Following their 9th place finish in the Sky Bet Championship, Derby County have today unveiled their retained list. There are no major surprises of the list of names issued by Gary Rowett, with the vast majority of players being under contract anyway.
The only significant piece of news is relatively old news anyway with Derby as two players recently saw options taken to extend their respective deals by one-year. This summer will mainly be a case of Rowett adding his own flavour to this Rams squad.
Experienced duo Chris Baird and Darren Bent have already seen the club taken up options to keep them at Pride Park for another year. The pair have enjoyed plenty of football over the past season and will be hoping to do so in what will be Rowett’s first full season at the helm. The pair are now under contract until the end of the 2017/18 campaign, which starts up again in a few months’ time.
Midfielder Julien de Sart has returned to Premier League side Middlesbrough following the end of his loan deal. He started out as a regular under Steve McClaren, who brought him to the club, however he barely featured once Rowett was appointed. Also, Under-23 players Alefe Santos and Tom Mellors have been told that their services are no longer required. Santos spent time on loan with National League side Eastleigh over the past season. Mellors has yet to make his professional debut.
Options activated to extend deals by one-year: Chris Baird & Darren Bent.
Returned to parent club after loan expired: Julien de Sart.
Released (Under-23): Alefe Santos & Tom Mellors.
