Manchester United Transfer News: Clubs That Must Pursue Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney looks set to leave Manchester United after manager David Moyes placed the Englishman behind Robin Van Persie in the Red Devils striking pecking order.

The English Champions are on preseason tour in the Far East and Australia with Rooney missing out, citing an injury for the reason of his omission. Yet, the 27-year-old has never been far from the headlines, as Moyes refuted suggestions the ex-Everton frontman will take centre stage.

“Overall my thought on Wayne is, if for any reason we had an injury to Robin van Persie, we’ll need him,” Moyes said to Mirror Football. “Wayne can play up on his own, he can play dropped in. It’s going to be a time to see how I work with Wayne."

“Manchester United isn’t about Wayne Rooney. Manchester United is about the team—the club. I won’t allow Wayne Rooney to become more important than the football club and the football team, because that’s the heart of it.”

Rooney has scored 197 goals for Manchester United in 400 appearances, including 101 assists in his seven years at Old Trafford. The arrival of Van Persie last season, though, has shifted the Englishman from the first-choice striking position in the Premier League.

But Rooney is still a wanted man, and there are many European sides keeping tabs on the forward-player.

English rivals Arsenal and Chelsea are on the hunt for a prolific marksmen in the Summer transfer window and both have been linked with Rooney in recent weeks. According to Mirror Football, the Stamford Bridge club were ready to splash £40m on the England international, having seen interest in Radamel Falcao fall through.

Rooney, in the last few seasons, has performed poorly, perhaps out of the inconsistency in form, which hasn’t been aided by Van Persie’s signing, and some unfortunate injury problems. He scored just 12 goals last season in the English Premier League—a highlight, if anything, that the striker is requiring a fresh environment.

Outside of the UK, interest has been minimal in Rooney so far. Talk of FC Bayern looking to sign the 27-year-old proved fruitless, and suggestions of a move to Barcelona have not gone anywhere.

Still, Rooney’s experience at the top-level in European football, his relative youth—probably yet to reach his peak at the age of 27—and technical qualities should be attractive to other clubs in Europe.

With Paris Saint-Germain keen to open the cheque-book, Rooney is the attacking playmaker who could provide a different dynamic to their attack. Zlatan Ibrahimovic won’t be able to carry the French side on his own in the Champions League, so Rooney could find a welcoming home in Paris.

But expect some caution from Rooney’s potential suitors based on the transfer valuation from United.

At around £25m-£30m, Rooney does seem relatively inexpensive, especially given his successful CV at United. English footballers have gained a negative stigma when faced with European and International competition, but Rooney is possibly an exception to that.

An outstanding footballer—who is surely in no shortage of potential buyers.