Rooney's former manager at Everton, David Moyes, is strongly favoured to succeed the retiring Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

The striker had reportedly submitted a transfer request prior to the news of Ferguson's departure, and England international Rooney could be set to join the Scot in making a high-profile off-season exit.

His ex-United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo has also been tipped for a sensational return to the club from Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Ronaldo, 28, left Manchester for Madrid in 2009, and could be set to rejoin the English Premier League champions after United chief executive David Gill met with the Portuguese attacker's agent Jorge Mendes.

United, however, have confirmed their stance that Rooney, 27, is not for sale, with two years remaining on the player's contract.

Rooney has prior history with Moyes after his departure from Everton was followed by a legal dispute - eventually settled out of court - regarding an alleged leak of information from a conversation between the two.

The player accused his former manager of leaking to the media his reasons for departing Goodison Park, but Rooney later revoked the accusation.

Moyes meanwhile is widely believed to have beaten potential candidates Jose Mourinho and Juergen Klopp for the United top job and is set to become the eighth Scottish manager of the famous club.