Wayne Rooney wanted by Burnley who join Derby in race for Man Utd legend as he jets back to UK for transfer talks
BURNLEY are reportedly attempting to hijack Wayne Rooney’s move to Derby County.
The Manchester United legend currently plays for Major League Soccer side DC United.
But it emerged last night the 33-year-old is on the verge of a return to English football and has flown into the UK today to hold talks over a player-coach position with the Rams.
However, reports in the claim that Sean Dyche is also keen on offering the striker another shot at the Premier League.
Ambitious Derby are believed to have sent chief executive Stephen Pearce to Washington in recent days to discuss the surprise move with Rooney.
Now the ex-Everton star will hold further discussions on these shores within the next 24 hours over joining Philip Cocu’s coaching team at the Championship side.
But the possibility of a Prem reprieve and the possibility of living closer to his native Liverpool could appeal to the former Three Lions captain if the interest from the Clarets is genuine.
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Derby is 90 miles south east of Liverpool, but his new family home in Cheshire would easily be commutable to both the Midlands or the Turf Moor outfit.
His wife Coleen and four children are living with him in the US, but reports claim she is unhappy with life in the States and would like to move home.
The Washington Post states Rooney wants to stay with DC United until at least the end of the 2020 season, but his family concerns could accelerate his departure.
He DC United contract lasts another two years and he will only be in England for a day before heading back Stateside to prepare for Sunday’s game against LA Galaxy.
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A switch to Derby seems to be the most-likely, which would see him link up with the Rams in the winter window.
Cocu said after Derby’s win at Huddersfield last night: “At the moment I cannot say anything.
“Like I said before, the team we are working on completing, the team we said is not complete yet, it’s true we are working on getting the team done.
“I cannot say anything about names before things are done.”