Barca want Rooney in swap deal that could see United net Thiago AND VillaBarcelona are considering sending Thiago Alcantara, David Villa and a small sum of cash to Old Trafford to help lure Wayne Rooney to Spain.
The Catalan giants are keen to strengthen their forward line despite already adding Neymar to the ranks this month.
Rooney, who watched from the Royal Box on Sunday as Andy Murray won the Wimbledon men's title, faces an uncertain future at Manchester United having submitted a transfer request at the end of last season.
Arsenal and Chelsea remain confident they can lure the England man to London, though find United extremely reluctant to sell.
Rooney and David Moyes have spoken about his future: the pair met at Rooney’s home even before the players came back for training last week, with the Scot defiant in his press conference last week.
The new United boss is keen to make a bold statement in the transfer window having taken over from Sir Alex Ferguson officially earlier this month.
And that has led the Spanish newspaper Sport to claim Rooney may be used as a bargaining tool to lure La Liga's finest.
A report in the paper says Thiago's departure for around £17million is almost certain, though sticking points continue to hold up developments, while Villa, too, who is rated at around £8.5m by his club, will quit the Nou Camp with a year remaining his deal.
The sums then, with £4m in cash added on top, values Rooney at over £30m, significantly higher than any bid so far received.
Defender, and former United man Gerard Pique was full of praise for his one-time team-mate last week when he insisted that 26-year-old would become one of the world's best if he switched countries.
He said: 'I know he has what’s needed to be one of the three best players in the world. He’d fit well with Barcelona,' Pique told Sport.
'He can adapt to many positions. He’s best as the centre forward, but we have seen him on the left or right side.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2358178/Wayne-Rooney-sign-Barcelona-Thiago-Alcantara-David-Villa-going-Manchester-United.html
