It's the question that is on a lot of people's lips: Is there light at the end of the tunnel that is Wayne Rooney's Manchester United career?
In the last four days manager Sir Alex Ferguson has managed his last match at Old Trafford, United have collected a 20th league title, Wigan Athletic defied the odds to win the first FA Cup in the club's history, Manchester City have sacked Roberto Mancini and yet the Rooney saga has been given plenty of column inches.
The facts are thus: Rooney has handed in his second transfer request in three years, which the club have rejected. That is it – the rest is up for interpretation.
Some United supporters have already made their minds up. They have lost patience with their striker and voiced their displeasure during yesterday's victory parade around the city. With that in mind, and the fact that the newspapers will have you believe that some of Europe's elite are ready to clamber over each other for his signature, you could be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that Rooney's nine-year stint in the red shirt will be over in a matter of weeks. Is that necessarily the case, though?
Let's start with what potential suitors will be getting for their reported £30-£40m purchase. There is arguably no better English footballer than Rooney – that is a fully fit Rooney with the right attitude. Granted he may not have fulfilled the promise of Euro 2004 when he threatened to take the footballing world by storm like Lionel Messi and his former United teammate Cristiano Ronaldo have done, but he is in that next bracket of footballer. World class? On his day, perhaps. Which leads us to the burning question: Where could the 27-year-old begin next season?
Chelsea
The link with Chelsea has been the strongest in recent days. The school of thought is that the Blues are just one goalscorer away from winning the Premier League title next year. But is Rooney the type of striker that the Blues need? It seems a mad question to ask, given that he has scored 197 goals for United. He is the type of player, though, who likes to drop deep and get involved in the buildup - the number 10 role if you like. Chelsea have that covered right now in Juan Mata, Oscar and Eden Hazard and with Rooney involved, it could all get a bit like packed sardines in the Chelsea attack. Would they not benefit from a forward who comes alive in the box? A Radamel Falcao or an Edinson Cavani - even Rooney's strike partner at United Javier Hernandez?
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Manchester City
It was well documented when the first transfer request went in that Rooney, or at least his agent, fluttered his eyelashes in City's direction. If it were a nightclub scene, eye contact was made - maybe even a drink was received, but numbers were not exchanged and they ended up leaving in separate taxis. With the futures of Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez the source of much speculation, though, City could well be interested again. However, would the first thing that David Moyes does as manager of Man United be to sell one of Europe's biggest names to his club's rivals? Seems unlikely. And then there is what the new Man City manager would want. Whatever the owners tell him a cynical person may say!
Bayern Munich
From a footballing point of view, the Allianz Arena may be Rooney's preferred destination. Let's be honest, Bayern are the strongest side in Europe right now. So then, why would they need or want Rooney? In some respects, they are like Chelsea with an attacking midfield unit made up of mobile and easy-on-the-eye footballers. That leaves more of a target man (Mario Mandzukic) to lead the line. What's more, reports in Germany say that Robert Lewandowski has agreed to sign on from Borussia Dortmund. If that is the case, there would be no room at the inn for Rooney.
Paris Saint-Germain
Out of all of the above, a move across the English Channel appears to be the most viable option. It would provide Rooney with easy access to his homeland and he would not necessarily have to uproot his young family. He would even have a pal in David Beckham. Surely, though, PSG would have to part with the controversial yet supremely talented Zlatan Ibrahimovic? While the Swede's ability cannot be argued, he isn't the sort of striker who would be happy sharing his space on the pitch or the limelight. Having invested so much to take him to France, and the fact that he played a major role in the club winning the Ligue 1 title, it would be surprising.
Staying at Man United
You very rarely fall out with Ferguson and remain a Man United player for much longer - just ask Beckham, Roy Keane, Jaap Stam and a number of others. This is no longer Ferguson's team, though. Moyes gave a 17-year-old Rooney his debut at his boyhood club Everton way back in 2002. The pair went on to be locked in a legal battle regarding extracts from one of Rooney's books, but an out-of-court settlement and a few years later and it is believed that the differences have been shelved at least.
The incoming manager may have already decided that Rooney's time is up, but from the player's point of view, does he really want to leave United? Or is he just seeking assurances that he will be a key part of Moyes's plans - something that Ferguson either couldn't or didn't want to do? Keeping hold of Rooney would also allow Moyes to use his funds to strengthen other areas of the team. After all, when was the last time that United signed a senior central midfield player? Probably Owen Hargreaves in 2007.
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Rooney will only be too aware that players (with the exception of perhaps Gerard Pique and Ronaldo) leave United and continue the success that they had. As Gary Neville, who is Rooney's former teammate and current coach with England recently told Sky Sports News: "Wayne needs to surround himself with his family and his players. The ones who have been here for a long time will bring him round.
"He is not someone who will make rash decisions but he needs people around him to give him good advice. He has an agent and friends. They need to be giving him the right advice. This is the only club he should be playing at. I have seen players join Real Madrid and other great clubs in Europe. But they always want to come back.
"If you play for this club for 20 years it is not a bed of roses. You struggle mentally at times. He will be going through a difficult moment. But in a couple of weeks he will be coming away with England. Then he needs to have the summer off and hopefully get his head back to being a Manchester United player."
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Then there is the family aspect - his home town of Liverpool is 30 minutes down the M62 and his wife Coleen is due to give birth to the second child soon. Do the Rooneys need all the upheaval? If the reported talks with Moyes are successful, don't be surprised to see Rooney featuring during August's Community Shield against Wigan Athletic.
