Arsenal have offered Wayne Rooney a wage package of around £200,000k a week if he agrees to move from Manchester United to Arsenal.
The England striker is unhappy at United and could force his way out of the club by refusing to commit under new manager David Moyes.
While of course Chelsea and PSG are keen to use their oil billions to attract him to their clubs, Arsenal are willing to make Rooney the figurehead of a new British identity at Arsenal, and give him the starring role he craves.
Odds on Rooney joining Arsenal have fallen from 33/1 to 14/1 (Paddy), being as low as 5/1 on Sky.
This kind of fall only generally happens when there is big money being placed on something happening, often by people who know what’s going on.
Rooney will hold ‘showdown talks’ (which always put me in mind of some kind of wrestling match) with Moyes next week, where he will either commit himself fully to United or make it clear he wants to move, and soon. After which the ‘fun’ will start.
PSG
The most obvious option for Rooney is big-spending PSG. The French side are keen to add more established players for another go at the Champions League next season, as well as to beat off new challengers Monaco, who have spent €130m on new players already. The experienced goalscorer and international icon that is Wayne Rooney would be a fairly reasonable prospect, then.
What’s more, it would give him an even larger wage packet, or at least the same as he gets at United, and he’d be free from the spotlight of English media. His performances for club and country often suffer due to the immense pressure on him to be the shining light, which he cannot always do, especially not in a supporting role to Robin Van Persie.
Of course, there’s then the fact that he’s simply one among many stars at PSG, rather than one or two at United or indeed Arsenal.
PSG’s rivals Monaco could be an even more attractive prospect, with the lack of tax on wages for non-French players. But on the other hand, would Wayne really want to learn French?
British core
Arsenal’s current rejuvenation programme is built around the ‘British core’-six young players who all signed long-term contracts in December, committing to a new era of success (hopefully).
What is missing among Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson and Theo Walcott- the five English players at Arsenal, is experience in terms of winning trophies and making big contributions to successful seasons. Rooney offers both of those, scoring 35 goals two seasons ago and contributing a goal or assist every 91 minutes to United’s recent title win.
Playing as a complete forward, a more withdrawn number 9, Rooney can use his creative abilities as well as his goalscoring talents to take Arsenal to the next level.
You only have to watch Rooney fired up with a point to prove to realise that while he may not be as good as some think him to be, he can be a deadly presence for any side in the world.
The reality of over half the England side being Arsenal players would be quite something for the media to comprehend, having spent years bashing Arsene Wenger for ‘ruining’ the English national team with foreign imports.
So, with his future at United on the ropes, and big money being bet on a move to Arsenal, this potential transfer doesn’t seem quite as far-fetched as it used to.
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