Manchester United are reportedly set to be offered a bumper deal for the services of Wayne Rooney by the Chinese Premier League. Shanghai Shenhua are allegedly the club in question who are willing to offer Manchester United’s captain a £100m deal.
According to a report in the Mirror, Shanghai are willing to offer a £27m transfer fee to Manchester United, while also offering Rooney an unprecedented salary of £500,00 a week, in a three-year deal that will make him the face of the Chinese Premier League.
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The move could represent a significant coup for the 16 team league in China, with Shanghai Shenhua, in particular, being the beneficiaries. Rooney has two years left on his United contract, but the £75 million that the Chinese club are set to offer him over three years would represent a significant upgrade.
A point in the favour of the deal, as noted by the Mirror, is that Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, owns Triple S Sports and Entertainment Group whose subsidiary Red Lantern, are heavily promoting the forward’s profile in China. What might scupper the deal could be Rooney’s reluctance uproot his family and move to the foreign shores of China.
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Earlier, Rooney’s former England national team manager, Sven Goran Erikkson hinted at the move, saying “Names like Lionel Messi, Ronaldo and Rooney, yes it will probably happen fairly soon that players of that calibre go to a big Chinese club.It would be fantastic for football in China if a player like Zlatan comes here.”
“Who doesn't want Rooney? But I strongly suspect he doesn't want to leave Manchester United, at least not for the moment.”
However, with players like Ramires, who moved at the peak of their careers to China, it is not unforeseen that Rooney might make the move. Were he to join the squad at Shanghai Shenhua, there would immediately be a place for him upfront, as the Chinese club recently cancelled their contract with Australian superstar Tim Cahill.
Rooney could quite possibly join a squad that has former Chelsea striker Demba Ba, and former Inter Milan players Obafemi Martins and Freddy Guarin. With the league set to start on the 4th of March, there is huge excitement building for the league, as evidenced by LeTV recently confirming that they have paid £400 million for the online streaming rights for the Chinese Super League.
