Mourinho has not given up hope of bringing the forward to Stamford Bridge.
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney remains a transfer target for Chelsea as the club look to improve their struggling attack, according to the Mirror.
Rooney’s contract at Old Trafford expires in 18 months time and with the Red Devils looking no closer to securing a new deal, the Blues are ready to pounce.
Jose Mourinho made two attempts to bring the England international to west London in the summer, with bids of £20m and £25m rejected by United.
The 28-year-old handed in a transfer request at the end of last season – as confirmed by former manager Sir Alex Ferguson – but since playing this term under David Moyes, has shown impressive form.
If the Premier League champions can not negotiate a new deal with Rooney in the next six months then they could be held to ransom by Mourinho next summer.
When there is only a year remaining on the forward’s contract they could be put in a similar position to that of Arsenal and Robin Van Persie in 2012.
The current crop of strikers at Stamford Bridge have found little form this campaign, with Samuel Eto’o looking past it and Fernando Torres once again struggling in front of goal.
With Mourinho and on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku also having a difference in opinions on the Belgian’s role at the club, there could be a space for Rooney to fill.
The future of the Englishman could depend on United’s eventual finish in the league this season, with an absence from the Champions League likely to play a big part – a very real possibility of late with the side languishing in ninth position.
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