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PSG considering £35m swoop for Rooney

ESPN staff
May 4, 2014
Wayne Rooney is thought to be concerned about Louis van Gaal's imminent arrival at Old Trafford © Getty Images
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Paris Saint-Germain would be prepared to offer Wayne Rooney a way out of Old Trafford should Louis van Gaal be confirmed as Manchester United's new manager next week.

Van Gaal's imminent arrival has prompted recent fears from Rooney, who believes Van Gaal will choose close friend Robin van Persie as the club's lead striker - and captain - if he is named as David Moyes' successor.

That could create a similar situation to Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge, where Rooney became disillusioned with life at the club after he was dropped into midfield to accommodate Van Persie.

Moyes worked tirelessly to persuade Rooney, who attracted interest from Chelsea last summer, that he was important to United and his future remained with the club. The Scot's one clear success was rebuilding a relationship which had turned sour, before Rooney obliged and signed a lucrative new five-and-a-half-year deal with United in February.

However, the deal could work in United's favour as Rooney would now command a higher transfer fee, which the Daily Mail claims to be around £35 million.

That price tag is thought to have dampened Chelsea's interest, as have Rooney's improved wage demands. However, the newspaper claims that Ligue 1 champions PSG could be tempted to meet United's demands despite facing possible sanctions under UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.

Paris Saint-Germain displayed interest in Rooney last January before the striker committed his long-term future to United.

Rooney missed United's defeat to Sunderland on Saturday through a combination of illness and injury.

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