Derby County boss Wayne Rooney wants Aden Flint to lead the club's planned for charge back into the Championship next season.
The veteran centre-half is on the lookout for a new club after announcing he is leaving Cardiff City following a three-year spell in the Welsh capital. Flint is among a glut of out of contract senior stars likely to leave in the coming days as Steve Morison undergoes a radical overhaul of the squad.
Flint is from the Derbyshire area and a return to his roots might appeal, particularly as Rooney plans to make him a kingpin of his team in League One as they seek an instant return to Championship football.
Rooney is currently on holiday in Dubai, having been present at the Wagatha Christie High Court trial involving his wife Coleen and Rebekah Vardy. But his Derby planning for the new 2022-23 campaign was already underway, Rooney saying he wants 'The best ones we can' when asked about potential targets.
"The question is can we, whether that is from a salary point of view or players we might need to pay a little bit of money for, can we do that?"
Flint, of course, would arrive on a free transfer, but he was believed to be on a bumper wage with the Bluebirds after being signed from Middlesbrough. He made 93 appearances for City over the course of a three-year stint.
Flint is one of 10 first-team stars to have come to the end of their contracts with the club, and has followed Marlon Pack and Alex Smithies in confirming his departure from South Wales.
He became something of a cult idol with many Bluebirds fans after netting in a 1-0 win over rivals Swansea City in March 2021. He also captained the side on several occasions.
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Will Vaulks, Isaac Vassell, Leandro Bacuna, Ciaron Brown and Josh Murphy are also expected to move on, while there doesn't yet appear to be a breakthrough in efforts to tie Joe Ralls down to a new deal. It's understood captain Sean Morrison could also be in line for a short-term offer.
