Wayne Rooney Transfer Rumors: Latest News on the Manchester United Star (UPDATE)

With the Wayne Rooney saga still the primary talking point of this summer transfer window, it is time again to look at all the developments taking place.

Will Rooney stay with the club that has provided him with eight years of world-class football, or take a step away and attempt to pursue further success elsewhere?

Whilst I originally proposed to update an already existing article with new information, I noticed that on the occasions I did, little to no people would have seen the newly reported news. For this reason I felt it best to write a new piece altogether, with the mindset that it would be more accessible to the masses.

Latest News on Move to Chelsea and Arsenal

These two behemoths of the English game have both shown a more than key interest in United's former star player. 

Having been torn apart by Wayne over the past decade or so, both managers and players at the two English clubs primarily involved in the Rooney saga know exactly how valuable he is.

UPDATE: Monday, July 1, 5:35 a.m. ET by Simon Edmonds

Arsenal

Mirror has reported that Arsenal have made a bid in the region of £20 million for the United striker, which has so far been met with silence from Old Trafford.

Whilst this sum isn't going to be enough to lure Rooney to the Emirates, it does lay down the real intentions of Arsene Wenger this summer, and it gives Wayne some food for thought. 

Clearly the man who is now the longest-serving manager in the Barclays Premier League has his eye very firmly set on the England International.

The move would make sense for both player and club, with Rooney ironically filling the void left behind with the departure of Robin van Persie.

Is this likely to happen? I think not, simply because of the rivals Arsenal have for "Wazza." Whilst Wenger has been handed a huge cash kitty this summer, competing with the likes of Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid will surely be too much for the side that have gone eight years without a trophy.

Chelsea

According to James Boylan's report in Metro Chelsea are poised and primed to up the ante and outbid Arsenal some time this week if it does become apparent Rooney will not be staying at Old Trafford.

In truth Chelsea are the kind of club where if they want a player, they almost certainly have enough money to be able to lure them in.

That, along with the recent arrival of Jose Mourinho and all-round upheaval at the club, plays perfectly into Rooney's hands from an on-field perspective.

Jose appears to be on the hunt for a striker this summer, with rumors of Fernando Torres heading to Arsenal showing an obvious intent to find a new center forward, according to the Sunday People (h/t Yahoo! Sport).

Whilst Edinson Cavani is being touted as the likely newcomer to the role, that doesn't stop Mourinho strengthening further and acquiring Rooney also.

Don't be surprised to see Jose placing a bid for the United man some time this week in excess of £25 million.

Latest News on Move to PSG

UPDATE: Monday, July 1st, 5:56 a.m. ET by Simon Edmonds

Whilst there hasn't been much news in the way of an actual move for Rooney from the French Champions yet, there is undoubtedly a lot of fan pressure to sign the 27-year-old scouser.

Previously I mentioned how Rooney had topped a poll of players that fans of the club wanted to see come to Paris, and the owners of the club would have kept this in mind.

A practically unlimited transfer fund means that PSG are one of the few teams in the world who literally could (in theory at least) sign any player that they wanted.

French site Le 10 Sport (article in French) are suggesting that to satisfy Rooney, he would need to be on a salary of as much as £300,000 a week—which equates to roughly €18 million a year.

Unsurprisingly, then, there are very few clubs other than PSG that would be able to comfortably afford these kind of lavish wages.

If Rooney did hook up with the Parisians, then he would be playing alongside the world-class talent and all-round nutter that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic. 

Whilst many United fans would be sad to see Rooney leave, even the most stalwart would have to admit that partnership would be something worth seeing!

Latest News on Move to Barcelona

UPDATE: Monday, July 1st, 6:14 a.m. ET by Simon Edmonds

If I'm honest I don't think Rooney would settle in well at Barca. There is a very strong team spirit that has been built up after a number of years, and if Wayne is worried that he isn't getting much first-team football at United, then he shouldn't have much hope of getting many for the Spanish champions—just ask Thiago Alcantara! 

Still, new signing and star of the 2013 Confederations Cup Neymar has spoken publicly in urging Rooney to join up with Barca.

In an interview with The Telegraph the Brazilian superstar said:

"

The style of football we [Barcelona] play and the level of the players we have - we are the perfect club for the top players to join.

I have met Wayne on a few occasions and he seems a good guy but importantly, he is one of the players I admire most in the world.

Wayne is one of the most gifted and technical players in the world. Of course he would improve Barcelona. He would improve any club in Europe. And on a personal level, it would be a dream to play with him.

"

This slightly odd, slightly flattering admiration that Neymar continues to express for Wayne Rooney makes this reporter chuckle.

The two are fairly different types of players, with Rooney relying on his brute strength as well as immense skill, whilst Neymar's game revolves around gliding past defenders with minimal contact.

Rooney is an amazing player, but what makes him stand out so much to the player with the greatest potential since Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is anybody's guess!

Latest News on Staying at United

UPDATE: Monday, July 1st, 6:26 a.m. ET by Simon Edmonds

The wider picture of this entire transfer saga could be made a lot clearer by this time tomorrow, if Rooney's proposed meeting with David Moyes garners success for the new United manager.

Moyes has stated before that his primary objective upon arrival at Old Trafford is to convince Rooney to stay with the Red Devils.

If he does so then the hopes of several of the world's best clubs are down the drain.

It wouldn't be great for us journalists either—what the heck are we going to write about?!

From a United point of view I think that Rooney staying at the club would be the perfect way for Moyes to cement himself as a powerful figurehead of respect at Old Trafford.

Convincing a player who under the great Sir Alex Ferguson supposedly wanted to leave the club would earn United's new Scotsman incredible accolades, and sends a message to the rest of European football that this new fella' means business.

Two weeks ago I couldn't see an outcome in this whole affair where Rooney did eventually end up staying with the title-holders.

Flash forward to now, and the way that this whole thing has slowly started to get a bit cold, coupled with the arrival of David Moyes today at Old Trafford, makes me think that perhaps there is a chance of United's all-time leading goal-scorer under Fergie staying with the Red Devils.

I suppose only time will tell from here.

Follow me on Twitter: @Eddie_Edmonds