Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Wayne Rooney, Youri Tielemans Rumours
Manchester United could see a changing of the guard in 2016 as captain Wayne Rooney will be offered £75 million to join the Chinese Super League, while the English titans continue to scout Anderlecht's Youri Tielemans.
It's been 11-and-a-half years since Rooney first arrived at Old Trafford as a teenager, and the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel reported Shanghai SIPG will hand the striker a three-year, £25 million-per-season deal to join their cause.
The Chinese outfit is managed by Rooney's former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson, and the lucrative contract would also include an image rights agreement that pays out "if he can help increase the CSL’s global profile."
At 30 years of age, some argue that Rooney is past his peak. It's sometimes the case that players who dazzle early in their careers experience earlier falls from grace, and Daniel Storey of Football 365 highlighted his absence from the United squad in Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Wolfsburg:
The Chinese Super League represents a burgeoning market for ageing stars, with Didier Drogba, Robinho and Nicolas Anelka each completing moves to the Asian division in recent years.
Following the summer departures of Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez and on-loan Radamel Falcao, Rooney was handed his old striker role by United manager Louis van Gaal. However, Samuel Luckhurst of the Manchester Evening News recently argued that decision was a mistake for a player already in his twilight years:
"Van Gaal gifted Wayne Rooney another privilege in August: that of starting as the United No.9. Rooney had only enjoyed that entitlement in 2009-10 and 2011-12, when he hit 34 goals in both terms, and the benefit of playing a season in his best position - where he was guaranteed to start every game - convinced United to delay pursuing an eminent No.9.
Rooney's form in those aforementioned seasons highlighted a problem, though - it was from the distant past. The signs dating back to 2012 suggested he was past his peak and Rooney has done everything since August to suggest United made a mistake in not replacing him in the summer window.
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Mokbel claimed Major League Soccer could be another option for the Red Devils' captain, following in the footsteps of former England team-mates Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. However, it's suggested their figures couldn't compete with those of China.
The Guardian's Daniel Harris even claimed Van Gaal's predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson "did everything possible" to sell Rooney, presumably on the understanding his forward was past his best:
The veteran still has three years remaining on his £300,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford, but even those numbers pale in comparison to Shanghai's offer, which would see the Englishman net roughly £480,000 per week.
Out with the old and in with the new could be the approach United take next year if interest in midfield marvel Tielemans proves genuine, and Anderlecht Online claimed the club scouted his talents on Thursday (h/t Daily Star's Jamie Anderson).
The 18-year-old assisted Andy Najar's strike in a 2-1 Europa League win over Qarabag, and it's possible United could get a closer look at the player in the competition's round of 32, the draw for which will take place on December 14.
Tielemans has already played more than 100 games for Belgian giants Anderlecht, and Anderson claimed Manchester City, Chelsea, Everton and Aston Villa are also interested. Toffees striker Romelu Lukaku was in awe of his compatriot's performance in midweek:
The Daily Mail's Simon Jones reported in October that Tielemans is seen as a successor to Michael Carrick, 34, although he has the potential to become a more versatile, box-to-box version of United's incumbent pass-master.
Anderson claimed Manchester City are willing to pay £30 million to land the services of one of Europe's most highly rated prospects, but United may still contend in Van Gaal's push to build a new dynasty at Old Trafford.
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