Rooney talks continuing

Negotiations over Wayne Rooney’s contract are still on-going as Manchester United look to secure the striker’s long-term future.

Media reports yesterday suggested the England international had signed a highly-lucrative record-breaking four-and-a-half-year deal.

However, club sources insist the talks, which have been taking place for some time, are still continuing.

However, with the United squad currently in Dubai for a warm weather training break, it is expected Rooney’s new contract will be confirmed before United play Crystal Palace next weekend.

The deal will mark a complete turnaround for the England striker who looked set to leave Old Trafford at the end of last season. A breakdown in relations between Rooney and former United boss, Alex Ferguson, was triggered by the Scot’s suggestion Rooney had handed in a transfer request, but the striker denied the claims.

Rooney was then heavily linked with a move to Chelsea and the London club had more than one bid for the striker rejected as David Moyes revealed his intention to keep hold of Rooney and make him the club’s key player.

Moyes has also restored Rooney’s confidence in his attempts to rebuild the United squad by luring club-record signing Juan Mata for £37.1m from Chelsea.

Nemanja Vidic has already announced he will be leaving Old Trafford at the end of the season and recent speculation suggests Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra may follow suit. And it has been touted that those departures Moyes will reward Rooney with the club captaincy from next season.

The 28-year-old has scored 11 times in 28 appearances for United so far this season, despite enduring a month out through injury in January.