Manchester United are still considering selling Wayne Rooney despite the transfer window closing, according to reports
According to the Telegraph, several Chinese clubs are still chasing United’s all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney and Manchester United are still considering whether or not to sell the England international.
Reports emerged last month that the 31-year old was attracting considerable interest from Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan, who were said to be considering a deadline day bid of around £20 million for the United captain.
It was also claimed that Rooney himself was seriously considering a move to China as he was looking for one final payday in the twilight of his career, with Chinese clubs apparently willing to offer him a ridiculous package of up to £1 million per week.
However, nothing materialised at the time and Rooney has stayed on at Manchester United. But, according to the Telegraph, United are open to the idea of selling the Englishman if he is open to a move himself.
Rooney has not started a Premier League game since December and has had a bit-part role in Jose Mourinho’s side this season. Despite the Portuguese manager’s insistence that the 31-year old is an important part of his side and his club, his team selection has shown otherwise.
Rooney has only managed 17 appearances in the league this season, 9 of which have come as a substitute. He has picked up 2 goals and 5 assists in those appearances and his decline from his former brilliance has only continued to show.
It is already clear that Rooney will almost certainly exit Old Trafford this summer and while his experience will be a valuable asset for United this season, it would not be such a massive loss should Rooney decide to make the move to China.
United’s team simply look better when Rooney is not in it and despite a shaky start, Mourinho’s side finally look like they are clicking. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has started to excel in the No. 10 role that Rooney now features in and there is no reason for Mourinho to change things up.
Rooney’s dynamism and explosiveness are traits that he very rarely shows these days and United already look like they have moved on from the striker. The Englishman will go down as an all-time great in the Red Devils’ history books.
The Telegraph state that Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande are still pursuing the Englishman and that Rooney has offers worth at least £32 million on the table from Chinese clubs, who know that his commercial value is huge.
United could also still command a considerable fee for the striker given that his contract runs until 2019. Should Rooney decide to move, this could be a decision that suits all the parties involved and the next 10 days will decide whether or not that happens.