Baggies may make move for Phillips, while loan possible again for Armstrong

THE transfer window is open again and Derby County's first pre-season friendly is less than a month away.

- By LEIGH CURTIS

John Eustace and his recruitment team are busy plotting their plan of attack for the deals they need to do in what is the head coach's first chance to put his stamp on the squad following his arrival last February.

With the Rams' Championship status secure and the EFL fixtures to be released later this month, there is lots on the agenda.

As the club prepares for pre-season and a training camp in Austria, here's the latest from my Rams notebook:

Phillips race heats up

The race to sign Nat Phillips continues to gather pace with the Liverpool defender expected to leave Anfield this summer.

A number of Championship clubs are chasing the centre-back, who was key to the Rams' survival bid under John Eustace.

The Rams head coach said Phillips was a player he would love to keep but there is serious competition for his services.