Real Madrid are preparing to table an offer to lure Wayne Rooney away from Manchester United in the summer.
The La Liga side are waiting in the wings, ready to pounce if United fail to qualify for the UEFA Champions League at the end of the current Barclays Premier League campaign.
United have found it rather difficult getting to grips with life under Moyes, and Rooney has become frustrated in the fact that he has not had a regular starting place for the Champions this season.
A troublesome start leaves them six points off the Champions League places in the Premier League, and face a struggle to avoid the loss of Rooney.
Rooney, who remains a week off match fitness, may be the hardest player to persuade, with Real’s reasons for wanting him to move both detailed and logical, with the Spanish giants also after Sergio Aguero, in yet another big name transfer target.
Rooney himself was unhappy at the end of last season, and over the summer, sparking transfer speculation from both Chelsea and Arsenal.
The centre forward will be 29 in October, and David Moyes is looking to start a fresh within regards to new talent, and with the signing of Juan Mata all but confirmed, Rooney may have to look elsewhere for regular first team football.
The Bernabeu club have also been linked with AS Monaco striker Ramadel Falcao, but he looks set to be out for 6-9 months after tearing his ACL during a Cup game for the Principality club.
Real president Florentino Perez, is thought to be a long-time admirer of Rooney, with the Englishman would also be a cheaper option than Falcao.
Madrid also only have one recognised striker, and Karim Benzema is out of contract next summer.
A move to Spain would see Rooney link up with former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, and see him join a long list of British Madrid players, including the likes of Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Jonathan Woodgate…. and of course recent recruit Gareth Bale.
By Ben Reardon
@BenReardon1
