Wayne Rooney to Monaco: Ligue 1 club hint they are interested in Manchester United captain

Rooney signed a new deal at Old Trafford earlier this year

Wayne Rooney (Getty Images)

Wayne Rooney is a potential target for Ligue 1 side AS Monaco after their vice-president strongly hinted they were interested in the Manchester United captain.

Although Vadim Vasilyev did not mention the 28-year-old by name, the Monaco vice-president, closest advisor to billionaire owner Dmitry Rybolovlev, admitted a move with a "top player" from the Premier League had been close.

"One year ago, we were discussing one of the top players of the Premier League, a top English player," Vasilyev said. "But it was on the table. This opportunity finally did not happen, but I think one day that it will come, that it will happen."

Last summer Monaco had been strongly linked with a move for Rooney with a huge tax-free offer on the table - Rooney ended speculation when he signed a five-and-a-half-year, £300,000-a-week deal to stay at Old Trafford in February.

However, since then Monaco have allowed their two biggest names to leave with James Rodriguez joining Real Madrid for more than £60m and Falcao moving to Manchester United on a year-long loan that could turn into a permanent switch.

Rybolovlev has ordered a the club to cut their spending after a divorce with ex-wife Elena cost him £2.7bn and a large bill following a tax dispute with other Ligue 1 clubs.

But despite the cap transfers - the £10m on Aymen Abdennour was their only spending this summer - Vasilyev hinted at the possibility of another spree.

"I wouldn’t really compare Monaco to any other club," he added. "Our ambition is eventually to win the title of French champions. This is true. I will not give you a time frame, but we would like to do it as soon as possible. We would like to be one of the clubs that plays regularly in the Champions League. I think we can play an important role on the European scene."

BT Sport brings fans multiple live games from France’s Ligue 1 every week as part of a continental European football line-up including Uefa Europa League, Germany’s Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A and the Portuguese Primera Liga, alongside top-flight British football from the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and Scottish Professional Football League.