Where do Derby County need to strengthen for 2026/7? And who might leave?

This post was initially published to Patreon on 25 May 2026

The Derby County first team squad, as of May 2026

Let's start with the position where the least work is required, and then work our way up to the areas where more major surgery is required.

Goalkeeper

This is straightforward, as things stand - nothing needs to be done here, barring a surprise sale.

Jacob Widell Zetterstrom is fit again and is Derby's undisputed number one. Josh Vickers is his understudy and the veteran Richard O'Donnell has been retained as an emergency third-choice option. The hands of ROD were called upon much more than anybody could have expected last season, but his basic competence when required underlined the importance of having experience to call upon in a selection crisis - nobody wants to be left with a callow youth between the sticks in such a physical and demanding division as the Championship.

Things would only change here if Zetterstrom attracts suitors this summer. A World Cup-induced auction for the handsome Swede would be disruptive, but potentially lucrative. However, at the time of writing, it's still not clear whether Zetterstrom will even start for his country at the tournament, with Stoke City's Viktor Johansson also available.

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