Wayne Rooney to Chelsea: Blues are bookmakers' surprising favourites to sign Manchester United captain next summer

Chelsea struggles this season has led them to mount a search for a striker and Jose Mourinho came close to signing Rooney in 2013

England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney (Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney’s struggles this season could lead Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal to seek a new front man in the not too distant future, and Premier League rivals Chelsea have become the surprising favourites to sign the striker should he become available.

Rooney has struggled for form this season, having scored just two goals in the Premier League and seven in all competitions for his club. He also faces the alarming prospect of being left on the bench for England’s international friendly against Spain on Friday despite being the national team captain as Roy Hodgson tries out other formations and team line-ups ahead of next summer’s Euro 2016 tournament.

While the odds of Rooney leaving Old Trafford aren’t suggestive that an exit will happen any time soon – SkyBet currently offer a generous 7/1 on a move to Stamford Bridge – it is surprising to see the Premier League rivals leading the race for the 30-year-old.

The Blues were close to signing Rooney after Sir Alex Ferguson retired, with the forward falling out with the former United striker and actively looking for a move away from the club. However, the arrival of David Moyes in 2013 helped assure Rooney that he had a future with United and he went on to sign a long-term contract extension that made him the English top flight’s highest paid player.

Speaking to the Sunday Times earlier this year, Moyes – who has recently been sacked as manager of Real Sociedad in Spain – said: “I look at Wayne Rooney. I gave him his professional debut aged 16 and he's now on the verge of breaking all Manchester United's scoring records.


 Rooney came close to joining Chelsea two years ago
 (2015 Manchester United FC)

“It was only a short time ago that Wayne could have easily left United. But I always felt he was as good as any British player out there; wherever he plays, he's a great footballer and, most importantly, he'll always score goals.

“Now, I'm delighted for Wayne, because Chelsea were close to taking him. Jose (Mourinho) was interested but we wouldn't do any business.

“I had to fight to make sure he stayed - and was at the heart again, of what Manchester United were going to be moving forward.”

Moyes replacement at United, Van Gaal, immediately named Rooney captain and he returned 12 goals in the league last season, but his alarming decline has seen the majority on United fans call for Rooney to either be pushed deeper to allow Anthony Martial to lead the line or dropped from the first-team completely.

However, in SkyBet’s market for the club that Rooney will be at come the end of next year’s summer transfer window, United remain the overwhelming favourites at 1/5, while Everton follow at 10/1 alongside Paris Saint-Germain with north London duo Arsenal and Tottenham available at 20/1.