5 Clubs That Could Sign Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has been a talismanic figure for Manchester United since his arrival in 2004.

Having scored 219 times for the club, Rooney finds himself just 30 behind the all-time club record of Sir Bobby Charlton, already a bona-fide United legend and with several years of his career ahead of him.

However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the striker move from Old Trafford in the near future. He has signalled his intention to depart twice in the past under Sir Alex Ferguson, per The Daily Mail.

Now, with considerable competition for a starting spot up front (reportedly the reason for Rooney’s second transfer request), he could become unsettled once again. Should Radamel Falcao’s loan move be made permanent in the summer, United will look to offset some of his wages, and Rooney may be a willing volunteer.

Here are the five clubs that may consider the Englishman should he decide to leave United and the likelihood of the move coming to fruition.

Real Madrid

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With rumours of Cristiano Ronaldo returning to Old Trafford from the Bernabeu increasing with every passing transfer window, it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility that Rooney could trade places with the Portuguese.

Ronaldo’s presence would just add further competition for Rooney in the attacking roles, and his wages would certainly encourage United to considering offloading another big earner. Using Rooney as a makeweight in the deal would also help lower the transfer fee.

Real’s transfer policy is still very much a product of the Galacticos era, with president Florentino Perez signing some players with shirt sales in mind as much their role in the team.

Rooney would certainly fit the bill in terms of marketability, and The Telegraph reported that he would be open to a move abroad last summer.

The number of high-profile English players who have made the move to continental Europe is low. If he was to go to Real, however, Rooney would be following in the footsteps of former England teammates (and United players) David Beckham and Michael Owen, both of whom speak highly of the club.

Likelihood: Medium

Chelsea

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If Rooney opts to stay in the country, then one club stands out as his most likely destination.

Chelsea had two bids turned down for the striker last summer, per The Telegraph, and while their problems up front have largely been dealt with by the signings of Diego Costa and Loic Remy, there’s still potential there.

Chelsea’s third striker—the recently returned Didier Drogba—will turn 37 this season, and it’s likely that manager Jose Mourinho will be looking to recruit another forward in the near future.

Rooney’s famous work rate would greatly appeal to Mourinho, who allowed Juan Mata to leave largely down to his perceived lack of defensive ability and tracking back.

While Rooney would still command a large fee, particularly as United would be selling to a direct rival, money is little object to Chelsea, and he still has huge marketing potential to help recoup at least some of the money.

If United did decide to sell, they’d ideally like to avoid selling to a fellow title challenger. However, Mata’s move from blue to red last season may signal a softening in the opposition to the idea.

If Rooney is to leave Old Trafford for anywhere, it’ll be Stamford Bridge.

Likelihood: High

PSG

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The other club most frequently linked to Rooney along with Chelsea last summer was PSG.

Laurent Blanc claimed that the club weren’t interested in the striker last summer due to the wealth of talent they have up front. However, if United were to offer him for sale, it’s hard to see PSG turning the chance down.

Their current attacking lineup—Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edison Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi—may currently offer too much competition for Rooney, who would likely want to move to a team where he was a guaranteed starter.

However, Ibrahimovic is now 33 and Lavezzi turns 30 this season, meaning PSG could be in need of replenishment up front in the near future.

The club’s Qatari owners have stopped at nothing in their attempts to make the team from the French capital a European powerhouse and have spent lavishly.

As with any of Rooney’s potential foreign destinations, his marketability on the world stage would certainly make him an attractive prospect both on and off the field.

Likelihood: Medium

Liverpool

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It would be one of the most surprising transfers in Premier League history, but objectively speaking, the current Liverpool squad and Rooney are quite a good match.

Despite signing Mario Balotelli, the Anfield side still look short of both the goals and the irresistible thrust offered them by the departed Luis Suarez.

Liverpool have been no strangers to shelling out huge transfer fees in recent times, although Rooney's would almost certainly be a club record.

That being said, with Steven Gerrard’s powers beginning to diminish, Brendan Rodgers will be searching for someone who can take over the captain’s armband fairly soon. Rooney could be that player, which would certainly help justify his fee.

For Rooney, it would mean a return to his hometown. His past as an Everton fan and player may offer a stumbling block, although his bridges with the club were largely burned when he moved to Old Trafford in 2004. The major issue from his perspective would be if he considered Anfield a step down from United.

Likelihood: Low

Miami MLS Team

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Given they won’t begin playing until at least 2017, it's likely that if Rooney were ever to find himself in Miami, he may well have moved somewhere in between United and the East Coast.

That being said, it really wouldn’t be a surprise to see the United star stateside at some point in his career, and the newly established Miami franchise seems his most likely destination.

David Beckham, one of the three owners of the club, played alongside Rooney at international level and will undoubtedly be on the hunt for megastars to fill the team’s three designated spots.

The former United captain has already been linked with another of Rooney’s ex-teammates, Cristiano Ronaldo, but Rooney may offer more affordable wages and is perhaps marginally less driven than Ronaldo to compete at the top level for as long as he can.

He can also get some first-hand advice from his brother, who enjoyed a brief stint at the New York Red Bulls.

Rooney has previously stated his belief that the MLS has the potential to be one of the best leagues in the world, and he would certainly find the opportunity to be one of the next generation of ambassadors appealing.

Likelihood: Medium