Rooney rejects new Manchester United contract talks

Wayne Rooney has rejected Manchester United's latest attempts to open talks over a new contract.

The striker and his representatives are refusing to even discuss an extension, with the England international's existing terms set to expire at the end of next season.

We revealed in October that Rooney had rejected United's first approach to discuss a contract renewal as he continues to explore the possibility of leaving the club.

The 28-year-old and his camp have declined further offers from the club in recent weeks to start negotiating, with United willl to give him a four-year deal.


Rooney has begun the season in outstanding form, scoring eight goals in 13 Premier League appearances for the side during a difficult start for new boss David Moyes that has left the reigning champions ninth in the table.

Publicly, Moyes insisted last week that a new deal for the England international "will be done in good course" but Rooney is understood to remain keen to seek a fresh challenge at another Champions League club.

"Wayne is resisting any and all attempts from the club to talk about his contract situation," a source told Goal.

"He knows, more than anything, that with his contract running down and in the form that he is in, he holds all the aces."

Rooney and his agent, Paul Stretford, are well aware that they are in a strong position to engineer a transfer in the summer, when the player will have just one year remaining on his contract.

Indeed, sources close to the situation have told Goal that Rooney is increasingly aware of the renewed interest in him from leading clubs both abroad and domestically.

Chelsea made two bids for Rooney in the summer after being told that the former Everton man wanted to move to Stamford Bridge and there was also strong interest from Arsenal up until the final week of the window.

United refused to sell Rooney to Chelsea, a club whom they regard as a principal title rival but the league champions could be backed into a corner if the forward pushes hard for a transfer either in January or next summer while refusing to extend his weekly salaray of £250,000 (€300,000).