Last Updated: Wednesday, 25 August, 2004, 18:05 GMT 19:05 UK
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Man Utd bid for Rooney
Manchester United have entered the race to sign Wayne Rooney by offering £20m for the Everton striker.
The Old Trafford bid comes after Newcastle had a similar offer rejected by the Goodison Park club for the 18-year-old England star.
The Magpies are believed to have made an improved, £22m offer since then, and are awaiting Everton´s response.
" We have made an offer," said United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. " We haven´t had a response from Everton though."
Ferguson added on MUTV: " Rooney´s a fabulous player, he showed that at Euro 2004 - and is a young player.
" He´s not the finished article yet, but we´ve got experience of bringing young players to the club and bringing them on."
Everton manager David Moyes earlier issued a warning to Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson, insisting Rooney was worth much more than Chelsea´s £24m star Didier Drogba.
He said: " I would like to quote Bobby Robson´s words: ´You´re talking about buying the most exciting, brilliant young player in Europe´.
" If that is what he thinks then he has got to pay the most exciting and brilliant price. He is well short now."
Moyes added: " Newcastle said that the offer is still on the table. Well it´s not on my table because we don´t want it there and it´s certainly not enough.
" Didier Drogba went to Chelsea for £24m so Wayne´s price should be well more than that.
" He is English and if you want to buy English you have to pay a higher premium.
" We don´t want to lose Wayne but if we do the only way is at the top price and the value we want."
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BBC Sport understands Everton will not even discuss the possibility of Rooney leaving the club unless they receive an official cash bid in excess of £27m - and even then are more likely to demand £30m.
It has been reported that Newcastle are willing to go as high as £28m to land England´s star of Euro 2004.
Newcastle boss Sir Bobby Robson remains confident of securing the services of the 18-year-old, despite their initial bid being rebuffed by Everton.
He said: " I don´t think this is all over to be honest.
" Everton are short of money and need to sell players and he is a saleable asset at the moment.
" We have put in a bid that no-one else has put in. There are other people trying to buy clubs for £20m at the moment, never mind just one player.
" In my mind that is a sizeable amount for a young boy who is only 18. I am not saying it is a risk. He is a young footballer with immense talent and with a great future."
Rooney has so far refused to sign a new five-year contract worth £50,000-a-week and it is now increasingly likely Everton will have to sell their prize asset.
Newcastle bid for Rooney even though the England star is still two weeks away from kicking a ball after breaking a bone in his foot in Portugal.
Chairman Freddy Shepherd said at the weekend that fans would be " pleasantly surprised at what results from the Woodgate deal".
ET C´EST DE LA BBC !
