Manchester United face a battle to keep Wayne Rooney away from a bank-busting move to China.
Backed by billions from businessmen seeking political influence through football, the success-hungry Chinese are prepared to splash out fortunes on young superstars rather than ageing ones.
Thatââ¬â¢s why Rooney, other up-and-coming Premier League stars â⬓ and even Barcelona star Lionel Messi â⬓ are now being targeted as potential big money recruits who can expect to be paid even more than the ã220,000 a week Chelsea legend Didier Drogba is reported to be banking from his new club, Shanghai Shenhua.
ââ¬ÅThey are not prepared to accept Europeââ¬â¢s cast-offs any more. They want the likes of Rooney, Sergio Aguero and Bastien Schweinsteiger,â⬠Professor Simon Chadwick, head of the business strategy faculty at Coventry University, told the Sunday Express.
ââ¬ÅPlayers like them would be much more significant â⬓ and then the floodgates really will open.ââ¬