Uniteds slug it out as Rooney hands in transfer request

The battle to sign England’s most promising young player began in earnest today when Everton striker Wayne Rooney handed in a transfer request.

The 18-year-old England international, the subject of three failed bids from Newcastle and Manchester United this week, cited his desire to join “a club that is playing in Europe every year” as the reason for his decision.

It would now seem to be a straight fight between the two Uniteds to sign Rooney before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline, with the Old Trafford club favourites to land the player whose rise to prominence was confirmed at Euro 2004.

“This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career,” Rooney said today.

“The Euros were a fantastic experience for me. It made me realise I could play at the highest level.

“To do that, I need to be with a club that is playing in Europe every year. I hope the Everton fans can come to understand my decision and I hope the transfer fee Everton Football Club receive will help the club move forward.

“The Everton fans have always been fantastic in their support of me. I hope they respect my decision and I also hope that some day in the future I could be welcomed back to watch the team I have supported since boyhood.”

Rooney held talks with Toffees manager David Moyes at Bellefield training ground this morning and then submitted a written transfer request.

Newcastle were the first to fail with a £20m (€29.7m) bid for Rooney this week. United matched that but were also turned down yesterday.

Newcastle’s second offer – thought to be worth £23.5m (€35m) – was also dismissed by Everton yesterday.

However, with chairman Bill Kenwright revealing yesterday: “I can’t tell you if he will be at Everton next week” it would seem the brilliant youngster, who had two years to run on the contract which he signed in 2003, is about to leave.

Furthermore Everton already appear to be planning how to spend any incoming fee.

They have agreed a £1.5m (€2.2m) fee with Liverpool for defender Djimi Traore and the French full-back will move across the city after a medical, although the deal is not expected to go through in time for the 24-year-old to make his debut over the weekend.

Everton face West Brom tomorrow before travelling to Old Trafford two days later – and transfers have to be registered to the Premier League by noon today.

Moyes said: “At the moment we’re just waiting for clearance that everything’s done and hopefully he’ll have a medical later today.”

United manager Alex Ferguson would only say today of his club’s move for Rooney: “It is as it was yesterday. David Gill [chief executive] is in dialogue with Bill Kenwright.”

Asked about the timescale of a move, Ferguson said: “It only takes a second to say yes.

“The difficulty is getting the medicals but at the moment it is not at the stage where we are taking about it. We are waiting for an agreement before doing anything else.”

Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd would not reveal whether the Magpies would make a new offer for Rooney.

He added: “You know has much as us – but I’d hope he can still be a Newcastle player. We’ve got until 3.30pm on Tuesday to do it – and I’m sure Everton will make their mind up before then.”

Shepherd claimed the Magpies were prepared to fight Manchester United all the way for Rooney.

Speaking in Monaco following the UEFA Cup draw, he added: “I’m always confident. I think Wayne Rooney will be in another club by Tuesday, and I would like to think he will be wearing a black and white shirt.

“Our bid is in and it’s confidential, it would not be fair to Everton to disclose it. They have had the bid and have to decide which way to go.

“He’s their player, he’s not our player and it’s up to them to say yes or no.”

Shepherd insisted they would do their best to land the England forward.

“One thing we’re not at Newcastle is shrinking violets put it that way,” he added. “But I would put my house on it all being sorted out before the transfer deadline.”