Man City left to rue their big academy mistakes as squad goes stale

Jude's back! How Bellingham rediscovered his goalscoring mojo

Dele Alli's Origin Story

Hojlund double bails out blundering Onana

Lionesses prospect Murphy enjoys dream full debut in Man City win

Taylor admits Greenwood injury ‘makes it difficult’ for City

Amorim ‘tearing his hair out’ over Bruno as Utd urged to sell

Parkinson stops Wrexham from 'haemorrhaging cash' under Rob & Ryan

Anger as Man Utd fixture is moved to unusual kick-off time

World Cup 2026: European qualification groups announced

Out of the Intercontinental Cup? Madrid confirm Mbappe injury blow

‘Wasn’t my MVP’ – USMNT legend Lalas reacts to Messi award

CR7 sends emotional message as Portugal co-host World Cup

<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Man Utd legend struggling to pick up points</li><li>Pilgrims have slipped into relegation zone</li><li>Intend to bolster their ranks in the New Year</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Wayne Rooney ignores sack threat to identify transfer targets – with under pressure Plymouth boss revealing plans for January window

Championship

Sheffield United

Plymouth

<p>The ex-England captain has seen questions asked of his future at Home Park after <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/just-like-pep-guardiola-wayne-rooney-compares-plymouth-struggles-man-city-utd-legend-honest-conversations-owner/blte9d92c8f8f6f651c" target="_blank">enduring a run of one win in 10</a>. Plymouth have slipped into the Championship relegation zone as a result, with a <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wayne-rooney-alarming-advice-plymouth-sack-threat-man-utd-legend-no-panic-just-yet/bltcd7f8582ed9d765c" target="_blank">disgruntled fan base beginning to lose patience with those behind the scenes</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Rooney does <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/sack-support-plymouth-actual-stance-wayne-rooney-revealed-pilgrims-owner-explains-championship-strugglers-intend-do-man-utd-legend/bltd240efdef86c8a1b" target="_blank">have the support of his board for now</a> and claims to be <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/will-wayne-coleen-pull-the-plug-rooney-horror-show-lucrative-documentary-deal-man-utd-legend-plymouth/blta656c446d3cbf70a" target="_blank">embracing the pressure that he finds himself working under</a>, rather than hiding away from it. He is giving no thought to a potential severing of ties with the Pilgrims, with it his intention to bring fresh faces on board at the start of 2025.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Quizzed on talks with those above him and efforts to bolster the collective ranks in Devon, Rooney said: “There is always honest conversations between myself, Neil (Dewsnip, director of football), Andrew (Parkinson, chief executive officer, Simon - whoever that may be - about how can we improve, and from a recruitment point of view what players can we bring in to help, what players do we need, what players do we need to get out.</p><p>“These are all conversations which are going on, so come January we are in the best possible position we can be to get what we need. Getting the injured players back will be like new signings for us but we all know, we are under no illusion, we need to improve the squad, that's there for everyone to see. We are working extremely hard to put ourselves in the best position to do that as early as possible.”</p>

WHAT ROONEY SAID

<p>Rooney has taken in just 21 games in charge of Plymouth, having <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/cheek-complain-wayne-rooney-15-game-reign-manager-nfl-legend-tom-brady-boardroom-assessed-man-utd-birmingham-dwight-yorke/blt9145fa701a7534da" target="_blank">previously managed just 15</a> during a forgettable stint <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wayne-rooney-league-one-tom-brady-birmingham-american-board-mistake/blt1886ca199e1e50c4" target="_blank">working with Tom Brady and Co at Birmingham</a>. His contract is due to run until 2027, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/wayne-rooney-stepping-stone-dream-job-former-man-utd-team-mate-managerial-return-old-trafford/blt84802238a82b9114" target="_blank">whether he gets the opportunity to honour that deal</a> is yet to be determined.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

Wayne Rooney ignores sack threat to identify transfer targets – with under pressure Plymouth boss revealing plans for January window | Goal.com Cameroon

Wayne Rooney appears to be ignoring supposed sack threats at Plymouth, with the Manchester United legend identifying transfer targets instead.