Wayne Rooney’s brilliant career has turned a bit sad recently but the Manchester United and England captain is set to be offered an escape route.
According to The Mirror, Sven Goran-Eriksson – who gave Rooney his senior international debut in 2003 – will make a big-money move for the former Everton wonderkid in the New Year.
Eriksson, 68, currently manages Shanghai SIPG. And The Mirror claim he is ready to offer Rooney a deal worth £80m to join him at the Chinese Super League club.
The report does not explain all the maths behind how Rooney could earn £80m, but it is stated that weekly wages of £500k per week – plus commercial bonuses – were proposed to the player 10 months ago.
At that time, Rooney opted to stay at Old Trafford, but The Mirror suggest that the 30-year-old might now be persuaded to up sticks to the Far East, after struggling to play regularly for club or country in recent months.
Shanghai SIPG finished as runners up in last year’s Chinese Super League.
They are currently fourth in the table this season, having already booked a spot in the qualifying rounds of the 2017 AFC Champions League.
Rooney would not be the first huge name to move to Shanghai SIPG, who signed Brazilian forward Hulk earlier this year.