Derby County will look to do some business in the January window as they look to add to their squad for the final time

With performances falling short of expectations and Derby County currently languishing in the bottom three of the Championship, questions will inevitably be asked about which players have done enough to justify their place in John Eustace's plans.

But that only offers so much protection, particularly when individual performances have failed to reach the required standard, and that will no doubt lead to some changes in the January window.

That could well lead to some departures when the market opens for business as Derby look to reshape their squad for the final time for the last few months of the campaign.

Here DerbyshireLive looks at some of the contenders who could leave the club in the New Year that could pave the way for new signings.

Corey Blackett-Taylor

Despite Derby's underwhelming start to the season, the winger has still found his first-team chances limited to the odd appearance from the bench. The winger was widely tipped to leave the club in the summer, but a departure never materialised due to the fact that Derby couldn't afford to let him go, given they did not sign a winger until deadline day when Mo Fuseini arrived.

With Blackett-Taylor out of contract next summer, and with Derby potentially wanting to do business of their own, it's likely Derby could be open to offers for the ex-Charlton winger who simply hasn't lived up to expectation since his arrival in January 2024.

He's made nine appearances so far, with his last start coming in a 3-0 home defeat to Swansea when he was taken off at half-time.

If Derby need to move things around, then Blackett-Taylor may well be a contender to leave when the window opens in January, especially if he cannot force himself into the team before then, which appears unlikely.

Jack Robinson

The former Sheffield United defender signed on a three-month contract primarily to add cover to a defence that has been wrecked by injury. Robinson has yet to feature due to the fact that Derby signed him as a free agent, and he hasn't played competitively since last season.

His short-term deal will expire in January, when the defence is likely to have been strengthened considerably by the return of players from injury.

Matt Clarke and Eiran Cashin will be back then, while Craig Forsyth is expected to be up and running before Christmas, as will Charlie Taylor. With Derry Murkin and Sondre Langas also set to be back in the New Year, Derby's defence will look healthier in terms of options and numbers.

While Robinson's versatility is likely to be attractive to Derby in the fact he can play centre-back and left-back, he faces a tough ask in extending his stay beyond the end of January. But if he can hit the ground running and help transform Derby's fortunes in the intervening period, then that may open doors elsewhere.

Ryan Nyambe

The right-back has been forced into the centre-back position as an emergency measure due to the defensive crisis that has severely impacted the backline. Last season, he spent the second half of the campaign on loan at Reading and was another player who was expected to leave in the summer.

He is out of contract next summer, but again he is another player that is likely to see his first-team options limited due to the fact a host of players will be returning before and after Christmas.

Derby are also well stocked in the right-back position, with Joe Ward currently the first choice, and Max Johnston is due to make a return shortly.

That will make it harder for Nyambe to stake a claim in the first team, but the former Blackburn and Wigan defender has proven to be an excellent professional who gets his head down and just gets on with whichever task is handed to him.

But if Derby want to juggle things around in January and make some of their own additions, then Nyambe does seem a contender for a player who could leave just as he did last year when he headed to Reading.

Who do you think could leave in January? Have your say HERE