relegation zone. The win was followed with more 1–0 victories, this time away to relegation rivals Q.P.R. and at home to play-off chasing Bristol City, as Derby achieved back-to-back wins for the first time in the 2020–21 season and pulled five points clear of the relegation zone, albeit having played two more games than Rotherham in 22nd. With takeover talks with Derventio Holdings still in progress, it was revealed on 9 January that payment of December wages were outstanding, with some players being described as "frustrated". It was later revealed that 50% of player wages had already been paid and the rest was dependent on the completion of the takeover. In the week following the FA Cup defeat at Chorley, it was announced that the takeover was finally to be completed and the delayed wages to players and senior executives would be paid. Despite claims that the takeover was now "legally binding" this was, once again, not the case; with players wages remaining unpaid, it was reported that CEO Stephen Pearce had called the players and management together at the training ground to apologise for the ongoing problems, and promised to keep them informed of developments; some reports suggested Derby has alerted clubs to the availability of players such as Jason Knight and Louie Sibley as they needed to raise money quickly to avoid possible administration and a points deduction. The failure to pay player wages also resulted in a transfer embargo being placed on the club. With uncertainty brewing amongst the fanbase, CEO Stephen Pearce reassured the support that the takeover was "absolutely going ahead" and that any player sales would be within the range of their business model rather than in a fire sale. It was suggested that, rather than first team players, Derby would look to sell members of its academy in order to raise additional money. The continued delays in the takeover led to the club drawing up contingency plans to find funds from alternate sources. The players wages for December were fully paid on 25 January. With the reopening of the transfer window and Derby looking to strengthen, Rooney reiterated his desire to improve the club's attacking options, as well as add a centre back, during the upcoming month. The press linked Derby with moves for Tom Ince, who had had a successful spell at the club between 2015 and 2017, SV Darmstadt striker Serdar