Wayne Rooney to leave United for City? £60m move mooted

HE MIGHT have helped dump Manchester City out of the FA Cup with a brace of goals in United's 3-2 victory at the Etihad Stadium yesterday, but Wayne Rooney could soon be a Sky Blues player according to the Mirror.

The paper claims the Manchester United striker is being eyed up by City boss Roberto Mancini after stories emerged last week suggesting Rooney's relationship with manager Alex Ferguson was on the rocks following his axing from the side that lost to Blackburn over Christmas.

The Independent claimed on Saturday that Rooney will be sold in January and now the Mirror says that City owner Sheikh Mansour is poised to "bankroll a £60 million transfer" between the fierce rivals.

Rooney was first linked with a move to City back in 2010 and although those rumours proved to be as fake as the striker's thick head of hair, the Mirror reckons this time around a transfer could well be imminent. The paper quotes an Old Trafford insider as saying: "Wayne has developed a habit of throwing his arms up in anger when things aren't going well. He has been told a couple of times to cut out the histrionics."

And with Danny Welbeck - who scored a stunning volley in yesterday's FA Cup victory - looking ever more accomplished up front for United, it may be that Ferguson decides to cut his losses and cash in on Rooney.

The Daily Mail suggests that with the money made on Rooney, United will snap up Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric from under the noses of Chelsea. The Blues have been stalking Modric for months and reportedly had a £40m offer turned down by Spurs in August.

Now the Mail says that United will pay the Lilywhites £50m in return for the 26-year-old Croatian craftsman, though Ferguson is prepared to wait until the summer to land his man. In the meantime United have persuaded Paul Scholes to come out of retirement to shore up their injury-hit midfield.

In other news, Goal.com says that Tottenham are preparing to swoop for Blackburn's Christopher Samba. Apparently QPR had a £5m offer for the 27-year-old Congolese defender knocked back on Friday but that hasn't put off Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.

Asked by reporters at the weekend if he reckoned Samba had the moves to make an impression at the Lane, Redknapp replied: "I like Samba, he is a good player." Pressed on whether an offer is pending he said: "I wouldn't want to say it's an impossibility."

The People reports that Chelsea have told Frank Lampard that they wouldn't stand in his way if he wanted to leave the Bridge – provided he moves overseas.

Last week the 33-year-old midfielder was mooted as a target for Manchester United, though that looks less likely now that Scholes has signed on again at Old Trafford until the end of the season. Now the People says that Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas, alleged to be no great admirer of Lampard's play, has told him he can go abroad on a free transfer if he really wants to make a fresh start.

That's increased speculation that Lampard might soon be unveiled as a star signing for Paris Saint Germain. PSG failed in their attempt to lure David Beckham to France so apparently they've turned their attention to Goldenballs' former England team-mate.

Lippy Liverpool frontman Luis Suarez might soon be on his way out of England. The 24-year-old Uruguayan was recently slapped with an eight-match ban after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra, and the Daily Star says that a host of clubs are scrabbling to offer Suarez a new start.

Real Madrid, PSG, Juventus and Inter Milan are all in the mix with a figure of £30m being bandied about for the man who arrived at Anfield last year on a £24m deal. The Star says that Liverpool could be tempted to sell the sharp-tongued Suarez because they fear he will be targeted by opposition fans when he returns from his ban.

Finally, the Daily Mail says that Arsenal want Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou. Apparently the Ivory Coast striker has been unable to reach an agreement with the Blues over a new contract and that's alerted the Gunners. The Mail says Arsenal have made "an official approach" and are willing to pay Chelsea £3m. ·