City 2-1 to sign Wayne

SPORTS BETTING: SO it really is true. Wayne Rooney wants to leave Manchester United, arguably the world’s most famous club and certainly the most successful British team of the last 20 years.

Whatever his reasons – and I suspect wage ambitions and United’s increasing vulnerability at the highest level are at the top of his list – Rooney’s decision is a bombshell both for the club and football in general.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s press conference yesterday laid the blame squarely on Rooney’s shoulders and, bearing in mind Fergie’s swift and ruthless attitude to those who cross him, I expect Rooney has played his last first-team game for United.

That means his departure in the January transfer window is inevitable – providing someone is willing to stump up the money to free him of his Old Trafford misery.

The bookies make Rooney 2-5 to leave in January and 9-4 to stay.

And with neighbours Manchester City boasting unlimited spending power, it is no surprise to see the Eastlands club favourites at 2-1 to sign him.

What a kick in the teeth that would be for United fans. Carlos Tevez was bad enough, but Wayne Rooney? Blimey, some Reds supporters would be almost suicidal.

Should United resist City’s approach on the basis that to sell to City would be too bitter a pill to swallow, then Real Madrid is Rooney’s most likely destination.

The Spanish giants’ new boss, Jose Mourinho, was cagey on the subject in an interview last night, but would surely love to sign a star striker he has admired since his days in the Premier League.

Barcelona (7-2) and Chelsea (10-1) are also in the running, say the bookies, but with the money-orientated Glazers in charge at United, I can’t see any outcome other than the sale of Rooney to the highest bidder. And that means City.

Assuming Rooney does leave in January, how much will United get for him?

A fee of £31-40m is favourite at 15-8, with £41-50m 9-4, and £21-30m and £51-60m 11-2.

As for Rooney’s replacement, Fernando Torres seems to be the striker most odds-layers expect Fergie to hunt down.

Clearly fed up with the way things are going at Liverpool, Torres would welcome a move from Anfield.

But my understanding is that City’s multi-millions were not enough to tempt Liverpool to sell to City in the summer and, if that is right, then a reduced offer from United would also be unlikely to succeed.

Torres is the 4-1 favourite to replace Rooney, but close behind are continental stars Karin Benzema (5-1) and Eden Dzenko (11-2), and Dutch World Cup star Wesley Sneijder (11-2).

Diego Forlan is 25-1 to make a dramatic return to Old Trafford, while the notion of Lionel Messi (20-1) leaving Barcelona for United is too ridiculous to contemplate.

Whatever Rooney’s future and that of his possible replacement, there is no doubt that Manchester United are entering their most worrying period for many years.

A weak squad – at least by Old Trafford standards – and several key players approaching the twilight of their careers leaves United extremely vulnerable, so the loss of Rooney would be catastrophic.

And the ownership situation and ongoing revelations about the Glazers’ financial problems is equally alarming.

What makes it even more galling for United followers is City’s increasing influence at football’s top table and their incredible financial muscle.

A power shift is ever nearer in Manchester and the bookies know it.

United have drifted to 6-1 to win the Premier League title, with City only half a point behind at 13-2. Those odds would have been unthinkable a couple of years ago.

And the Reds, who take on Turkish side Bursaspor in the Champions League tonight, have been pushed out to 11-1 to win Europe’s premier competition.

These are desperate times if you are a United fan.

And yesterday’s Rooney revelations just made an unpalatable situation a whole lot worse.