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Manchester United could trade Wayne Rooney with Barcelona for Thiago Alcantara
REPORTS in Spain suggest that Manchester United may be ready to accept a swap deal for Barcelona starlet Thiago Alcantara, involving Red Devils striker Wayne Rooney.
Manchester United are believed to be closing in on the £15million transfer of Spanish Under-21 hero Thiago - who is available for a reduced figure until the end of July due to a release clause in his contract.
However, according to Catalan paper Sport, Barcelona are plotting an elaborate swap deal to bring Rooney to the Nou Camp with 22-year-old Thiago heading to Old Trafford.
The report suggests that United could accept a bid of £10m plus Thiago for Rooney - who is valued at around £25m by the Red Devils.
Such a move would see new manager David Moyes land one of his principal midfield transfer targets, whilst bring in some money for other signings and get rid of a player who he has clashed with in the past - despite bringing him through the ranks at Everton.
Although there are suggestions that Rooney may have a future under Moyes in Manchester, the 27-year-old's second transfer request in three years may yet end his near-decade-long spell at the Premier League champions.
Fellow Barcelona-based sports paper Mundo Deportivo suggest that the La Liga winners are tracking Rooney and are considering making an offer this summer.