Rooney: Get new owners in before the window
WAYNE Rooney has stressed the importance of installing a new owner at Derby County with the January transfer window less than a week away.
The Rams have been in administration for three months and the search for a buyer is ongoing.
Derby’s administrators say they expect to name a preferred bidder for the club imminently.
A number of first-team players are out of contract at the end of the season, while the deal of key defender Phil Jagielka is due to expire in mid-january.
Rooney is keen to sort out the contracts of the players he wants to keep and he would like to strengthen his squad.
Asked how his plans for January are going, Rooney said: “That I don’t know, that is why I am stressing it is so important we get it (the takeover) done.
“Obviously, we have got plans in place which we would like to do but as far as getting that preferred bidder in, the administrators can say I could do one thing and the preferred bidder could say I could do another thing.
“So none of those plans are set in concrete. They are all adaptable. I just have to wait and see and hope we have a preferred bidder in before January.”
Talking about his plans, Rooney said: “I am not saying I want to bring 15 players in. What’s important is we have got players already within the club who I need to make sure stay with us.
“Obviously, Phil Jagielka is out of contract mid-january, Festy Ebosele is out of contract in the summer, a lot of young lads have got options on their contracts and a lot of players are out of contract in the summer.
“I need to make sure the players I want with us for next season, I get them done first and then in terms of players coming in and players leaving that is something again depending on what the preferred bidder allows me to do, if they are in.
“It is not going to be anything drastic. January is a very difficult window to work in.
“If we can strengthen the squad and get the right players in who fit into what we are trying to do, we will do that.”
Rooney’s Rams are set to return to Championship action today with a home game against West Bromwich Albion (3pm).
Striker Sam Baldock is back in the frame for the Rams after recovering from a hamstring injury, Rooney saying: “Sam’s fine.
“He will be in the squad on Monday, he has trained well, he has done his work at home well and then in the last couple of days in training. He will be involved at some point.”