Transfer news: Real Madrid plan £25m contingency move for Wayne Rooney should Sergio Agüero switch fail - reports
Manchester United may be more favourable to a deal with a foreign club as Real Madrid plan a summer raid of Old Trafford
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Manchester United have reportedly been informed that Spanish giants Real Madrid are putting a package into place to sign Wayne Rooney after identifying the England forward as a more realistic target than Sergio Agüero.
While David Moyes remains determined to keep Rooney at Old Trafford for the forseeable future, there is growing concern that this may be the 28-year-old's final season at United.
Madrid, on the other hand, are confident that the unsettled former Everton striker can be prized away from his £220,000-a-week deal - the Daily Telegraph reports.
Rooney has failed to sign a new deal with the current English champions and is likely to have grown disillusioned with United's poor form.
Under Moyes the Red Devils have slipped out of the FA Cup in the third round, lie fourteen points adrift of Premier League leaders Arsenal and are 2-1 behind in their two-legged Capital One Cup semi-final clash with strugglers Sunderland.
The option of leaving for the Spanish climate and joining former teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at the Bernabéu Stadium may prove too tempting.
Manchester City's fourteen-goal forward Agüero, having courted the Argentine since his successful spell with title-rivals Atlético, remains Real's primary target but there are doubts in the Spanish capital that a deal can be struck.
If moves for both Rooney and Agüero do indeed fail it is believed that Carlo Ancelotti will then turn his attentions back towards Liverpool's Luis Suárez who the club failed to sign last summer.
Suárez's decision to commit to a four-and-a-half-year contract at Anfield last month has complicated matters, however, and it could prove even more troublesome to lure the Uruguayan should the Reds successfully return to the Champions League this term.
With Frenchman Karim Benzema the only recognised centre-forward in the Real squad, the club are determined to bolster their firepower over the coming months.
Planning ahead for a possible failure to reach the European places this May, United are already preparing how they will attempt to persuade their elite players to stay for a Europa League future next season.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments