How Manchester United Can Buy Wayne Rooney for Arsenal*

*But I don't think Arsenal fans would be very pleased.



The headline surely gives you the impression I need to be sedated. Hell I even think so and nothing within this post is anything but speculation but let me indulge a theory and break it down for you in segments.

1. Arsenal are interested in signing Wayne Rooney.

A lot of the big & reliable accounts on Twitter are saying that Arsenal are interested, I have no problems in believing that after hearing what Arsene Wenger has said, I did ask about Rooney interest a while ago when it first emerged and although I was told there was interest, there were a few complications such as....


2. Can Arsenal afford Wayne Rooney?

Ivan Gazidis says so, you would imagine a fee of £20/£25m and wages of £150k/wk and beyond. That's doable although you always have to remember that this is Arsenal. Would there be any discontent about a new player coming in on such high wages? I don't think anyone in the current squad is worth £150,000 a week so....No. So we've conquered the interest and the financial feasibility but maybe Arsenal won't have to stretch that far, this links nicely into the fact that....


3. Manchester United want Cesc Fabregas for anything in the region of £40m+

A lot of the North-West journalists are reporting that Fabregas is David Moyes' top target. There has been a lot of conflicting reports about the Spaniards availability, in the same convo as Rooney interest, was told that Cesc would give it a minimum of 12 months at Barcelona and see where he stands come the end of this season coming. But assume he is moving, Manchester United would have a problem as.....


4. Arsenal have first refusal on Cesc Fabregas - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/8703312/Arsenals-sense-of-loss-from-Cesc-Fabregas-departure-softened-by-clauses-in-his-Barcelona-contract.html

Any confirmation of Fabregas' intentions to leave would alert Arsenal as the above article stated, would Arsene be able to pass up the opportunity or have the world know he's passed on Cesc Fabregas. It would depend on how much Arsenal want Rooney as maybe....

5. Arsenal waive first refusal on Cesc Fabregas to allow Manchester United's PURSUIT of Fabregas in return for selling Wayne Rooney to Arsenal.

This is starting to get far-fetched now but bear with me. Arsenal allow Manchester United to try and sign Cesc Fabregas in return to not blocking Wayne Rooney leaving for Arsenal, now comes the clever bit as the article linked shows that Arsenal will recieve 50% of the transfer fee should Cesc leave Barcelona so possibly..

6. Manchester United sign Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona for £40m+.

Manchester United have signed Cesc Fabregas for say £45m from Barcelona. £22.5m of that transfer fee is payable to Arsenal as laid out in the article above so....

7. In my crazy world, Manchester United have paid Arsenal the £20m+ to sign Wayne Rooney FOR ARSENAL while effectively signing Fabregas for £22.5m

Madness isn't it? I suspect Arsenal fans would rather have Fabregas back (I'm still undecided as a fully functioning Rooney would benefit Arsenal) but I have reservations over Rooney's fitness and lifestyle choices so I would probably just take Fabregas for the £20m.


As stated at the top, this is all the workings from my mind so I expect precisely 0% of this to happen. Otherwise it's quiet in Arsenal world (Hence this longwinded piece) but you'd hope somethings start falling into place this week.