Wayne Rooney makes Derby County financial claim on Luke Plange after Crystal Palace move

Derby County manager Wayne Rooney believes it would have been better in a financial sense for the club to hold on to Luke Plange beyond the end of the summer, speaking candidly to Derbyshire Live.

The 19-year-old only arrived at Pride Park from Arsenal last year – and was potentially expected to play in the club’s Under-23s team – but the Rams’ financial situation, inability to get many players through the door due to their transfer embargo and his progress meant he was given the chance to shine in the first team.

This is an opportunity he has taken with both hands, recording three goals in eight Championship appearances so far this season as he starts to establish himself as a starter at Pride Park.

They won’t be able to retain him for the long term though, with Premier League side Crystal Palace agreeing a £1m fee with the East Midlands side’s administrators on deadline day for the teenager to join the Eagles, though they did allow Plange to remain at Pride Park for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.

This will be a huge source of disappointment for Derby fans who would have been keen to keep the forward, though their current financial situation with the club still in the depths of administration have made it harder to retain their assets.

Rooney is all too aware of the danger the second-tier side are in at this stage with a takeover seemingly not getting closer – and appreciates why the striker needed to be sold – but did admit his regret that they weren’t able to fend off this approach from Patrick Vieira’s men.

On this subject, the 36-year-old said: “It is a difficult one.

“From my point of view do you do it too early because I feel he could develop a lot more under me and with this club, but on the other hand do