Derby County transfer news: Lars-Jorgen Salvesen, James Collins exit, Harvey Knibbs | OneFootball

The Rams are nearing their first deal of the transfer window, while one striker could be on his way out.

Derby County welcome Watford to Pride Park Stadium on Saturday in their first game on their own patch in 2025, and they will be hoping that home comforts see them through to their first league win since they beat West Bromwich Albion 2-1 on Boxing Day.

The last few weeks have not been good ones for the Rams, and there will be a desire to right some of the wrongs that have been made on the pitch during that time. However, off the pitch, there is a sense of excitement.

Paul Warne has already allowed three members of his squad to depart, with Ben Radcliffe joining Crawley Town on a permanent deal, while Sonny Bradley made the switch to Wycombe Wanderers on loan for the rest of the campaign. Tawanda Chirewa's loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers has also been brought to an end early, freeing up further space in the squad.

Football League World has rounded up some of the latest transfer stories involving Derby, ahead of a big weekend in the Championship.

Derby close in on Lars-Jorgen Salvesen

The Rams are nearing their first signing of the transfer window, with Viking FK's Lars-Jorgen Salvesen getting closer to signing on the dotted line. It was revealed by Norwegian outlet Nettavisen on Monday that the striker and the club are in the final stages of negotiations as Warne looks to add more firepower up front.

Reports originally stated that a fee of 20m Norwegian Krone (£1.4m) had been agreed between Derby and Viking, however, The Telegraph's John Percy has stated that the actual price is expected to be £800k.

The 28-year-old scored 12 goals in the Eliteserien last season as his side finished third, with their league campaign ending at the start of December.

A tall and dominating figure, he is exactly the type of number nine that the Rams have been searching for over the last year, and supporters will be hoping that the deal is completed ahead of this weekend.

James Collins eyed up by Leyton Orient and Rotherham United

The arrival of one striker could see another leave at Pride Park, with James Collins the subject of interest from Leyton Orient and Rotherham United, among other clubs.

That's according to Pete O'Rourke, who posted on X on Monday evening that the League One duo have the 34-year-old on their radar and could make a move for him this month with his minutes at Derby limited this season.

Collins is out of contract at the end of the campaign, and if a move cannot be agreed upon now, it could be postponed until the summer, but with Salvesen looking to be on the way, it seems as though a move could happen sooner rather than later.

The former Cardiff City man scored 19 goals in all competitions last season as the Rams won promotion to the Championship at the second time of asking.

Harvey Knibbs still a target for Derby while Portsmouth are not showing an interested

Harvey Knibbs has been a source of interest for the Rams over the course of the last couple of weeks, and while there has not been a further update regarding Derby during that time, they will be boosted by the knowledge that one of the two other clubs who were targeting the midfielder have dropped out of any potential race.

Fellow League One promotion winners Portsmouth and Oxford United were also reportedly interested in the 25-year-old, but he is now no longer on Pompey's radar.

That will make any potential deal easier for the Rams to complete, and supporters will be keen to see the Reading star through the door at Pride Park soon after scoring eight goals in League One so far this season.