The Rams entered this campaign expecting to compete for promotion.
When Eustace arrived in February 2025, Derby sat fourth from bottom in the Championship. His decision to leave fifth-placed Blackburn, who were pursuing promotion, for a relegation battle prompted plenty of questions.
Problems and financial limitations behind the scenes at Ewood Park influenced his choice, while Derby presented him with a long-term strategy focused on survival, stability and eventually returning to the top division.
However, their promotion ambitions suffered a major setback in August when Alalshikh withdrew from a proposed takeover just an hour before its scheduled completion, disrupting months of summer preparation.
The deal’s unexpected collapse caught the club off guard and affected its transfer strategy, although owner David Clowes remained willing to provide financial support.
Chief executive Stephen Pearce rejected suggestions that the summer uncertainty damaged recruitment, but it clearly interfered with the club’s plans.
He maintained that the club had not been forced to abandon any of its intended transfer business.
Eustace nevertheless acknowledged that Derby had to reassess its options after the takeover failed.
He explained that the club had identified specific players it hoped to recruit.
Once the takeover fell through, however, Derby lost considerable ground in negotiations for several targets.
Eustace was interested in Liam Millar, but Birmingham City secured the Hull City forward on a season-long loan. Derby subsequently signed Fuseini from Union Saint-Gilloise on deadline day after his expected move to Birmingham was overtaken by the Millar deal.
Ben Brereton-Diaz registered eight goals in 41 appearances during his loan spell with Derby last season. The club’s circumstances prevented an early attempt to bring him back, and the Southampton forward had already agreed to join Sheffield United by the time Derby acted.
Birmingham winger Patrick Roberts was also considered, but the 29-year-old’s salary demands proved prohibitive.
Because none of the previous season’s loan agreements included purchase options, Derby had to open fresh negotiations for every returning player. That left the club exposed to changing market prices, with Bobby Clark ultimately arriving from Red Bull Salzburg for £6m.
The market situation did work in Derby’s favor when midfielder David Ozoh returned for £4m on deadline day, despite Crystal Palace placing a £10m valuation on him at the beginning of August.
Clark, Ozoh and Sammie Szmodics—who has already met the conditions required to make his £2.7m transfer from Ipswich permanent—played important roles last season. Their return, though, has largely restored the squad to its previous standard rather than delivering a substantial improvement.
Pisa striker Henrik Meister arrived on loan after scoring only twice over the previous year. Initially viewed as cover for Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang, the 22-year-old Dane has instead been required to lead the attack because both players are injured.
Meister then sustained a head injury against Birmingham this month, while Agyemang has remained sidelined since April with a serious Achilles injury.
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