Rooney picks recent Man Utd player as first Birmingham transfer target

Stuart Telford

• 16 Oct 2023 16:15 BST
• 3 min read

Wayne Rooney only became Birmingham City manager last Wednesday, but he has already identified former Manchester United goalkeeper Jack Butland as the first signing he wants to make.

Rooney left his role of manager of D.C United two Sundays ago, and three days later was appointed as Birmingham boss, the Midlands club having parted ways with John Eustace despite the side sitting sixth in the Championship.

Birmingham have only conceded 11 goals in 11 games, with John Ruddy doing a respectable job between the posts, but the former England cap is 37 before the month is out and Rooney wants a reinforcement in the position.

READ: Rooney's olive branch to Ronaldo withdrawn

"Jack Butland is wanted at Birmingham by new boss Wayne Rooney," reports the Sun's Alan Nixon. "Rooney wants to sign a keeper and former Blues discovery Butland, currently with Rangers, is his first choice - although he may have to wait for him."

Butland's price bracket

Butland, spent the second half of last season on loan at United from Crystal Palace, making the bench 20 times but without making a competitive appearance, before signing on a free transfer with Rangers.

The nine-time England cap, a Birmingham youth academy graduate, signed a four-year contract at Ibrox, and it is for that reason that Rooney may have to wait to get his man - allied to the fact that the Blues are currently working to balance their books.

READ: How Rangers tried - and failed - to copy Real Madrid

Butland is currently valued at €1.5 million (£1.3m) by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, but had a highest ETV of €11.7m (£10.1m) in January 2016, and Rangers would no doubt look for a fee between the two figures to part ways with their new No.1 so soon.

Butland and Rooney played once together for England across the former's nine caps for his country. Rooney was the nation's record 53 goal top scorer before being overtaken by Harry Kane.