Nigel Clough is hoping to bring in Liverpool's Daniel Ayala and Leicester's Martyn Waghorn on loan.
Clough hopes to secure short-term deals for Ayala and Waghorn
Derby manager Nigel Clough is hoping to bring in Liverpool's Daniel Ayala and Leicester's Martyn Waghorn on loan.
Clough is keen to strengthen his defensive options as the Rams have lost eight of their last 10 matches while Dean Leacock and Dean Moxey are banned for their next game at home to Ipswich.
The Derby boss has therefore made enquiries about Ayala, 20, who resumed training last week after recovering from a hamstring problem and is expected to play for Liverpool's reserves on Wednesday.
"We have spoken to Liverpool about Daniel and to the player and his agent," Clough told the
Derby Telegraph. "It is just a case of him getting this game under his belt on Wednesday.
"Dean Leacock is now out for two games through suspension and so we need somebody to come in.
"We hope Jake Buxton will be available at that point and hopefully Ayala will come in and do a job for us."
Ayala scored against Derby in September while on loan at Championship rivals Hull City, where he made 12 league appearances before being struck by injury.
Leicester concerns
Waghorn, meanwhile, has scored three goals from 11 league starts for Leicester this season, but has slipped down the pecking order at the Walkers Stadium after Sven Goran Eriksson brought in the likes of Darius Vassell and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
Clough hoped to sign the 21-year-old striker in time for Saturday's 1-0 defeat by bitter rivals Nottingham Forest but Leicester are wary of letting him go just yet as they have fitness concerns over Vassell (hamstring) and Paul Gallagher (knee).
"Martyn Waghorn is top of our list and is still a possibility, depending on the injury situation at Leicester. Hopefully, they didn't pick up any injuries at the weekend," said Clough.
"We were desperate to get him in for the Forest game to give us a bit of impetus and we will do our best to get him in the next 10 days.
"We need some pace in the team and that showed up on Saturday against Nottingham Forest, who have an abundance of it."
