Wayne Rooney is increasingly confident of signing a new record-breaking contract at Manchester United and could even put pen to paper by the end of the week, it emerged on Monday night
The United star has been in talks with officials at the club and is beginning to think ever more optimistically about staying at the club he signed ten years ago.
The 28-year-old only has a slight chance of teaming up with new signing Juan Mata against Cardiff in the Barclays Premier League on Tuesday as he is still recovering from a groin strain. He faces a fitness test but he is more likely to return at Stoke City on Saturday.
Nevertheless, Rooney is understood to be leaning towards extending his stay at United after becoming convinced the club are prepared to spend big to improve David Moyes' squad this summer.
There are some details of an agreement still to be ironed out but sources at United told Sportsmail that things could move quickly once Rooney and his agent Paul Stretford get round the table again with the club's chief executive Ed Woodward.
A new deal would take Rooney's incentive-based pay up towards the £300,000-a-week mark and that would make him the highest paid player in the country.
Earlier, new £37.1million signing Mata told how the chance to play with Rooney was one of the reasons he decided to leave Chelsea for United.
'I cannot wait to play alongside him,' said Mata. 'He is one of the best players in the history of this country.
'He is unbelievable. He is a striker who can score, can assist and can come to the midfield to take the ball and move.
'I will enjoy playing alongside him.'
Manager David Moyes confirmed Rooney and Robin van Persie trained on Monday morning.
Rooney has been missing with a groin strain since the New Year's Day defeat by Tottenham, while Van Persie suffered a thigh problem in the Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk last month.
Moyes could also have midfielder Marouane Fellaini back after wrist surgery.
Daily Mail
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