Rooney transfer goes to the wire

The Everton chairman Bill Kenwright last night said that there had been no significant developments in the Wayne Rooney transfer saga which looks set to run to today's 5pm deadline.

The Everton chairman Bill Kenwright last night said that there had been no significant developments in the Wayne Rooney transfer saga which looks set to run to today's 5pm deadline.

Kenwright met the Manchester United chief executive David Gill for talks yesterday as the clubs drew 0-0 at Old Trafford. United tabled a second bid, of £25m, for the 18-year-old at the weekend but are unable to pay in one instalment.

The sticking point appears to involve the structure of payment. United wish to pay £10m up front plus another £10m in a year's time and up to £5m as performance-related payments. However, Everton are not happy with the payment structure.

With the transfer window to close tonight both clubs are short of time, especially as a medical and personal terms have to be finalised. "We had a chat, but nothing has been resolved," Kenwright said. "Wayne Rooney remains an Everton player." Asked if he expected anything to happen in the next 24 hours, Kenwright said: "I don't know."

United kept quiet, with their manager Sir Alex Ferguson refusing interview requests. Reports suggested this may have been because he was in talks with Gill about Rooney.

Rooney has made it clear he wants to leave Everton, whose fans have now turned against him, and it has been rumoured that he favours Old Trafford. It is unclear what effect Sir Bobby Robson's sacking as Newcastle manager yesterday will have on the saga. Last week, Newcastle had a £23.5m bid rejected, and yesterday, the club's chairman Freddy Shepherd gave United a clear run by not matching their £25m offer. However, Newcastle can pay their £23.5m up front.

With no late rival to drive the price higher, Everton face the prospect of receiving less than the £30m they had hoped for.