Super-rich French side target United star

With so few clubs realistically able to afford Wayne Rooney’s combined transfer fee and wages, it was looking as if the Manchester United striker would have to stay put for at least another season. But now, alongside clubs like PSG and Bayern Munich, an unlikely contender has emerged.

According to The Daily Star, French second division side Monaco are preparing to blow their rivals “out of the water” with an outrageous bid for the England star. Wow.

The super-rich side were thought to be sniffing around Carlos Tevez as their marquee summer signing, but a move for Rooney would eclipse even that. Russian billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlev is apparently desperate to lead Monaco back to the top of European football –we’ve heard that one before – and sees Rooney as the man to help him achieve this.

Rooney himself is thought to fancy a move to Barcelona, but then again, who wouldn’t. Come to think of it I would like to have myself on record saying I also wouldn’t mind a move to the Camp Nou. Just in case.

It seems unlikely that the Catalan giants, who secured their place in the Champions League quarter finals on Tuesday night with an outstanding 4-0 victory over AC Milan, would actually want Rooney. They have enough trouble slotting Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas into the same side without adding the ex-Everton man into the mix.

Jack Johnson

Follow @Jack_Johnson__