Englishman has now decided to remain with the Red Devils this season after all.
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Unsettled Manchester United front man Wayne Rooney has saved him a whopping £2.5 million by not handing in a transfer request at Old Trafford and asking to join rivals Chelsea this summer, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The England international has been the subject of much speculation of late linking him with a possible big-money move away from the north west during the close-season transfer window.
Rooney, 27, has been deeply unhappy at suggestions by previous United head coach Sir Alex Ferguson that he had handed in a transfer request towards the back-end of the previous campaign, a claim that the striker has subsequently strongly denied however.
And with the Englishman also believed to be upset at the Red Devils’ reluctance so far to open discussions over extending his present contract with United, that now only runs until June 2015, it had been thought only a matter of time before Rooney moved to Stamford Bridge.
The Blues themselves have made their desire to sign Rooney abundantly clear from the outset, with returning Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho having already lodged two bids worth £26m and £30m for the player, both of which were rejected out of hand by United.
However, following the two clubs’ meeting in the Premier League on Monday night, Rooney has now decided to stay at United rather than handing in a transfer request, resulting in the forward saving himself £2.5m, which was the value of his loyalty bonus in his contract with the champions.