Dursun, though the player would not qualify under the new points-based system agreed by the FA, Premier League and EFL in conjunction with the Home Office following the UK's exit from the European Union, Peterborough United's Siriki Dembele, former Blackpool forward Armand Gnanduillet, Doncaster Rovers Ben Whiteman, (who eventually joined Preston North End), AFC Wimbledon's Joe Piggott, and free-agents Ravel Morrison and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. There were also links with loan deals for Leeds striker Tyler Roberts, Aston Villa's Keinan Davis,Cardiff City winger Josh Murphy, Sheffield United's Billy Sharp. and Rangers' George Edmundson. An apparent interest in Standard Liège's Montenegrin winger Aleksandar Boljević cooled when Derby, who initially believed the player was available on a free transfer, were informed he would cost £2 million. In regards of outgoings, Isaac Hutchinson was the first departure of the window, as he moved on loan to League Two Forest Green Rovers for the rest of the season. Out-of-favour defender Mike te Wierik was the first permanent outgoing as he agreed a deal to return to FC Groningen; when discussing his time at Derby he said "It has not turned out what I had hoped for, it is that simple. In the beginning I didn't play well enough, but we didn't really play well as a team either." Duane Holmes, with whom the club had opened contract talks, but failed to agree terms was heavily linked with a £1m move to Huddersfield Town. after having displayed displeasure at being played out-wide rather than in his preferred position of down the middle. Holmes eventually joined Huddersfield on 25 January with the deal quoted as being predominantly incentive based. Manchester City were supposedly "angered" after an attempt to sign loanee Scott Carson was rebuffed by the club, due to them wanting the £500k loan free due them. A £500k bid from Millwall for George Evans was rejected by the club, before accepting a bid of £750k as Rooney told Evans he could not guarantee him game time. A £700k bid from Swansea City for Morgan Whittaker was also accepted. A rumoured outgoing was Jason Knight, who was linked with moves to Premier League clubs Burnley, West Ham United and Crystal Palace; Leeds United were also linked with Knight, as well as Louie Sibley. However, Rooney was unequivocal in saying that Knight would not be leaving.Kaide Gordon, an academy product who made his first-team debut in the 4–0