Derby County are closing in on a deal to bring Teden Mengi back to Pride Park this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by The Athletic, who claim that Wayne Rooney's side are nearing the completion of a season-long loan deal for the Manchester United centre-back.

The news comes following the English Football League's announcement that they will not be appealing a verdict given by an independent disciplinary commission regarding the club's policy on the amortisation of player registrations, meaning that the Rams will be playing their football in the Championship next season.

Rooney will be delighted

With the completion of a deal for Mengi appearing to rest on which level of English football Derby would be participating in next season, the fact that the Rams will remain a Championship side, and subsequently the green light being given for the 19-year-old to make a return to the club this summer, will have delighted Rooney.

Indeed, despite being thrown into a Derby side in freefall during a loan spell at the club last season, Mengi nevertheless impressed over his nine Championship appearances for the Rams last term.

In the second tier, the £1.35m-rated man helped his side keep one clean sheet, as well as making an average of 1.1 interceptions, one tackle, 2.4 clearances and winning 3.8 duels per game.

These metrics saw the player Rooney dubbed a "fantastic" centre-back earn an average SofaScore match rating of 6.67, playing a key role in the club's survival from relegation to League One.

As such, with the 35-year-old undoubtedly looking to build a team in the summer transfer window that is capable of much more than simply securing survival next season, the return of the £600-per-week England U19 international is certainly an excellent way to begin Derby's recruitment drive.

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