RED DEVILS MAKE BID FOR ROONEY
Manchester United have confirmed they have made a bid for Everton
striker Wayne Rooney.
The offer is believed to be £20million, which would match Newcastle
Uniteds bid for the 18-year-old England striker.
A Manchester United spokesman said: I can confirm we have made an
official bid for Wayne Rooney.
And boss Sir Alex Ferguson added on MUTV soon after: Weve made a
bid - hes a fabulous player, he showed that at Euro 2004 - and is
a young player.
Hes not the finished article yet, but weve got experience of
bringing young players to the club and bringing them on.
Everton have rejected the bid after doing likewise with Newcastles
offer of the same amount.
The news may now prompt Newcastle to up their current offer of
£20million for Rooney.
Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd had said earlier he was willing to
let time wind down as the closure of the transfer window
approaches.
He said: We have made our offer to Everton Football Club and it is
still on the table as far as we are concerned.
There is still plenty of time before the transfer window closes
and Everton can pick up our offer any time they want to.
Shepherd has proved himself a tough negotiator in the recent past,
although he may need all his powers of persuasion this time around
if he is to prise 18-year-old Rooney away from the Toffees -
particularly with Uniteds interest now confirmed.
Everton insisted that there had been no increased bid for the
player and manager David Moyes is adamant no club will get him at a
reduced price, if at all.
We dont want to lose Wayne, but if we do, the only way is at the
top price and the value we want, he said.
I would like to quote Bobby Robson's words: Youre talking about
buying the most exciting, brilliant young player in Europe.
If that is what Sir Bobby thinks, then hes got to pay the most
exciting and brilliant price because his current valuation is well
short.
Didier Drogba went to Chelsea for £24million, so Waynes price
should be well more than that. Hes English and if you want to buy
English, you have to pay a higher premium.
Meanwhile, Manchester United captain Roy Keane is facing three
weeks on the sidelines with two cracked ribs.
Ferguson told MUTV: He has been in a bit of pain the last two or
three games and it is too big a risk to play him now.
We took him for a scan and it (the injury) was much more
pronounced than before.
If he took a bang in a game he could puncture a lung and that
could put him out for months.
