United chiefs will offer him an astonishing £170,000-a-week
contract when negotiations open next February. And that will
include a £45,000-a-week image rights deal to become Old Trafford's
poster boy.
United have become increasingly aware of temptations from Spain
for Rooney with Barcelona having put him top of their wanted list
for the summer.
Rooney knows of Barca's interest and is intrigued by the
prospect of lining up alongside the likes of Lionel Messi but still
retains a huge loyalty to United.
The Old Trafford hierarchy plan to reward that loyalty with the
most lucrative contract in the club's history.
Considerable work has already been done on the deal behind the
scenes but no talks can take place until January when the ban on
Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford is lifted.
The deal will include a major image rights element which
overshadows United's previous highest agreement with Cristiano
Ronaldo.
Ronaldo had an image rights agreement with the club, but that
was affected when he launched his CR7 range.
Rooney, who is already contracted to United's shirt sponsor
Nike, will be far easier to tie up.
There is an eagerness at United to seal an agreement before the
World Cup where Rooney seems certain to emerge as one of the stars
of the tournament - prompting an even greater demand from the
biggest clubs around the world.