Derby County have been handed a huge boost in their bid 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 appear to be on course to land the Manchester United centre-back on another loan deal in the current transfer window, with the Premier League runners-up content to send the 19-year-old back to the Championship side after they secured survival on the final day of the season.

Rooney will be buzzing

With Derby remaining under a transfer embargo due to Mel Morris' ongoing search to find a buyer for the club, something that limits the Rams' transfer activity to loans and free transfers, as well as any potential incomings having to be paid a sensible wage, the news that Mengi looks set to make a return to Pride Park this summer is sure to have Rooney buzzing.

Indeed, over his nine Championship appearances while on loan at the club last season, the £1.35m-rated defender turned in a number of impressive performances in what were extremely challenging circumstances.

In the league, the 19-year-old helped his side keep a total of one clean sheet, while also making an average of 1.1 interceptions, one tackle, 2.4 clearances and winning 3.8 duels per game, with these metrics culminating in the youngster earning a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.67.

As such, with Rooney looking to build a side in the transfer window that is capable of mounting a push towards the top half of the second tier table next season, the potential return of a player whom the 35-year-old manager claimed is a "fantastic" centre-back will give the former England captain at least one reason to be cheerful in the coming months, particularly when factoring the mess that his side remain in away from the pitch.

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