Manchester United transfer news: The reason why Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Ander Herrera and David Silva will not join Barcelona

Spanish newspaper Sport claims four players have been offered to Barca - then claims that the club are only interested in two of them anyway

Tom Sheen
Friday 01 May 2015 12:28 EDT
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Spanish newspaper Sport have reported that Manchester United trio Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera and Manchester City rival David Silva have all been offered to Spanish giants Barcelona.

Their front page story claims that the four players have been offered to Barcelona - but the Spanish giants are apparently only interested in two of them anyway.

Rooney and Mata are both said to be interested in a new challenge away from Old Trafford, claim the paper, but Barcelona will say no to the offers.

Rooney, 29, is under contract until 2019 and it would take a huge offer to secure his move, whilst Sport also claim that Barcelona have not been impressed with the England captain's foray into midfield this season.

It seems very unlikely that Manchester United would allow their captain, best player and talisman to leave the club at this stage of his career.

Mata has impressed under Louis van Gaal in recent weeks but with Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez now flourishing as an attacking trio - they've scored 102 goals between them this season - the Spaniard has not done enough to impress Luis Enrique, the newspaper says.

Ander Herrera is a longer-term target of Barcelona's, but Sport admit in their story that United would want at least £30million for the midfielder, having paid £25m in the summer.

In January when there were hints of a Herrera exit the summer acquisition was hardly playing, but he has been their best performer in the second half of the season and Van Gaal will not want to let him go now.

All the turmoil at Manchester City means several of their top stars could leave, with the likes of Yaya Toure, Jesus Navas and Edin Dzeko seemingly out of time at the Etihad.

But Silva, 29, along with Sergio Aguero, is seen as one of the untouchable players at City. The maestro has been one of the more consistent performers for the club this season and is under contract until 2019, there is no reason to sell.

Not only do the four stars look like they are going nowhere, but Barcelona are not even able to sign anyone until January 2016 because of their transfer embargo. As mentioned above the trio of Messi, Neymar and Suarez is a brilliant - and expensive - front three that the four players would struggle to oust.

So while the front page may claim that four players are on their way to Barcelona, it's probably more like none.

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