Despite Manchester United having a new manager and a regained Premier League title after a very successful 2012-13 season, all the talk around Old Trafford is revolving around the future of striker Wayne Rooney, who was confirmed to have handed in a formal transfer request to the Red Devils towards the end of last season, for the second time in his United career.
With Rooney being one of the best strikers in the world for a long time now, there has been a massive reaction to the news that Rooney is available for a transfer, with many of the biggest clubs in England and across Europe claiming an interest in the 27-year-old. Since signing from Everton back in 2004, Rooney has gone on to score 141 goals in 278 league games for United, becoming an essential part of their side over the past eight seasons.
Rooney first caught the attentions of England’s biggest clubs in the 2002-03 season, making 33 league appearances for the Toffees aged just 17. He only scored six goals that season, but still grasped the attentions of the big boys. After making 34 appearances the next season, one of those clubs finally decided to make a move, with Manchester United signing him for just under £26m.
Despite the effect Rooney has had at Old Trafford, he is disliked amongst many United fans, as this is the second time he has handed in a transfer request to leave the Reds, with his first coming in late 2010. His representatives stated that the reason Rooney wanted to leave the club was in search of ambition, and not higher wages, but after this statement was made, Rooney changed his intentions and signed a new contract with United, until the end of the 2014-15 season. He then managed to come back into the side and help win the club’s 19th Premier League title, but the damage was done.
Like I said before, many clubs are very interested in acquiring the services of the England star, but who are they? Would he want to join them? Here is an analysis of the clubs who have been heavily linked with a move for the striker, and how likely I think he is to join each team.
Firstly, there’s Paris Saint-Germain, big-spending French champions, who are bidding to become one of the biggest clubs in Europe over the next few years. Considered by many – including myself – as underdogs, they have beaten big clubs around Europe to some of the best players in the game, such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who fired them to the title last summer, and are now looking to poach one of Europe’s hottest strikers from one of the biggest clubs in the world. Rooney could partner Swedish star Ibrahimovic for PSG, and become one of Les Parisiens key men within a couple of seasons, at one of the best projects in European football at the moment.
Another possible destination for Rooney is Arsenal, one of the clubs bidding to reclaim their status as challengers for the Premier League title, having failed to win a trophy since 2005. One of the things that the Gunners now lack is a reliable goalscorer, having lost Robin Van Persie to United last summer. Rooney is exactly the player who could fill this void, and with Arsenal reportedly ready to stump up the required funds to buy Rooney. However, Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain is also being strongly linked with the Gunners, along with Juventus and Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea. It remains to be seen which striker will end up at the Emirates this summer, but both are proven strikers, and joining the club would provide a good challenge for each of these players.
A surprise destination has also emerged as a possibility for Rooney in recent times – Manchester City, who were also linked with a move for him when he handed his first transfer request in back in 2010. The Blues have also been linked with Edinson Cavani this summer as they look to regain the Premier League title next season, but Rooney has once again emerged as a target for the Citizens, with some sources claiming they are set to make a bid in the coming days of around £26m. With both Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez expected to leave the Etihad this summer, Rooney could be an important part of City’s title challenge next year if he joins the club. The advantages of joining City are much more than three years ago, when Rooney was last linked with the club too. Not only are City still easily able to afford the player’s weekly wage, but are now also able to offer bigger chances of trophies, and the chance to play with some of the world’s best players, meaning joining the Blues is an enticing prospect.
However, with a new manager coming into United for the new season, David Moyes, Rooney could yet reverse his decision again, and decide to stay on with the Red Devils. When Moyes officially takes over from Sir Alex Ferguson at the start of July, the Scotsman is expected to hold talks with Rooney about his future with the club, and although would like to keep such a big talent, is understood to be willing to listen to offers for the Englishman.
Until speculation about Rooney’s future is resolved, the paper talk will continue to grow, as one of the most interesting stories this summer gets more complicated and more interesting. There’s no real telling at this point in time where Rooney will end up come the end of the transfer window, however with the amount of clubs interested, a high-profile move is very much on the cards. Alongside with the three clubs mentioned in this piece, Chelsea are also rumoured to be interested in signing him, as they look to sign a new, regular goalscorer under Jose Mourinho, and since they have been ruled out of the chase for Cavani, a move for Rooney could be very high on their list. Watch this space, as one of the hottest transfer battles of the summer begins to heat up.
The Blue View 