Manchester United chiefs aren't expected to allow Wayne Rooney to run down his contract.
The Mail on Sunday says the next few rounds of talks between Rooney, his advisors and United, which we understand re-opened last week as a consequence of the Mata deal, could decide the player's fate.
If a deal has not been agreed by the summer then despite having held firm this season United could well off load Rooney to Chelsea.
It's also believed inside United that talk of interest from Real Madrid could be well be a bargaining chip thrown into the equation to strengthen the hand of the striker's advisors in new contract talks.
