Chelsea are reportedly set to join Real Madrid in trying to lure Wayne Rooney away from Old Trafford in a cut-price deal in the summer.

The Mirror have reported that the Stamford Bridge hierarchy believe that Rooney's expiring contract will allow them to sign the England striker on the cheap.

Chelsea are the second club to be linked with a serious chase for United's 28-year-old striker, with reports surfacing yesterday that Real Madrid are lining up a £25m summer swoop.

Madrid seem to be in the driving seat as United have insisted that they'll never sell Rooney to another Premier League club, but Chelsea management are said to think that United will have little choice but to sell to the highest bidder if Rooney doesn't sign a new contract in the summer.

Chelsea have chased the former Everton striker for some time now, having two bids rejected for him as recently as this summer, and he is reportedly "very much in Jose Mourinho's plans for next season".

Rooney's future may well depend on how United fare in the second half of this season. If they finish outside the top four and Rooney faces the prospect of no Champions League football, it's hard to see him remaining in Manchester