Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners Plotting Summer Move For Wayne Rooney?
Daily Mail. The Gunners have reportedly been keeping tabs on Rooney since March, ever since his unhappiness at Old Trafford came to light, and the club's backroom team have now begun discussing a move. They are serious about trying to land Rooney, but one major obstacle could yet prove to be the player's wage demands. Lukas Podolski, Arsenals top earner, is on just over £100,000 a week compared to Rooneys £250,000, and clearly, the club would have to shatter their pay structure to secure the deal. However, with a reported £70 million to spend, Wenger is at last ready to spend big with targets such as Stoke City goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic also on his radar. Whether the Gunners would be prepared to offer Rooney the sort of money he currently earns remains to be seen, while senior Arsenal officials are concerned they could be financially outmuscled by Chelsea, who are also interested in the 27-year old. But the fact Wenger has even begun discussing a potential move for the ex-Everton man shows enough intent. The Frenchman has in the past been accused of buying in cheaper and poorer replacements for the likes of Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, but now it looks like he's going to spend big to challenge for silverware next season.