Old Trafford officials have held informal discussions with their Premier League rivals in the last 48 hours, with talks centring on the forward’s value and the Spanish midfielder.

Manchester United have re-opened informal dialogue with Chelsea over the proposed sale of Wayne Rooney – and have also enquired as to the availability of Juan Mata as part of discussions.

Despite continued public insistence from United manager David Moyes that Rooney is not for sale, officials from both clubs have held informal dialogue over a potential deal for the forward in the last 48 hours.

Central to those talks has been the disparity in the two clubs’ valuation of the Rooney, with United holding out for £40 million having instantly rejected Chelsea’s second bid for the 27-year-old, worth around £30m.

However, United have also used discussions to reiterate their interest in Mata, who was rumoured along with David Luiz to be offered to the Premier League champions as part of the Blues’ initial offer for Rooney.

Chelsea at the time denied including any of their own players in the deal while confirming that their written bid had been rejected.

But United’s willingness to re-enter dialogue about a potential deal only 12 days before the transfer window closes will encourage the Blues in their hope of yet doing a deal for the England international.

“Wayne is acting and training professionally at Carrington but is making no secret of his desire to leave,” a source close to United told Goal.

While the club and Moyes are not keen on selling him to a rival on the back of a frustrating summer transfer window, United feel compelled to explore all avenues should he submit a transfer request in an attempt to force a move.

They believe the arrival of Juan Mata – although unlikely – would certainly go a long way to appeasing fans should that happen.

Mata was left on the bench for Chelsea’s Premier League opener against Hull having missed much of the club’s pre-season preparations following the Confederations Cup.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has insisted that Mata is part of his plans this season but their are doubts over how the attacking midfielder will fit in to the Portuguese’s system.

Mourinho is desperate to land a top class striker this summer having started the season with Fernando Torres, Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba as his three forwards.

Chelsea failed with attempts to bring Radamel Falcao, Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski to Stamford Bridge before turning their attention to Rooney.

Mourinho claimed in July that Rooney was his only target, but insisted this week that the Londoners have been making alternative plans.

“We have plans B and C. Don’t ask me names. It’s difficult to speak about players from other clubs,” Mourinho said.

“We have the conditions to try to improve our team by bringing in one more player and we are going to try that till the end.”

According to Goal

The Mexico striker had the chance to speak with the Spanish club’s sporting director over the summer but was not interested because he wants to defend the Premier League title.

Manchester United striker Chicharito rejected the chance to move to Valencia because he wants to triumph at Old Trafford, according to his agent.

The Mexico international found chances somewhat limited last season and rumours in some circles suggested that he could leave the club following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson.

But Eduardo Hernandez has rubbished reports that his client wants to leave the Premier League champions and reiterated his commitment to succeeding in England.

“Of course he wants to play more, to have more minutes, to participate more, but he wants to do it at United, he wants to defend the title and go far in the Champions League,” he told El Universal.

“The interest from Valencia was real. He had the chance to speak with the sporting director [Braulio Vazquez] but Javier, I reiterate, wants to stay at Manchester United, this is the challenge. He was very grateful to Valencia and the other clubs who called him.

“It’s not a question of money – we didn’t even talk about that subject, there’s only one subject for Javier: he wants to play and be a starter at United.”

Chicharito scored 10 goals in 22 appearances last term and is working hard to ensure that he features in the plans of Ferguson’s successor, David Moyes.

“He knows it’s a very competitive club and that he has to fight to play every day, in the dressing room and on the training ground, but he’s not scared, he says he’s more motivated than ever,” Hernandez added.

“[His outlook] is the same as when he moved to English football; to triumph. Now, with the new manager, he has a lot of hopes, a big desire to play and to grow as a footballer. This season is a new challenge for him.

“He wants to triumph in England. He knows that a starting spot comes with working hard and he has to take advantage of the opportunities that come his way, like he did with Alex Ferguson.”

The 25-year-old sat out Saturday’s 4-1 win over Swansea City after recently recovering from injury.

According to Goal

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio will be out for up to five weeks because of torn knee ligaments and looks like missing Italy’s World Cup qualifiers next month.

He had to be replaced by Paul Pobga after 21 minutes of Sunday’s 4-0 victory over Lazio in the Italian Super Cup following a rough tackle from Stefan Radu.
“Marchisio today underwent an MRI scan of the right knee that revealed a … tear of his medial collateral ligaments,” the club said on their website (www.juventus.com) on Monday.
“He is expected to be sidelined between 30 and 35 days.”
The 27-year-old played a key role in Juve’s back-to-back Serie A championship successes over the past two seasons.
The club start their title defence at home to Sampdoria on Sunday.
Marchisio looks set to miss Italy’s World Cup qualifiers at home to Bulgaria on Sept. 6 and Czech Republic four days later.
Italy top their group with 14 points and four games to play, four ahead of Bulgaria and five in front of the Czechs.
Marchisio, who has won 39 caps, has featured in all six qualifiers played in this campaign. (Writing by Gregory Blachier in Paris; Editing by Tony Jimenez)

According to Reuteur

The Rossoneri coach remains tight-lipped over a possible extension of his deal as he urges his side to secure qualification for the Champions League.

AC Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri has refused to discuss his contract renewal as his side prepare for their Champions League playoff clash with PSV.

The 46-year-old secured a place in the qualifying stages of Europe’s premier competition on the final day of last season, prompting the club to retain his services as head coach for the 2013-14 campaign.

With his long-term future at San Siro still uncertain, Allegri has stressed his sole focus is on progressing past their Dutch opponents to the Champions League group stage, and not on negotiating a new deal.

“Today, we do not talk about my contract renewal,” he told a press conference.

“We’re focused on the two games against PSV because there is a big difference between playing in the Champions League and the Europa League. We must do everything possible to get through the round.”

Milan enjoyed a strong second half to the previous season after initially struggling for form in Serie A and on the continent, and Allegri admits the summer departures of the likes of Thiago Silva and Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a telling effect on his side.

“Last year’s squad was totally dismembered. However, we have improved and we will try to go through against PSV and then hope to play a good Champions League and remain at the top in the league,” he continued.

“PSV play well technically, they have good players and a good collective. We have to be very aggressive and take advantage of our quality, especially going forward.

“[Kevin-Prince]Boateng, [Mario] Balotelli and [Stephan] El Shaarawy will be the strikers tomorrow against PSV. [Andrea] Petagna and [M’Baye] Niang will be on the bench.”

 According to Goal

Manchester United look certain to return with a higher offer after Everton branded their £28million joint bid for Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini as “derisory and insulting”.

United manager David Moyes has been keen to bring both players across to Old Trafford with him following the Scot’s own summer move from Everton.

But it is clear he will need to offer substantially more than the respective £12million and £16million for Baines and Fellaini which is believed to have been the split for the offer, which was lodged at the end of last week.

“Everton can confirm that it has received bids from Manchester United for two players. Those bids were immediately rejected out of hand as derisory and insulting,” said Everton’s director of communications Alan Myers.

“The club did not make public these details as it was vital Roberto Martinez’s preparations for the opening game of the Premier League season were not disrupted in any way.”
That both players started Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Norwich underlines the fact neither is in dispute with the Toffees.

However, it could easily be argued that the duo would welcome the opportunity of a move to the reigning champions and, having so far failed to reinforce his squad, it would be a major surprise if Moyes backed away so quickly.
Indeed, it could be argued the offer was only in line with the first £20million bid made by Chelsea for Wayne Rooney in the middle of last month which the Blues are tipped to increase still further with a third bid before turning their attentions elsewhere.
A further move for Fellaini could be anticipated on the strength of Moyes’ assessment earlier in the summer that United do need to bolster their central midfield options.
United’s chase for Cesc Fabregas is yet to be abandoned.
Realistically though, with the former Arsenal skipper starting Barcelona’s 7-0 rout of Levante on Sunday night, the chances of Fabregas exiting the Nou Camp this month are remote.
Fellaini might not have shown Fabregas’ game-changing abilities. At Premier League level though, the Belgian is an effective performer, and with a date for Darren Fletcher’s return to fitness as yet unknown, Moyes currently only has three central midfielders, plus 39-year-old Ryan Giggs, to choose from.
The pursuit of Baines is possibly a more puzzling one.
Although the England defender is an obvious talent, and is one of the most dangerous set-piece exponents in the top flight, with his 29th birthday looming in December, the former Wigan defender is evidently a first-team player.
Yet Patrice Evra has recovered to something like his old form after a difficult 2011-12 campaign.
At 32, he is one of United’s most experienced players and was named captain in Nemanja Vidic’s absence over the past two seasons.
The only time in recent memory the Red Devils had two experienced full-backs vying for the same position was 2006-07, when Evra and Gabriel Heinze went head-to-head.
Wes Brown filled in for Gary Neville at right-back the following season but he was more naturally a centre-half.
The rest of the time, a younger player has tended to be the stand-in, so if Baines did eventually join United, it would seem obvious for Evra to move on, even if Moyes has previously insisted that would not happen.

According to Foxsports