Chelsea Transfer News: Blues Wise to Launch Increased Bid for Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney appears to be ready for a fresh start with a new club this season, but Manchester United would likely rather see their forward waste away on the bench than score goals against them for an English rival.

But despite the fact that less than two weeks remain in the transfer window, Chelsea aren't giving up hope of landing the English striker.

According to The Daily Express' Tony Banks, Jose Mourinho and Chelsea are set to launch a third bid for Rooney, one in the range of £28 million. 

Mourinho had the following to say about the Blues' pursuit of Rooney, per Banks:

"

We will keep trying because, when the market is open, official bids are not forbidden. You try because nobody forbids you to try.

We have conditions to try to improve our team with one more player. But we do have a Plan B and a Plan C.

"

Chelsea haven't had much luck in their pursuit of Rooney this summer and United have maintained that they intend to move forward with Rooney as the face of the club.

But the Blues deserve credit for not budging. 

Rather than move on and settle for a lower-caliber player, Chelsea have turned up the heat on United by presenting them with a bid they will have no choice but to consider given Rooney's diminished role at Old Trafford.

For a club with as much talent and potential as Chelsea, one just a piece or two away from winning the Premier League, landing or missing out on Rooney could be the difference between a first or second place finish next spring.

After all, when healthy and in top form, 27-year-old Rooney is capable of scoring 30-35 goals in a season. That type of production is what the Blues need at the top of their lineup each week if they hope to dethrone United and overcome a reloaded Manchester City squad in the process.

Aging midfielder Frank Lampard led the club with 15 league goals last season and was already tied with Oscar as the team's leading Premier League goalscorer after the club's opener this past weekend.

There's nothing wrong with getting production from the 35-year-old veteran, but there's no way Chelsea can continue to rely on him to find the back of the net week in and week out.

At some point the Blues will need a go-to goalscorer, an offensive superstar in order to beat the best clubs in England. 

Rooney fits the bill and would be worth the investment for Stamford Bridge.

As a result, Mourinho and Chelsea deserve credit for continuing their push for topflight striking talent this summer. 

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