EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal ready to break the bank and lure wantaway Rooney to Emirates

By Sami Mokbel

PUBLISHED: 16:00 EST, 24 May 2013 | UPDATED: 16:00 EST, 24 May 2013

Arsenal are growing increasingly confident they can finance a record-breaking move for Wayne Rooney.

Sportmail exclusively revealed the Gunners’ interest in the unsettled Manchester United star last week.

A move for Rooney was first discussed in a scouting meeting in March, but there was an acknowledgement that his £250,000-per-week wages could be a stretch too far for  the club.

Outbound? Wayne Rooney is believed to want a move away from Old Trafford

Outbound? Wayne Rooney is believed to want a move away from Old Trafford

However, Arsenal are refusing to dismiss the idea of landing Rooney this summer. He has just two years to run on his existing Old Trafford contract, and the Gunners hope that the security of a five-year deal worth close to £200,000-a-week will be an attractive proposition for the striker.
Arsenal are also willing to hand Rooney a multi-million pound signing-on fee to supplement his wages.

The deal would make Rooney the club’s best ever paid player.

Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott are Arsenal’s current top earners on around £100,000-a-week. But outgoing United chief executive David Gill still expects Rooney to start next season with the  Premier League champions, despite Arsenal’s interest.

The 27-year-old has been linked with a move from Old Trafford after retiring manager Sir Alex Ferguson — who has been replaced by Everton’s David Moyes — said the player had submitted a second transfer request in nearly three years.

Main man: Rooney has been forced to play second fiddle to Robin van Persie since his arrival from Arsenal

Main man: Rooney has been forced to play second fiddle to Robin van Persie since his arrival from Arsenal

Main man: Rooney has been forced to play second fiddle to Robin van Persie since his arrival from Arsenal

But Gill said: ‘I think that he’s a great, great player at a great, great club and the club doesn’t want to lose its star player.

‘I’m sure every bit of work is being taken with Wayne and his advisers to ensure that happens. I am not a betting man but I’m confident I’ll sit at Old Trafford next season and see Wayne Rooney running out.’

Liverpool-born Rooney agreed a five-year contract running to June 2015 after changing his mind over leaving the club in October 2010.

Meanwhile, Arsenal’s talks over Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic are at a crucial stage. The Serie A club are unwilling to take less than his £25m buyout clause, but Arsenal are only willing to pay £20m.

Juventus are also in contact with Fiorentina and there is a growing concern at Arsenal that the Montenegro striker, 23, will opt to stay in Italy.

Arsenal are also interested in the 25-year-old Real Madrid and Argentina striker, Gonzalo Higuain.

Strengthening: Arsene Wenger is looking to improve his Arsenal squad to kick on from this season

Strengthening: Arsene Wenger is looking to improve his Arsenal squad to kick on from this season

 

 
 

 

 

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Poor old Arsenal the first time they get loads of money to spend on players they go and waste it.

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Have you seen a trophy at the eremites yet ? - West London Blue , West London, 25/5/2013 18:59 - "eremites" hmmmmmm... No I haven't seen a trophy won at the "eremites" and probably will never see a trophy won at the "eremites" because I don't know where the "eremites". Cam you tell us where the "eremites" because the "eremites" isn't somewhere I'm aware of.

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Save your money Arsenal, he's not worth it.

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Yeah Yeah Yeah !

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Arsene Wenger's mum raised no fool...

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L.o l ridiculous come down. From the best to arsenal? Purrrrrrlease. Surely even he never thought it could come to this???

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Any team that breaks the bank for Rooney is taking a hideous gamble withn a badly flawed player.

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Well he can already speak cockney, he learnt it from the Man united fans.

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Rooney to the Emirates? That has to be the joke of the season!

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Think signing Wayne Rooney would be a huge statement from Arsenal. Make him the main man up front again. Forget this nonsense about making him a midfielder, put him as a lone striker and watch Arsenal dominate. - Michael James Law, London, England, 25/05/2013 12:15 Arsenal dominate ? They don't even dominate London anymore. I think it will take about 11 new top class signings before that happens pal - West London Blue, West London, 25/5/2013 18:48 - Still, at least it would be our own money and not a charity hand out eh......going cap in hand begging every time I needed money would be embarrassing, must take a "special" kind of fan to shrug that off or, just like the rest of society nowadays do you think that hand outs are the way things "should be"?

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