Wayne Rooney is set to become the highest-paid player Premier League history, as Manchester United finalise the details of an £86 million contract.
Worth almost £300,000-a-week and running for five-and-a-half years, it would keep Rooney at Old Trafford until just before he turns 34.
The prospective deal signals a show of financial muscle by the Reds tied in with a warning to clubs such as Chelsea, who have been circling in the last six months.
Rooney is still at a training camp in Dubai but is expected to put pen to paper in the next few days, with both parties having agreed terms in principle.
The 28-year-old’s signature will provide a boost to under-fire David Moyes, who needs to keep his best players to attract top-tier transfer targets should United miss out on the Champions League.
The news follows a summer of discontent and a season of uncertainty in which the England international initially disenchanted but has now seemingly won back the Old Trafford faithful.
Rooney recently expressed a desire to eclipse Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 goals for United – aged 28 and with his tally currently on 208, he is well on course to do that.
The deal is a message of intent from Moyes and Ed Woodward, who broke the club’s transfer record with the £37.1 million signing of Juan Mata last month.
It could also help calm the waters concerning Robin van Persie, as rumours swirl regarding the Dutchman’s reported unhappiness with life under Moyes.
Woodward has already said that United may spend ‘in a way that hasn’t been seen in recent years’ this summer, with a drastic overhaul of the squad on the cards.
Players such as Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Javier Hernandez and Anderson could be shown the door with a view to bringing in an array of replacements more in line with Moyes’ vision.
Picture courtesy of Action Images / Jason Cairnduff, with thanks.
