LONDON: Wayne Rooney is reportedly poised to sign a five-and-a-half year extension to his contract with Premier League champions Manchester United worth £300,000-a-week.

Only final details over image rights remained to be resolved after player and club agreed the 28-year-old’s salary and bonus structure.

United want to announce the agreement as soon as possible as an encouragement to manager David Moyes and the squad ahead of critical fixtures in the run-up to the end of the season.

United are currently seventh in the table and unlikely to finish in the top four which would guarantee continuance in the Champions League. They visit Crystal Palace on Saturday evening then fly to Athens for a Champions League tie against Olympiakos Pireus.

Rooney arrived at Old Trafford from Everton in August 2004 and is 42 goals shy of passing Bobby Charlton’s record total of 249 for United. The former Everton forward has taken 430 games in all competitions to score his 208 goals for the Red Devils.

Moyes said: “Everyone knows how important a player he is. He is a terrific football player and if we can get it done it will be great.”

Rooney had looked set to leave Old Trafford last summer after former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he had asked for a transfer, something the player denied. Chelsea then had two bids rejected.

Rooney has won five Premier League titles and the Champions League in his time at Old Trafford. This season he has scored 11 goals in 28 appearances.

 

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