Wayne Rooney targets Manchester United defender after taking DC United job

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 02: Phil Jones of Manchester United ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Brentford at Old Trafford on May 02, 2022 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney is back in management after leaving Derby County earlier this summer and the Manchester United legend has reportedly set his sights on one of his former teammates.

Rooney’s stocks rose after his spell at Derby and many were expecting him to take a job in England but the 36-year-old has now sealed a return to the MLS with DC United.

Rooney spent 18 months at the American club as a player before joining Derby as a player-coach – an opportunity that eventually led to the full-time managerial gig.

Now, he is considering giving former teammate Phil Jones the chance of reuniting with him at DC United as part of his revolution at the MLS franchise.

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That’s according to The Sun, who say that despite only taking the job this week, he has already started to scour the market for potential reinforcements.

Jones is one of the players on his radar and as per the report, Rooney has held an interest in the 30-year-old for a while after attempting to sign him for Derby.

SN’s verdict…
Jones was left out of United’s tour of Thailand and Australia to work on his fitness in Manchester and with one year remaining on his contract, his exit is looming large. There are at least five other centre-backs ahead of him in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

The former Blackburn defender made four appearances in the Premier League last season but has struggled badly with injuries over the last couple of years.

Rooney knows him well after sharing a dressing room with Jones for six years and a move across the pond could be what Jones needs to resurrect his career.