Red Devils will entertain selling Rooney this summer.
Manchester United are prepared to sell England striker Wayne Rooney this summer, reports the Daily Mirror.
The tabloid believes that Rooney’s omission from the starting line-up against Real Madrid in Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 clash has signalled ‘the beginning of the end of his Old Trafford career’.
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson reportedly no longer views the 27-year-old as indispensable and will listen to offers for the former Everton star after the current campaign.
Manchester City, Chelsea and Ligue 1 outfit PSG are all said to be interested in the striker, who has two years remaining on his current deal in Manchester.
The Mirror says that United are not interested in offering Rooney a contract extension and will instead sell the player – rather than allowing his deal to run dangerously close to its 2015 expiry date.
Ferguson reportedly has concerns about Rooney’s fitness and overall condition and lingering tensions between the pair were said to have been exacerbated by his omission from the eleven against Real, which left the stiker “furious”.
Rooney has scored 195 goals in 394 appearances for United since joining from Everton for £27million in 2004 but the England forward has played second fiddle to summer signing Robin van Persie this term.
Even so, Rooney has scored 11 goals in just 16 Premier League starts, keeping the likes of Danny Welbeck and Javier Hernandez on the bench.
Rooney had his sights on breaking Sir Bobby Charlton’s 249-goal club record but that target looks likely to elude him with his expected sale.
Several other newspapers are reporting on Rooney’s possible departure from Old Trafford.
The Daily Mail believe United will listen to offers of over £20m for the player, while The Sun claim the Red Devils are holding out for £25m.
The Guardian says Manchester City will not be reviving their interest in the striker, however, with Rooney’s £300,000-a-week wage packet pricing the Champions out of a deal.
The Evening Standard’s Paddy Barclay, meanwhile, agrees that Rooney’s extortionate wages will likely limit his potential suitors, with Chelsea unlikely to cough up for the forward.
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