Rooney agent dismisses Chelsea link
Wayne Rooney’s management company have dismissed reports of a £35m (€50.4m) approach from Chelsea as “complete speculation”.
The Everton and England striker, who turns 18 later this month, has been linked with a move to the west London club, who are bankrolled by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.
However, Ian Monk, a spokesman for ProActive Sports Management who look after Rooney’s affairs, said: “As far as Wayne’s agents and ProActive are concerned it’s complete speculation.
"There has been no contact between anyone from ProActive and Chelsea concerning Wayne Rooney.
“Wayne is happy at Everton, he’s under contract for the next three years. There is absolutely no basis to this.”
Everton have insisted no clubs have approached them with a view to signing Rooney.
The club’s head of corporate affairs and PR Ian Ross Thursday morning poured cold water on the story.
“We have had no contact with Chelsea or from any other club regarding Wayne Rooney and nor would we welcome any,” he said.
Everton are making no further comment at this stage, but Rooney is far and away the club’s most valuable asset.
He signed a contract with the club in January which runs until June 2006.
Deputy chairman Bill Kenwright joked at the time: “Unfortunately you can only sign a 17-year-old for three years – we tried for 33 and a half.”
Rooney burst onto the scene with a spectacular goal against Arsenal and by April of his debut season had gravitated to the full England side, starring in the vital 2-0 win over Turkey which ultimately took the national side to the Euro 2004 finals.
Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri spent £111m (€160m) of Abramovich’s money on new players in the summer after the Russian bought a controlling stake in the west London club in July.
They are currently top of the Premiership, but stumbled to a 2-0 home defeat to Besiktas in their last Champions League outing.
It is expected that Chelsea will once again be busy when the transfer window reopens in January.
