Wayne Rooney is reported to have turned down the chance to open talks regarding a contract extension, fuelling rumours that he could look to leave the club once again should their form fail to improve this season.

Rooney has twice pushed for a move away from Old Trafford, only to remain with the club despite constant interest from clubs such as Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain. His current deal expires at the end of the 2014-15 season, but with both he and his representatives refusing to begin talks, the striker could end up heading into the final year of his contract next season.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho made no secret of his pursuit of Rooney in the summer, and although a move failed to transpire, Mourinho could return for the England international in the summer after admitting this week that his current crop of strikers haven’t produced enough goals this season.

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It is believed that United would like to tie him down to a new four-year contract, which would see him secured beyond his 32nd birthday, but that could all depend on United turning around their season and ensuring they qualify for the Champions League.

The 28-year-old has been one of very few shining lights this season among the Premier League champions, with the forward appearing to have returned to his best under new manager David Moyes. Rooney had a rather public fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson towards the end of last year, but the latter’s retirement from management appeared to have convinced Rooney that his future lies with the club he joined as an 18-year-old in 2004.

Despite Moyes’ comments that a new deal “will be done in good course”, www.goal.com are reporting that a source close to the club has informed them that talks have been rejected.

“Wayne is resisting any and all attempts from the club to talk about his contract situation,” the source said.

“He knows, more than anything, that with his contract running down and in the form that he is in, he holds all the aces.”

One potential suitor could be the current Premier League leaders Arsenal, with manager Arsene Wenger likely to strengthen his side with another striker in the near-future.

Frenchman Olivier Giroud has started every Premier League match this season bar the 2-0 victory over Hull last week, where his replacement Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring within two minutes. However, they do look a little light in attack and should anything happen to Giroud, Bendtner is unlikely to produce the same number of goals as the 27-year-old – or even the likes of Rooney – should he be called upon.

One serious issue though is his current £250,000-a-week salary, would likely take a cut should he move to a club like Arsenal, although he could command such a fee with a move to Chelsea or Real Madrid.

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