Wayne Rooney: Manchester United and England captain targeted by Chinese Super League

The CSL has recently signed a TV deal worth more than £800m and hopes Rooney can become the face of Chinese football

Rooney has three years left on his £300,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford (Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney is being targeted as the face of the revamped Chinese Super League as China tries to establish itself as a major football nation, according to reports.

The Manchester United and England captain, who turned 30 last month, has struggled for goals despite his club’s fine start to the season, netting just twice in 11 Premier League fixtures.

The striker has three years left on his £300,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford, but according to The Sun the CSL believes Rooney can be tempted into finishing his career with a lucrative move to Asia.

The league has recently signed a TV deal worth more than £800m, while President Xi Jinping has made it clear he wants China to become a footballing superpower.

Robinho, Tim Cahill and Demba Ba have already signed up to CSL clubs, while Sven Goran Eriksson and Luis Felipe Scolari both manage teams in the league.

However, organisers believe the tempting of England’s leading ever scorer would prompt other big-names to join the league.

United enjoy a huge following in China, with President Xi a self-confessed Red Devils fan, and the club reportedly planning a pre-season tour of the nation next year.

Rooney missed United's 2-1 victory against Watford at the weekend with a virus, but is expected to return when the Reds welcome PSV tomorrow night.