Manchester United have rejected a £10m bid plus a player from Chelsea for Wayne Rooney. It is understood that the London club would be willing to offer either Juan Mata or David Luíz as part of the deal.
The bid was turned down even though it would value Rooney at over £30m.
United informed Chelsea that Rooney was not for sale but with Jose Mourinho keen on securing his services, the move from the west London club can be viewed as the opening gambit in a process in which they are bound to return with a higher offer.
The stunning development comes less than 24 hours after the depth of Rooney's anger at comments made by United manager David Moyes became known.
With it looking increasingly like Rooney's nine-year stay at Old Trafford is coming to an end, Chelsea have made their move.
And the fact Mata and Luiz have been deemed expendable in such a deal seems particularly significant.
That United should dismiss the offer so quickly is no surprise.
In recent weeks they have repeatedly insisted Rooney is not for sale, and the idea of selling to a domestic rival is particularly unpalatable.
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