LONDON: Wayne Rooney was pushed closer to submitting a formal transfer request after Manchester United rejected a second transfer offer from Chelsea.

The bid, made late on Sunday, was £25m plus add-ons but United have continue to insist that the 27-year-old is not for sale even though he was withdrawn from his expected comeback game this midweek against AIK in Stockholm.

Rooney, who flew home last month from United’s Far East tour with a muscle injury, missed the Sweden trip because of a reported shoulder injury suffered in a closed-doors friendly against Betis on Saturday.

Chelsea had an initial bid for Rooney, of about £20m, turned down by United in July but newly reinstalled manager Jose Mourinho remains determined to bring the unsettled England striker to Stamford Bridge.

Rooney has been left angered and confused by recent messages coming out of Old Trafford, most noticeably a suggestion from new manager David Moyes that Robin Van Persie was the preferred option up front.

In October 2010, Rooney said he wanted to leave the club because of concerns over the strength of their squad, but signed a new five-year contract just days later. He has not played for United since making a substitute’s appearance in a  1-0 defeat on May 5 . . . by Chelsea.

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