Wayne Rooney ‘targets former England team-mate’ as his first signing at Birmingham City

Wayne Rooney could reportedly make a move for his former England team-mate Jack Butland as he gets down to business at Birmingham City.

Rooney, 37, was appointed Blues manager last week with a brief to return them to the Premier League and one of his first moves in the transfer market could be to bring Butland back to St Andrew’s.

The Rangers goalkeeper, 30, started his career at Birmingham, emerging from their youth ranks to play 46 times for the club in 2012-13 before joining then-Premier League club Stoke City.

The Sun report Rooney wants to sign Butland in January, just six months after he joined the Scottish club on a free transfer following the expiry of his Crystal Palace contract.

A small transfer fee will be required to make the move happen but Rooney will have to keep the purse strings tightened until Birmingham can move on a number of big earners.

Rooney was unveiled as the new manager of Championship Birmingham City last week

It was Michael Beale who persuaded Butland to make the move to Ibrox back in the summer but his sacking has reportedly left the keeper considering his Ibrox future.

Butland has played 13 times for the Gers since joining them amid a mixed start to the season.

Blues are reportedly looking to move current keeper Neil Etheridge on, although that may not happen until the summer.

Butland and Rooney played together for England once – the latter captained the team in a 2-0 win over France in November 2015, with the former coming on at half-time.

Rooney has targeted immediate promotion to the Premier League after he was unveiled as Birmingham‘s new manager on Thursday.

The former Manchester United and England captain has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at St Andrew’s and takes his second role in English football after a stint with crisis-torn Derby between 2020 and 2021.

Butland only signed for Rangers…