Chinese Super League clubs hopeful of capturing Wayne Rooney this month

Shaka Hislop assesses Wayne Rooney’s future after Paul Scholes stated lack of playing time is ‘killing’ the United captain.

Transfer deadline day has come and gone, but Transfer Talk is already monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out all the latest deals here.

Rooney set for shock China switch?

Wayne Rooney could quit Manchester United for the Chinese Super League against Jose Mourinho’s wishes, according to the Telegraph, with multiple clubs in China hopeful of convincing the England captain to leave Old Trafford in the next fortnight.

The report states that Rooney, who has not started a Premier League game since Dec. 17, has reportedly received offers of at least £32 million a year and, while a move is more likely to take place in the summer, Beijing Guoan and Guangzhou Evergrande have not given up hope of landing the 31-year-old before the end of the transfer window in China on Feb. 28.

United are still involved in four competitions, meaning Mourinho is unwilling to lose a man whom he cannot replace, especially one with Rooney’s experience, but equally he is unable to accommodate him in his starting XI.

Wayne Rooney may yet be persuaded to leave Manchester United for the Chinese Super League before the end of the month.

Atleti, Bayern and Juve join chase for Lemar

Thomas Lemar‘s list of admirers continues to grow, with Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich and Juventus reportedly joining Manchester City and Chelsea in wanting to sign the Monaco man, according to AS.

It is no wonder the attacking midfielder has caught the eye of Europe’s top teams; he has been a major factor in Monaco’s success this season, scoring seven goals and setting up six more to put them top of Ligue 1 ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

The 21-year-old is contracted to Monaco until 2020 and valued at €30m but, the Spanish publication reports, Atletico plan to rebuild their midfield around Lemar at the end of the season.

Spurs seek Janssen alternative

Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is planning to sign a new striker in the summer unless Vincent Janssen can impress before the end of the season, the Daily Mirror claims.

Amid a torrid first season in the Premier League, Victor Janssen may soon be on his way out of Tottenham.

Netherlands international Janssen has scored only four goals since joining Spurs, all of them penalties, and was left out of the squad for the Europa League round-of-32 first-leg defeat against Gent in Belgium.

Harry Kane has proved reliable as the club’s first-choice striker, but a lack of proven cover could cost Spurs as they chase silverware on three fronts: in the Premier League, FA Cup and in Europe.

Tap-ins

– Chelsea will have to see off competition from Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain if they are to sign Borussia Monchengladbach’s highly rated midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud in the summer. The Irish Times claims the West Londoners are among a number of clubs to meet the 21-year-old’s representatives in an effort to snap him up.

– Barcelona have turned their attention to short-term deals for either Malaga’s Roberto Rosales or Deportivo La Coruna’s Juanfran after a move for Eibar’s Ander Capa fell through, AS reports. Barca are looking to replace right-back Aleix Vidal, who is ruled out for the rest of the season because of injury.

– Everton, Sunderland, Newcastle and even Manchester City could move for Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke after Antonio Conte said the 19-year-old is likely to leave the club. The Daily Mail reports that a dispute over wages is at the centre of the England under-21 player’s desire to move on.