Report: Crystal Palace and West Ham prioritising midfielder who ‘really impressed’ Rooney

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West Ham United and Crystal Palace are hoping to sign Jason Knight from Championship outfit Derby County during the January transfer window, as reported by the Irish Mirror.

It hasn’t been a season to remember for a Rams side still stuck in the relegation zone in the first few days of 2021, but the all-action performances of a Dublin-born teenager have at least given the fans something to shout about.

In 19-year-old Knight, Derby boast one of the most exciting young midfielders outside the Premier League.

At the risk of deepening your post-Christmas blues, Knight was just 18 months old when a certain Wayne Rooney made his top-flight debut.

The Manchester United legend is now making a name for himself in the dugout at Pride Park, with Knight immediately becoming one of the first names on Rooney’s Derby team-sheet.

“I’ve been really impressed with the way they’ve trained, particularly Knighty. His energy, his attitude. He almost reminds me of myself when I was younger in terms of no fear,” Rooney told Rams TV recently.

“And he’s got an aggression about him, not in terms of how he’s tackling, but in terms of how he runs, how he gets about the pitch. I’m looking forward to see how they do as I feel he can give us a lot of energy and a lot of creativity.”

The Mirror reports that David Moyes and Roy Hodgson, both of whom coached Rooney during their storied managerial careers, have placed Knight at the top of their January wish list.

Burnley, meanwhile, are rivalling West Ham and Crystal Palace for the barnstorming midfield dynamo.

But, with their Championship status on the line, don’t expect Derby to listen too closely to any mid-season offers.