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Major League Soccer bosses are ready to throw “big dollars” at Wayne Rooney when he decides to leave Manchester United, writes James Nursey in Seattle.

Striker Rooney is struggling to hold on to starting positions for club and country following a poor European Championship and expensive summer signings at Old Trafford.

And Merritt Paulson, who owns MLS champions Portland Timbers, has confirmed American franchises are monitoring the 30-year-old’s future closely and are ready to beat lucrative offers expected from China.

Paulson said: “I would argue he still has some good soccer ahead of him.

“I think he would be a great signing for MLS - 100 per cent MSL would be attractive for him.

(Image: Getty)

“Keeping in mind that is a very talented footballer, who has quality soccer ahead of him, you are not talking about a 34 or 35 year old.

“I get excited about the impact he would have in the MLS more than a guy who is coming in later in his career.

“The MLS is offering significant money. There were conversations with some guys who are as big a name as Rooney recently.

“Orlando City had some high profile discussions with some players — guys in his age range. There are some big-dollar numbers that have been put out.

(Image: Getty)

“China is a factor, but also players need to determine where they want to play and what is going to be best for their legacy and lifestyle – where they want to live.

“I think America compares really favourably — I wouldn’t want to play soccer in Beijing right now. I am not saying that because I don’t like China but the air quality issue is something they have to deal with in a sport which requires fitness.

“Players need to make their own choices but I think about other leagues being competitors for talent more than I do the Chinese league, where certainly there is a lot of money being splashed around.”

Paulson bought an MLS place for his hometown Portland, who joined the league in 2011.

Now, the 20-team league is planning to expand to 24 franchises by 2020 and has two new sides coming in next year with Atlanta United and Minnesota United.

Paulson traces the rise in football's popularity in America back to the signing of David Beckham for LA Galaxy in 2007.

(Image: Getty)

He added: “I think signing Beckham was a seminal moment for MLS.

"Beckham was the only guy who could have had the impact he did.”

Rooney has a £300,000-a-week deal at Old Trafford until 2019 but he is being courted by the mega-rich Chinese league.