Wayne Rooney has reportedly been approached by Birmingham to become their new manager - and he has already 'revealed' his dream signing if he takes charge at the Championship club.
Rooney has been out of work for a matter of days since departing DC United on Saturday evening.
The Manchester United legend failed to guide the MLS franchise to the end-of-season play-offs, although presided over a considerable improvement over their record from last year.
On Monday, Birmingham announced that they had parted company with manager John Eustace, with his replacement tasked with instilling a 'no-fear playing style'.
Sky Sports have reported that Rooney is now in London and in talks with the club's ownership, with the Blues having been taken over by US-based Shelby Companies Limited in July.The Sun claim that Birmingham are prepared to hand the 37-year-old an eye-watering salary of £1.5 million-per-year - over triple the amount that Eustace was earning at St Andrew's.
With the club currently in sixth place in the Championship and occupying the final play-off place, pressure will be on Rooney to hit the ground running if he lands the job.
And he has already identified a player that would be his dream signing - from one of his former clubs.
Birmingham already have a former United starlet - right-back Ethan Laird - among their contingent, but Rooney has previously spoken about how he would like to add a current wonderkid to his squad.
That player is winger Amad Diallo, who is currently recovering from a knee injury but is expected to be fully fit before the January transfer window opens.
Speaking in 2022, when he was Derby boss, Rooney explained (quotes via Derby Telegraph): "He is a Manchester United player and obviously he is a player of interest from a few clubs, I know that.
"Obviously I keep close tabs on some of the young emerging talent, not just from Manchester United but from other clubs. "He is a player who, of course, I like him. If you are asking me is he going to be with us at some point in January, then that is very unlikely."The Rams missed out on a loan move for Amad as he joined Rangers instead, but he had a unsuccessful spell in Glasgow.
He moved to Championship side Sunderland for last season, though, and enjoyed much more success in the North East.
Amad scored 10 goals in the league to help the Black Cats to the play-offs, and manager Tony Mowbray spoke of his belief that the Ivorian could break into United's first team this season.
That could have happened if not for the injury, given the situations involving fellow right-sided attackers Antony and Jadon Sancho this season. Now, however, United could look to loan out Amad in January - and a Rooney-managed Birmingham might be the ideal destination.
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