A number of Derby County supporters have been left frustrated after Wayne Rooney admitted that the Rams currently have no available centre-backs.
Derby managed to stay in the Championship by the skin of their teeth last season, avoiding relegation to League One on the final day of the campaign. A 3-3 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday was just enough to keep them in the division, and the hope is that Rooney's men will finish higher next time around.
It isn't a particularly happy period in Derby's history, however, with a current transfer ban meaning that they can't sign any new players. Because of this, the Rams' squad looks rather threadbare, with the start of the 2021/22 Championship season now less than three weeks away.
Following Sunday's friendly defeat to Manchester United, Rooney admitted that Derby may going into the new campaign without a recognised centre-back and conceded: "I just want a team to put out on the first day of the season".
Derby fans fume over Rooney's admission
These Rams fans took to Twitter to vent their fury at the revelation, with some calling on owner Mel Morris to provide the manager with the support he clearly needs.
"All these jokers in here saying you can have Phil Jones. Lads, we literally can’t sign anyone"
Credit: @totaldcfc
"I'm close to giving up hope unless the @EFL allow us to sign free transfers"
Credit: @Coops_011287
"This needs sorting ASAP. As good as the performance was today it makes no difference if we can’t sign the players that played. The silence around a takeover doesn’t fill me with confidence that it will get sorted. Morris and Pearce need to give Rooney something to work with"
Credit: @Bayas_23
"That's just what you want to hear from your manager with the start of the season only weeks away. Feel sorry for Wayne. DCFC need to sort their club out and fast, or we will simply do to ourselves what the EFL have been trying to do to Derby for years"
Credit: @jolonkw
"Sort it out Mel. Rooney needs some help"
Credit: @dcfcGeorge_
"Mel seriously needs to hurry up"
Credit: @Reecedcfc
In other news, Derby reportedly have a 'verbal agreement' with one player over a move this summer. Find out who it is here.