• Next step for striker may be official transfer request • Manchester United do not want to sell to title rival

Wayne Rooney will not be able to force his way out of Manchester United to join Chelsea, even if he lodges an official transfer request, a move that appears the next logical step for the striker who is intent on leaving before the transfer window closes.

Rooney has said nothing publicly regarding his future, though he is determined to leave Old Trafford. This follows a breakdown in his relationship with the club that can be traced back to last season's falling-out with David Moyes's predecessor Sir Alex Ferguson, who remains at United as a director and ambassador.

With Chelsea Rooney's preferred choice and the west London club believing they can pull off the transfer despite having had two official bids rejected, the 27-year-old forward may decide to submit a written transfer request before the 2 September deadline.

José Mourinho, the Chelsea head coach, is confident he can sign Rooney from the champions, with the Portuguese wanting to make the forward the driving force of his side as the team aim to reclaim the title from United. Mourinho continues to take encouragement from Rooney's keenness to work with him.

United, though, are determined that Rooney will not be sold this summer, especially to a serious title rival. Beyond Robin van Persie, the club's top scorer last season, he is the only front-line finisher with a proven track record available to Moyes, as Javier Hernández is an impact player and Danny Welbeck is yet to show consistency.

The view at United remains that Rooney is under contract for two more years and that the club's position will remain the same until the close of the window – that he is not to be allowed to leave.

Even a serious bid from abroad is unlikely to be countenanced unless United can guarantee the recruitment of a ready-made replacement. As Moyes is yet to make a major signing, this appears unlikely.

Rooney, who is nursing a shoulder injury he suffered during a practice game behind closed doors, will not feature in Friday's testimonial game for Rio Ferdinand against Sevilla and is highly unlikely to be available for the Community Shield meeting with Wigan Athletic at Wembley on Sunday.

Moyes is expected to select a strong United side for Ferdinand's testimonial as the manager is conscious that he has only that game plus the match with Wigan before their Premier League title defence begins with the tricky trip to Swansea City on 17 August.

United plan to close the top tier of Old Trafford for Sevilla's visit, with the club expecting that the remainder of the stadium will be a sell-out of around 45,000, which is below the complete sell-out for the testimonials of Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes.