Red Devils are still refusing to allow their attacker to join their rivals this summer.
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Manchester United are said to be bracing themselves for the imminent arrival of a third Chelsea bid for striker Wayne Rooney ahead of the two sides’ meeting in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Bank Holiday Monday, according to reports in the Daily Telegraph.
The west London club have been keeping close tabs on the England international all summer long, and have already had two offers of £20 million and £30m for the 27-year-old rejected out of hand by the Premier League champions, who remain determined to keep hold of their star player.
However, with the two arch rivals due to clash in the top flight in front of the live TV cameras on Monday, the Red Devils fear that the Blues will attempt to destabilise both the team and the player himself by lodging a new improved bid for Rooney on the eve of the much-anticipated fixture.
Newcastle United suffered a similar situation ahead of their opening-night trip to Manchester City on Monday when Arsenal bid £10m for their midfield player Yohan Cabaye, resulting in the France international’s head being turned ahead of the game, so much so that the player had to be removed from their squad.
And now United boss David Moyes is concerned that the same situation could happen with Rooney, who has scored 197 goals in just 401 games for the club and would have been certain to have been involved in some capacity against Chelsea.