premier League Star a Priority

Sat comfortably mid-table, Derby County can be fairly happy with the progress they have made this season. However, if they are to challenge for promotion, like they were when they sat eighth in the Championship in October, they need to clear the deadwood from the squad, and the Rams are making moves to be rid of some of their less impactful players.

At the same time, reinforcements also need to be brought in, with the potential vacancies in the squad offering the chance to bring in players of better quality that could help a late surge in the search for promotion.

Would David Datro Fofana be a good signing for Derby County? 🤔

We dive into the rumours linking the Chelsea striker with the Rams and what it could mean.

Watch now 🎥⬇️https://t.co/jNa186YqM0#DCFC #TransferTalk #CFC pic.twitter.com/5BdFZkGOKV

— The Derby Digest (@thederbydigest) January 14, 2026

To go along with the likely outgoings of Ebou Adams, Kayden Jackson and Jacob Zetterstrom, Derby are also closing in on a deal for out-of-favour Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana, who is currently on loan in Turkey.

A Busy Window

January looks set to be equally as busy as the summer window, in which Derby saw 15 players leave the club along with a further 15 joining up.

However, some of these summer signings have failed to have the desired impact - Ben Brereton Diaz has been a ghost up front despite playing virtually every game, while fellow striker Andreas Weimann and right back Max Johnston, who admittedly has been injured, have frustrated in equal measure.

Some of their signings have had much better luck - Carlton Morris briefly topped the Championship goal standings before his injury in November, while Patrick Agyemang and Lewis Travis have also become key cogs in the Derby system.

As such, John Eustace is looking to clear out as much dead wood as possible mid-season, giving his side the best chance of wrangling an unlikely play-off spot come May.

Zetterstrom has impressed between the sticks this season, and with his contract expiring at the end of the season, the Swedish stopper has started to attract the interest of Premier League sides, with Nottingham Forest showing concrete interest in securing an end-of-contract deal.

It won’t be easy though, as there are a couple of moving parts - Ebou Adams is up for sale, but Eustace has to wait on selling him until fellow midfielders Travis and David Ozoh are both fit so as to not leave the squad short on depth.

Kayden Jackson’s departure is also conditional, with Derby only set to give the move the green light if they succeed in their move for Fofana, or indeed for any other striker or winger.

Fofana’s experience in English football is limited, but the Ivorian has notched four appearances for Chelsea, and a further 15 for Burnley on loan, where he scored four Premier League goals.

🚨🔵 Chelsea and David Datro Fofana are working on a permanent exit this window.

Celtic, Royal Antwerp and Derby County all expressed interest over potential deal. pic.twitter.com/Q22HdQP8c0

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 14, 2026

A compact, quick, physical striker, Fofana is tailormade for the Championship, and with a decent goal return of seven goals in 14 games in the Turkish top flight this season, he would arrive at Pride Park bang in form.

While a loan move looks more likely, a permanent deal isn’t off the table. Valued at £5.9 million, it would represent a decent deal considering the fairly reasonable price. However, Derby will have to move quickly - Celtic and Belgian side Royal Antwerp are also in pursuit of Fofana, and negotiations will need to be swift in order to seal the move.