Chelsea move would be a step down for Rooney, warns Wilkins

The striker has been the subject of two failed bids
by the Blues, with Manchester United insisting
they plan to keep hold of him, and their ex-player
has warned against a switch Ray Wilkins has warned Wayne Rooney that
leaving Manchester United to join Chelsea would
represent a step down and has urged the striker
to remain at Old Trafford. The Premier League champions have already
rejected two bids from Chelsea, the second of
which was worth £30 million, with Jose Mourinho
keen to add the 27-year-old to his squad before
the transfer window shuts. Wilkins represented both clubs during his playing
career but thinks Rooney would be making a
mistake if he moves to Stamford Bridge and
believes he should battle to establish himself
under new Red Devils boss David Moyes. “It shouldn’t end this way, it’s getting horrible,”
Wilkins told talkSPORT. “I’ve said it in the past
and I’ll say it again. Once you leave Manchester
United there’s only one way you’re going. “Man United are in the top three biggest clubs on
the planet, therefore they will always buy and
buy and buy because they always want to be
successful. “If you want to win things then there’s no better
club to be at than Manchester United. “So what if you’ve got a bit of competition with
Robin van Persie, it’s healthy. He should stand up
to the plate and show these people what he's
made of. He’s got so much wonderful football
left in him." Wilkins thinks Moyes should only consider selling
Rooney if a foreign club makes an offer, although
he has conceded he would love to see him play
for Chelsea. “If I was David Moyes there’s no way I would sell
him to anyone in England,” he added. “I’m sorry –
he’d have to go abroad. “I would love him to join Chelsea though. I would
love nothing more than to see Wayne Rooney
wearing that blue shirt. “I just think he’s ready for his second coming,
he’s 27-years-old and if for some strange
outcome he stays in England, then Wayne is ready
to start again. “Man United would be crazy to do that though,
they shouldn’t sell him to one of their closest
rivals.”