United Take Firm Stance With Transfer

Manchester United have told Chelsea that Wayne Rooney isn’t for sale at any price, scuppering Jose Mourinho’s summer transfer plans.

Yesterday we wrote of Chelsea’s interest in Samuel Eto’o as a plan b incase their move for Rooney failed to bear fruit, and today the rumours have picked up momentum with talk of a £5m move for the Cameroonian and it is believed that this is because of United stance on selling Rooney.

Daniel Taylor of The Guardian wrote yesterday that Chelsea firmly believed that the relationship between Rooney and United would deteriorate to the extent that the club would be forced to sell, but after two failed bids of £23m and £25m it is beginning to dawn on Mourinho that United aren’t willing to hear any offers for the England international.

The piece claims that The Glazer family are attempting to make a point by refusing to acknowledge any further Chelsea bids, feeling that it would make the club appear weak to cave into the pressure and sell the star to a rival team and are even willing to hang onto the striker if he goes public on his desire to leave Old Trafford.

Taylor claims that United have never placed a value on the striker, as selling him has never been an option especially not to Chelsea with last summer’s transfer business in mind. Having brought Arsenal’s star player Robin Van Persie to Old Trafford, Manchester United romped to the title with the Dutchman’s goals playing an integral part and don’t want to risk falling victim to a similar scenario with Rooney, especially as the striker is only 27 and the club feel he has a number of seasons left at the top of his game to come.

Moyes is now left with the unenviable task of reintegrating Rooney into a team said to be fed up with the disruptions the whole affair has produced. It is believed that Moyes will go public with his request that fans remember the 9 years of service Rooney has provided United in an attempt to ward off the boo boys but having handed in a transfer request just 3 years ago, this saga has left a bitter taste in the mouths of fans and Moyes’ pleas are likely to fall on deaf ears.