According to the daily star?!
MANCHESTER CITY plan to offer Wayne Rooney an astonishing £26m a year to clinch one of the most stunning transfers in English football history.
City have emerged as shockcontenders to sign the disgruntled Manchester United star – but they must fend of competition from Chelsea, Real Madrid and Barcelona to seal an amazing swoop.
Rooney's relationship with United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has hit rock bottom and the England striker is now desperate to leave Old Trafford.
City want to take advantage of the split at their locals rivals, and will utilise Sheikh Mansour's billions to get their man.
It is understood City will offer Rooney a staggering £300,000 a week in basic salary to cross the divide.
And Starsport has learned City are prepared to pile on an extra £200,000 in image rights to take his weekly wage to a sensational £500,000.
Rooney has negotiated a number of lucrative contacts since his debut for Everton in 2002, including multi-million
deals with Nike, Nokia and Coca-Cola.
And the striker's move to Eastlands would see City take over those endorsements and trans- fer the money over to the striker.
Fellow big spenders Chelsea are also prepared to take advantage of Rooney's situation, with main strikers DidierDrogba, 32, and Nicolas Anelka, 31, in the twilight of their careers.
Yesterday, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti tried to play down a move for Rooney.
But he did say: “Firstly, we have to wait to see if Wayne Rooney really wants to leave Manchester United. Secondly,
whether United really want to sell him.
“And thirdly, if Rooney's on the market then I think that not just Chelsea are interested.â€