The scramble for Wayne Rooney's signature has begun with Harry Redknapp admitting his interest.

Harry Redknapp admits interest in signing Rooney

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The scramble for Wayne Rooney's signature has already begun with Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp revealing he would be interested in the Manchester United striker. Speculation over Rooney's future is set to rumble on for the foreseeable future after Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the apex of his attack wants to leave Old Trafford. The 24-year-old's present contract expires in 18 months time and Redknapp, who is known for his ability to get the best out of the transfer market, would welcome him to White Hart Lane. And he reckons, should the former Everton trainee allow his contract run down, he could be the ultimate signing."I'm going to speak to my chairman and see if we can get Rooney to Tottenham," Redknapp joked. "But I doubt very much that will happen. "I haven't seen Alex's interview but I'm sure that it's honest and its open and he's explained it openly then that's got to be good. "I think these things need to be open sometimes. Everybody wonders why this has happened, why that has happened. "The game belongs to the people and the people should know what happens more in football. "Too many people feel that the most important people of all, the people who pay the wages, are kept in the dark. "Come out and tell it as it is." With Spurs growing in stature after finishing fourth and qualifying for the Champions League, Redknapp admits they could be in the running. "It's not impossible," added Redknapp. "If he's going to stay in England, who knows? "You've got to be interested when the very, very best players become available but it would be a big ask. "I'm sure there'll be some big fish out there wanting to take Rooney, that's for sure. "He's a fantastic player - he's having a bad spell, he's had bad two or three months - but he's a great player." Whoever signs the England marksman will no doubt do so at a huge expense and in the process make Rooney considerably wealthier. It is, as Redknapp accepts, a growing indication of the power of the players in the modern, that such an asset could possible leave with his club not receiving a penny."At the end of the day, Wayne Rooney will be a free agent," he continued. "What an amazing situation to be in: somebody who's worth £50-60 million will be a free agent. "He's going to want a decent signing on fee; he's not going to be cheap, is he? "Players have all the power now. If he doesn't sign a contract, he's a free agent. What a position to be in. "He's in a position where, if somebody gives him £30 million, you're getting a very cheap player - if they give it to him personally. That's without his wages. "He's got 18 months to get through before he's going to free, which is going to be difficult. "But if that's the road he wants to go down, he can go down that road. Man United can do nothing about it. "All they can do is keep trying to make him a better offer to sign a contract, I suppose. There's no other way out for a club. "One thing's for sure, he won't find a better club than Manchester United to play for. He's got a great manager there. I don't know what's gone on there but it's a shame if it ends that way."