Derby County just missed out on the play-offs previous season, finishing eighth in the table.

The Rams lost to Sheffield United on the final day of the Championship campaign, leaving them four points adrift of sixth place Hull City, who went on to win promotion.

John Eustace will be looking for another top-eight performance next year, as the play-offs grow to include two more teams in 2027.

The summer transfer window provides an opportunity for the club to improve its first-team roster, which has risen from 20th to eighth in the last year.

Derby made significant investments last year, adding players such as Patrick Agyemang, Derry Murkin, Lewis Travis, and Rhian Brewster.

One player that the Derbyshire outfit have been linked to going into the upcoming market is Anthony Patterson in what could be another busy period at Pride Park.

How Derby County Feels About the Anthony Patterson Deal

It has been reported by Derbyshire Live that Derby are not keen on spending £8 to 10 million to sign Patterson this summer.

It’s been claimed that Sunderland are demanding that kind of fee in order to cash in on the goalkeeper following his loan spell with Millwall.

However, Eustace’s team is unwilling to invest so much money on an area that is not currently a priority.

The Rams have previously renewed Josh Vickers and Richard O’Donnell’s contracts, and both shot-stoppers will join the team this season.

Meanwhile, first-choice option Jacob Widell Zetterstrom has 12 months left on his contract.

Zetterstrom was previously connected with a move away from the Championship club, but he was sidelined by illness for much of the second part of the season.

The Swede made a total of 32 appearances in the league for Eustace’s team, but spent three months out of the starting lineup in the second half of the term.

He returned to the team on April 18, starting in a 1-0 victory over Oxford United, the first of four games in a row for the club.

Patterson joined Millwall on loan in January, making 14 appearances during the regular season as the Lions finished third in the table.

Alex Neil’s side failed to win promotion in the play-offs, but the goalkeeper previously helped Sunderland win their place in the Premier League in 2025.

Anthony Patterson deal isn’t the right time for Derby

When Zetterstrom was out, Vickers and O’Donnell stepped up, demonstrating Derby’s goalie depth.

While the Swede’s future remains uncertain, there is no reason to prioritise that position on the transfer market right now.

Perhaps if the 27-year-old is sold, then a move for a replacement could make some sense, but Eustace could also opt to rely on Vickers to become the new first-choice option.

Given the extent of interest in Patterson from other clubs and the possible expense of the transfer, it’s no wonder that Derby aren’t yet willing to pay £8 to 10 million for his services.