English striker, Wayne Rooney has had a fruitful season in front of goal on a personal level, as he has taken centre stage in the absence of Robin van Persie. However, Manchester United’s fortunes have been starkly different. They and their disillusioned manager David Moyes are both currently in a relative slump.

There have been fears that United might even fail to make it to the top 4 this season which could have really strong consequences, starting with the potential departure of a number of key players. One of them is touted to be Rooney, as insiders suggest that he is unhappy with the way things have panned out for the defending champions this season.

Rooney was a subject of strong interest from Chelsea in the summer, as incoming manager Jose Mourinho made him his top priority. Though he did not succeed in doing so, his interest in the 28-year old remains; and with United in a rut, talks of a January escape route to Stamford Bridge for Rooney have intensified.

United and Chelsea face each other next week, and Mourinho was asked about his interest in the Red Devils’ talisman. He has simply refused to give anything away as he feels it’s not right to talk about the opposite team’s player just before playing them. Metro report Mourinho as saying, “We play Man United in a few days, I don’t think it’s nice to speak about a Man United player,”

“You have to ask the player and Man United because Man United has a contract, so I think you have to speak with David [Moyes] and the player.”

With Chelsea’s pressing need for a new striker, it could be possible that we see another bid for Rooney.