Chris Kirchner provides positive update on Derby County contract talks

Derby County preferred bidder Chris Kirchner believes negotiations with the Rams’ squad regarding new contracts is going well from what he’s heard, taking to Twitter to deliver this positive update.

The American is on the verge of taking control of the East Midlands side following a gruelling eight months at Pride Park, with the relegated side entering administration last September and encountering many obstacles in their quest to secure a new owner.

However, all hurdles have now been removed and although this takeover isn’t set to be formally announced today, tomorrow looks set to be the day when the club are finally in Kirchner’s hands.

This will be a significant milestone for the Rams who will finally be able to agree new contracts with their players, with those out-of-contract being left in limbo regarding their futures because of their inability to tie players down to fresh deals previously.

Although some players including Tom Lawrence may leave to leave amid interest from Premier League and Championship sides, the majority of the first-team squad want to remain at Pride Park beyond the summer.

This is a major boost for manager Wayne Rooney who already has a threadbare squad at this stage, even without further departures.

And though the East Midlands outfit will be restricted in what they can offer their players, Kirchner believes contract talks are going well, posting: “(Contract talks are going) good from what I hear, but I’m not directly involved. I leave that to the people who know what they are doing.”

The Verdict:

Although there should be excitement at the prospect of an upcoming rebuild, keeping some of their existing first-teamers will also be important to maintain some form of on-field stability at Pride