What is Wayne Rooney’s budget? Plymouth agree transfer kitty as Man Utd legend looks to spend his way out of trouble in Championship relegation battle

The Manchester United legend has endured a testing return to management at Home Park, with the Pilgrims destined to sit bottom of the Championship on Christmas Day. A seven-game winless run has dropped the Devon-based outfit to the foot of the second tier table.

They are only one point adrift of safety, though, and know that shrewd recruitment in the winter market could make the difference between success and failure. Rooney has been informed of his transfer kitty, with targets in the process of being identified.

Rooney has said of efforts to get more bodies on board, with movement in and out of Plymouth expected early in 2025: “I think what's important is myself, the recruitment team, the coaches, knowing exactly where we are at and what we have to bring players in. We know exactly what we have got. I think that's what I have been really impressed with about the owner (Simon Hallett) and the board since I have been at the club, knowing exactly where we are at and what we can do.

“I have got clarity on that over the last 48 hours so it gives us a clear mind to know what we can do in the transfer window. Of course, we are all working extremely hard to make sure we make the right decisions and bring the right players in. That means there might be one or two players going the other way. That's part of football and these are decisions we have to make in the best interests of the club.”

Plymouth will be back in action on Boxing Day when taking in a trip to Coventry, with that contest set to see Rooney lock coaching horns with his former England international team-mate Frank Lampard before 2024 is brought to a close with a visit to Oxford on December 29.