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Wayne Rooney drops Manchester United exit hint on Twitter with Chelsea lurking
MANCHESTER UNITED striker Wayne Rooney could be set to push for a move away from Old Trafford for the second time in three years this summer.
Rooney is understood to have informed Sir Alex Ferguson two weeks ago of his desire to leave Manchester United at the end of the season, after a troubled individual campaign with the Red Devils.
Although the club have refused to contemplate his departure, insisting "Wayne Rooney is not for sale", late last night the player removed 'Manchester United' from his Twitter account which now simply reads '@NikeUK athlete'.
While perhaps this decision does not conclude that a transfer will happen this summer, considering Rooney has already asked to leave the club that has just lost the manager that brought him to Manchester it cannot be overlooked.
David Moyes is all but certain to take over the reigns from the retiring Ferguson, and although he was Rooney's first manager at Everton the pair have a lukewarm relationship caused by comments in the England striker's autobiography.
While an out-of-court settlement ensured no bridges were truly burned between them, Rooney is thought to have decided that now is the time to leave United three years after he initially pushed for a departure.
With two years left on his contract the Premier League champions understand the 27-year-old's situation is delicate, and may opt to guarantee a sizeable transfer fee of between £25m-£30m this summer with Chelsea the latest club to show interest.
French side Paris Saint-Germain and also Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich are thought to be keeping a close eye on developments surrounding Rooney, which will give Moyes an early test of his credentials once he officially takes over at United.