Manchester United Transfer News: Lewandowski And Thiago Linked; Rooney Contacted By PSG

Paris Saint-Germain have contacted Wayne Rooney directly to sound out the Manchester United forward over a transfer to the newly crowned Ligue 1 champions, according to leading French publication L’Equipe. Rooney has long been linked with a move to PSG, particularly after revelations that he asked to leave Old Trafford in recent weeks. Yet, there has been speculation in Britain that, having fallen down the pecking order in the closing stages of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, Rooney was hopeful of a fresh start under incoming manager David Moyes. It has also been reported that Moyes is keen to keep Rooney, to whom he gave his professional start at Everton.

Wednesday’s Daily Mirror claims that Rooney believes that United are trying to force his exit and that he did not officially ask to leave the Premier League champions for the second time in three years. The situation is complicated by the fact that Rooney will be entering the final two years of a contract worth close to £300,000 a week this summer. A new contract is likely to be necessary if Rooney is to remain at United, but it is hard to envisage the club being willing to offer similar terms to when the England international entered an official transfer request in 2010.

One club that is likely to have little problem matching, or even increasing, Rooney’s current salary is PSG. L’Equipe reports that the big-spending outfit are keen to pair the 27-year-old with this season’s Ligue 1 top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and have made Rooney their priority in the transfer market this summer.

The other big news surrounding United is the potential arrival of Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara. Spanish publication Marca has reported that United are considering an €18 million (£15.4m) offer for the 22-year-old, which would trigger his buyout clause. The player’s contract contained a release clause of €90 million (£77m) but with the provision that it would be reduced if he failed to make a fixed number of appearances. Thiago has started 29 matches this season, but very few of them have been in hugely meaningful encounters.

Having come through Barcelona’s famed academy, Thiago made his debut for Spain in 2011 and has made three substitute appearances for the national side. A superb passer of the ball, new United boss Moyes may see the central midfielder as a replacement for the retired Paul Scholes. It would be hard to argue that his buyout clause does not represent value for money. There is little surprise that Bayern Munich, to be managed by former Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola from this summer, are also credited with an interest.

Meanwhile, there is news of another player that is believed to be interesting both Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has long been linked with a move to Old Trafford, before, in recent weeks, it has been claimed that he was on a verge of joining Bayern. The Poland international is about to enter the final year of his contract and has said that he will not be signing a new deal. But, ahead of the Champions League final, Dortmund manager Jurgen Kopp has stated his belief that Lewandowski will not be leaving this summer.

"There is no topic of Lewandowski's transfer right now," Klopp told Polish newspaper Przeglad Sportowy. "Robert and I and the rest of the team only think about the final right now.

"My assumption is that Robert is not leaving Borussia Dortmund, and he will continue to be at my disposal next season. That is why I don't want to even think about to which club is more suitable for him to join."

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