By The Mad Hatter
July 11 2004

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Wayne Rooney is set for Old Trafford, despite United chief executive David Gill denying reports the club are interested in the teenage sensation. Columnist 'The Mad Hatter' looks at the situation regarding the 18-year-old, rated at over £30million.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits he would love to sign England striker Wayne Rooney, but fears the Everton wonderkid is bound to Old Trafford, in a move he believes will make the Red Devils an even bigger threat as they seek to reclaim the Premiership title.

"I dream at night of bringing him to Arsenal, but that's all it is, a fantasy. We cannot compete with the money he would cost so I just have to accept he is out of our reach," Wenger told The People. "I think Rooney will be a United player next season. They know they have to act because Chelsea will do something big and they cannot afford to be left behind."

"I cannot remember seeing anything like it before. I knew he was very good but I didn't think it was possible someone so young could dominate so much. You have to say he is amazing," he added.

Both Arsenal and Man Utd have admitted that they cannot compete with Chelsea in the transfer market in financial terms, but they still can attract players due to their reputation. Real Madrid have also been linked with a move for the teenager, but with presidential elections coming up, mention of a big name is a sure way of persuading voters, and it may just be to attract voters. And would Rooney really move abroad? 

Despite their wealth of strikers, Rooney would certainly bolster Utd's attacking options, with his ability to shoot from range, and his fearlessness. He would also add some much needed aggresion to a side that was lacked it badly last season, as they lost out to Arsenal and Chelsea at home, and to Porto in Europe.

If he does move to Old Trafford, an attack combining him with Portuguese sensation Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistelrooy certainly would see Manchester Utd setting the Premiership and Europe alight.