Coral’s Rumour Reel: Rooney to be the face of China football?
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | December 11, 2015
Rooney linked with Sven reunion
Readers of Friday morning papers can be forgiven for not believing the news that Wayne Rooney is the subject of a £75m deal to move to China, in a bid to increase the profile of football in the country.
However, it seems the nation are deadly serious about their interest, which could see the current Manchester United (9/2 Premier League chances with Coral) and England captain reunited with former Three Lions boss Sven-Goran Eriksson at Shanghai SIPG.
The deal is reported to be for three seasons, with Rooney earning £25m each year and potentially more if he is to be a success.
Big three on Red Devils’ radar
In more regular news, the Red Devils are also once again being linked with global superstars Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, and are apparently working on offers for each.
Former Man Utd favourite Ronaldo recently ambiguously stated: “There are things that you kind of already have an idea, that to play one day for Barcelona would be almost impossible, or to play for another English club other than Manchester, it’s very complicated. But that’s not 100 per cent guaranteed. As I said before, there are no certainties in football.
“Everything is open, all leagues. I may end my career here with Real Madrid. I’m just being honest. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. If I was 75 per cent certain, I would say so, it wouldn’t be a problem. But I have no idea.
“Right now I don’t see myself playing in the American league, but that’s right now. In two or three years I may think differently.”
Cash-rich Champions League flops United are also looking to lure Everton’s John Stones, who nearly joined Chelsea last summer, and could bid up to £50m to get their man to play alongside fellow England international centre back Chris Smalling.
Arsenal gunning to grow squad
Moving down to London, Arsenal are still tracking highly-rated Dynamo Moscow and Russia forward Aleksandr Kokorin, who is out of contract at the end of the season, but the Gunners want him in January in a boost to their bid for major title success this term. He reportedly may be available for a cut-price of around £4m.
The Gunners (5/2 title shouts) are are also still hoping to bring in Southampton’s Victor Wanyama, due to their ever-increasing injury-hit squad.
And finally, talking of Arsenal, their former player Ashley Cole could return to the Premier League after his contract with Roma was recently ripped up. Basement club Aston Villa are the team reportedly hoping to bring him in.
Related
Check out more of our Rumour Reels, as well as our Premier League archive.
