Wayne Rooney has criticised opportunistic clubs who he believes have taken advantage of Derby County's predicament.
The Championship side are in a mess off-the-field, having been in administration since September.
Their future remains shrouded in doubt owing to a failure to secure a new buyer. The administrators, Quantuma, must provide proof of funding for the rest of the season to the English Football League (EFL) by the beginning of March.
The January transfer window saw Rooney lose a clutch of players, with Graeme Shinnie, David Marshall and Phil Jagielka all departing either on free transfers or for cut-price fees.
In addition, highly-rated youngster Luke Plange sealed a deadline day move to Premier League side Crystal Palace whilst another talented teen Dylan Williams joined Chelsea.
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Because of their financial situation, Rooney was unable to sign replacements but was at least allowed to sanction the loan return of Plange.
Speaking about a tough window, Rooney suggested that other sides have taken advantage of Derby's problems.
He told BBC Derby : "Some people might look at it and say, it's young players that (have) gone out, but we've been relying on young players all season, so it's a big hit for us.
"Ideally I'd have wanted Luke to stay with us, maybe for another 18 months, and see him develop. For the club as a whole, it would have been better financially if that was the case.
"We're in a difficult position and I feel other clubs have taken advantage of that.
"Whether that's Wigan with Graeme Shinnie, Crystal Palace with Luke Plange, they've seen an opportunity.
"There's a reason why they've come in and tried to do it now because they know they are getting the players a lot lower than they are actually valued at."
Plange, aged 19, only made his Derby debut back in December when he came on as a sub against Bristol City.
On his first start he scored the only goal of the game in a win over Blackpool. He has since netted a further two goals and will now spend the remainder of the campaign in the East Midlands.
Speaking about his move to Palace, he said: “I’m very excited to be joining a big Premier League club. I’m ready to crack on.
"Obviously I’ll be with Derby fighting for them in the Championship, but I will be ready to go back to Crystal Palace in the summer and get ready to go.
“When I heard I was very excited about the news. I know Palace are a big club, a big Premier League club. I knew that it was a very good chance for me to take and to progress in my career.”
Wednesday night sees Derby travel to Huddersfield Town.
Despite being handed two separate points deductions totalling 21 points, a victory in West Yorkshire would close the gap on fourth-bottom Reading to just four points.
