Is it time for Wayne Rooney to leave Manchester United?

Is it time for Wayne Rooney to leave Manchester United?

According to numerous media outlets, including Sky Sports, Manchester United have turned down a bid from Chelsea for unsettled striker Wayne Rooney.

The value of the bid has yet to be revealed, but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has recently been singing the praises of the England star.

Unsettled

Wayne Rooney seems deeply unsettled at Manchester United. Some cynics may suggest that Rooney is just looking for a better or new deal from United.

United have already stated that they have no plans to open negotiations with the England striker about a new deal .

I think the fact that is hurting Rooney more is that he is considered second best to Robin van Persie in the United attack. United boss David Moyes recently remarked that Rooney is needed in case the Dutch striker was injured.

I do not believe it was the Scot’s way of saying that Rooney is second best to Van Persie, more that Rooney is needed as well as the Dutch striker. It appears that Rooney took it as an insult, if reports are to be believed.

The striker had handed in a transfer request towards the end of last season. Rooney was expected to move to pastures new this summer. However, Moyes seems to have put the not for sale boards up. Whether that is a ploy to push his price up remains to be seen.

Chelsea

Despite summer long speculation over his future, nobody apart from Chelsea, have made their interest in Rooney concrete with a bid. Chelsea seems like an unlikely destination for Rooney, despite Mourinho liking of the player.

The Blues are likely to be one of United’s title rivals next season. United would be strengthening their rivals team if he did join Chelsea. One of the other reasons would be that I do not see where he would fit into the Chelsea team.

The Blues already have the likes of Oscar, Eden Hazard, and Juan Mata to play behind the striker. Rooney would more likely play in the lone front man role, which Fernando Torres, Demba Ba, Romelu Lukaku looked set to compete for next season.

Swap

One of the more interesting factors in this deal seems to be that Chelsea are believed to be willing to give United either David Luiz or Juan Mata in any potential deal. That seems ridiculous to me.

Juan Mata was not just one of the best Premier League midfielders last season, he was one of the best players in the league overall. I really cannot see the Blues parting with the Spaniard, plus cash for Rooney. It seems like a very silly piece of business and Jose Mourinho does not do silly business.

Even Luiz leaving seems unlikely. The Brazilian has started to grow in stature over the past few months. He is starting to fulfil his potential and Chelsea letting him leave at this point makes no sense at all.

Interested

A number of other clubs have been linked with Rooney this summer already, the likes of Arsenal, Barcelona and Manchester City all believed to be looking at signing the striker. I just wonder whether this bid will encourage other teams to try to tempt United into selling the 27-year-old.

Rut

It seems like Wayne Rooney is stuck in a footballing rut. In his younger days, Rooney seemed to enjoy playing football, but for the last few years, that joy of the game seems to have turned to frustration and anger.

Last season was not his best, as doubts over his fitness and form must have affected his game. It now seems the common consensus amongst the United fans is that it is time for Rooney to move on. A minority have even claimed that the England international is past his best.

That maybe slightly harsh, but Rooney should now be coming into his prime as a forward, not playing a secondary role to other players. Robin van Persie is without a doubt United’s most dangerous striker, I do not think many people would dispute that.

However, that fact must hurt Rooney’s ego. He has always been talked about as a special talent and now people are writing him off as a has-been.

Fresh

No matter what happens to Wayne Rooney at Manchester United, I do not ever think he will ever rediscover his best form at Old Trafford. It seems to me that the 27-year-old is in need of a fresh start elsewhere, whether that is at Stamford Bridge, I do not know.

However, something has to change or Wayne Rooney’s undoubted talent will be wasted and all he will be left with at the end of his career will be his medal collection and a whole host of regrets.

Is it time for Wayne Rooney to leave Manchester United?