Derby County poised for transfer windfall boost from proposed UEFA transfer rule, they need Ipswich Town to play ball

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Derby County are preparing for a second successive season in the Championship after their survival was confirmed on the final day of the campaign just under two weeks ago.

It’s been a long couple of months for John Eustace, but the turnaround in form from his team has ensured that the Rams will be fighting it out in the EFL’s top division in 2025/26.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
16	PortsmouthPortsmouth	46	14	12	20	58	71	-13	54
17	Oxford UnitedOxford United	46	13	14	19	49	65	-16	53
18	Stoke CityStoke City	46	12	15	19	45	62	-17	51
19	DerbyDerby	46	13	11	22	48	56	-8	50
20	PrestonPreston	46	10	20	16	48	59	-11	50
21	Hull CityHull City	46	12	13	21	44	54	-10	49
22	LutonLuton	46	13	10	23	45	69	-24	49

Focus has now turned to the transfer market with the East Midlands outfit in desperate need of reinforcements across the pitch to ensure that they are fighting higher up the table once the new campaign begins.

A striker will be of particular desire to Eustace with Derby County lacking goals in 2024/25, and they will not be the only Championship side looking for a new number nine with it looking likely that Ipswich Town will lose Liam Delap. However, this may bring new benefits to the Rams.

Derby County may benefit from a proposed UEFA rule in the next year

It’s been six years since Delap left Derby for Manchester City, and while they have already been the beneficiaries of one transfer windfall, a proposed UEFA rule could see them bring in further money from the sale if he leaves Ipswich for a Champions League side this summer.

If this new rule passes, five percent of the competition prize money will go to non-competing clubs who developed the players that are playing in the tournament.

As per The Independent, this means that Blackburn Rovers could have earned £750k for David Raya’s appearances for Arsenal and the Rams will be keeping a keen eye on the movement of Delap if this proposal goes through.

The striker has a £30m release clause in his contract, according to The Guardian, and with Ipswich’s relegation to the Championship already confirmed, multiple sides in the Premier League are interested in his services.

If a club in the Champions League for next season does bring in the 22-year-old, then the Rams will only benefit – much to the delight of owner David Clowes.

Liam Delap’s future is a huge point of debate

Despite only signing for the Tractor Boys last summer, Delap’s time at the club is seemingly coming to a quick end after a fantastic campaign.

While he has not always been incredibly prolific in the EFL, his first full season in the Premier League has been fruitful and he has been the shining light for Ipswich in what has ultimately been a step too far for a club who were in League One just two years ago.

Kieran McKenna will be keen for his side to get £30m for the forward to help recoup some of the transfer fee that was paid out for him, but it does mean that they will be in the market for a replacement.

Nevertheless, Derby supporters will be extremely keen to see where their former academy star starts the 2025/26 campaign.