NEW KAIDE ON THE BLOCK Liverpool beat Man Utd to signing of 16-year-old Kaide Gordon after he impressed Derby boss Wayne Rooney

WAYNE ROONEY has revealed he is resigned to losing teenage sensation Kaide Gordon after Liverpool beat Manchester United in the chase to sign the England Under-16 international.

Posted Friday, January 29, 2021 by Thesun.co.uk

The talented winger became the fourth youngest player in Derby County’s history when he made his debut in the Rams’ 4-0 Championship over Birmingham City at St Andrew’s on December 29 - aged 16 years, two months and 24 days.

NEW KAIDE ON THE BLOCK Liverpool beat Man Utd to signing of 16-year-old Kaide Gordon after he impressed Derby boss Wayne Rooney
Liverpool have beaten Manchester United in the race for Derby's Kaide Gordon Credit: PA:Press Association

The Championship club pulled out all the stops to try and keep the wonderkid, who has been at Pride Park since he was nine, but Rooney revealed the youngster has rejected the offer of a long-term contract and is set to leave.

The Derby boss has now reluctantly accepted the precocious talent is Anfield bound but refused to rule out the possibility of Gordon returning on loan next season.

Asked if Gordon would be signing for Liverpool, Rooney replied: “It looks that way. Once the champions of England come in and want to sign you it’s difficult to turn down.

"Kaide is a fantastic player. I brought him into the first-team squad because he was showing the qualities I wanted in my players.

"He’s still a very young lad. But there’s been an offer there for Kaide, even before I was in this role.

"He hasn’t signed it for whatever reason. That’s up to himself - or probably more so his agent - given the age of the lad because it’s difficult to make those decisions at that age.

"Obviously Liverpool became aware of that and stepped in. Once a team like Liverpool comes in for one of your players it’s very difficult for them to turn that down - I understand that.

"If any of the big clubs in the Premier League come in, it’s difficult to deny the player that opportunity.”

Rooney took the Premier League by storm when he burst on the scene with Everton, aged 17.

But he says Gordon may need to be more patient and says he hopes he hasn’t seen the last of his talented youngster, whose older brother Kellan plays with Mansfield Town.

Rooney added: “If you ask me if Kaide is ready to play first-team football week-in, week-out, then the answer is no.

"He’s got great potential but he needs to work on building himself up - on his physique and being ready to play week-in, week-out.

"So he will more than likely go into Liverpool’s Academy for the next couple of years.”

Asked if there was a possibility of loaning back Gordon, Rooney wouldn’t rule it out - in future.

He said: “Could I guarantee Liverpool - if he stays here on loan until the end of this season - would I play him every week?

"Then the answer will be no because I couldn’t do that with Kaide at the minute.

"But ask me would I take him in the summer and it’s something I’d look at of course. I’m sure all those details will be put in place in terms of the contract he signs at Liverpool.”