Paul Warne has recently joined MK Dons after being sacked by Derby County on the 7th of February. Today, I am going to be talking about the players that he has had at previous clubs that he may sign for MK Dons.
Josh Vickers – Derby
Vickers is an experienced goalkeeper at the age of 29 years old, Warne brought Vickers to Derby after him spending two seasons at Rotherham together and even though Derby have had a poor season which might see them relegated come the end. He has mainly been on the bench for Derby but when he has played he has only conceded 6 goals in 4 games and kept one clean sheet out of this period he has played as well as this he has saved 7 shots out of the 12 shots he has faced which is a 58% save percentage. I think that the 29 year old needs an increased amount of game time which MK Dons will give him as well as this MK Dons have conceded 66 goals in 44 matches and only earnt 7 clean sheets in 44 matches so Mk Dons are in need of a shot stopper so I think that it is a win, win situation for the player and MK Dons.
Louie Sibley – Rotherham
The 23 year old midfielder who was formerly part of Derby’s academy and first team has had a great campaign at Rotherham so far on loan from Oxford, starting 14 games out of 19 matches. He has contributed really well from midfield by scoring 2 goals and one assist. As well as this Sibley has been a defensive roadblock in midfield for Rotherham with him winning 80% of his tackles and him having a 75.1% pass accuracy. This will suit MK Dons because previously the Dons have been known to leak goals through midfield with their high possession style of play so he is an ideal midfielder for MK Dons for him to gain experience and offer his defensive and attacking attributes from midfield.
Jake Rooney – Derby
Another addition for MK Dons in the summer transfer window could be in the form of Jake Rooney who came through Burnley’s and Derby’s academies and has been at Derby since 2022. The 21 year old defender has not played any minutes in the league this season for Derby but he has completed 10 appearances in all competitions and keeping 2 clean sheets and only conceding 16 goals. As well as this in the previous season in League One for County’s first team he started 3 matches and won 62.5% of his tackles as well as this won 59.1% of his duels. A move to MK would suit Rooney because he needs to gain vital experience and minutes to develop his career and MK Dons have struggled with injuries to defenders and a have a leaky defence with them conceding 66 goals this season.
Joe Newell – Hibernian
We then arrive at the Hibernian captain Joe Newell who spent 3 seasons at Rotherham with Paul Warne. The midfielder for Hibs this season has started 16 out of 16 matches until he picked up an injury on February 22nd. However Newell’s playmaking ability has helped to benefit Hibs with 388 successful passes and 55.6% long ball accuracy this has helped Create 14 chances and 2 goals this season from the former Rotherham man. This shows the 32 year old’s ability to create and perform attacking chances is clear. Also his defensive ability is clear with him winning 53.6% of his duels has contributed to Hibs keeping 9 clean sheets which puts them 4th. Newell will be a great addition for Paul Warne’s side this is because he will add vital experience to the side and add more depth to Warne’s midfield options so that their midfield is much more solid.
Conor Washington – Derby
My final inclusion is Derby striker Conor Washington who Paul Warne signed for Rotherham and he only spent the 2022/23 season at Rotherham scoring 6 goals in 37 matches. The 32 year old has not made any appearances for Derby’s first team this season he has been playing for the academy where he has appeared in 5 matches scoring 1 goal and 2 assists. But in the previous season when County were in league one the striker played in 19 matches scoring 3 goals and assisting 2 goals. Washington joining MK Dons in the summer would kick start his career again and give the Dons experience as well as this give MK Dons much needed squad depth in the striker area because the likes of Scott Hogan is out of contract at the end of the season and Danilo Orsi is only on loan from Burton.
