Wayne Rooney for sale at 20 million pounds if he can find club

Wayne Rooney's fractured relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson could mean the Manchester United forward is sold for as little as 20 million pounds this summer.

Ferguson's decision to drop Rooney from his starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League clash with Real Madrid has placed the 27-year-old's future in sharp focus. But it is understood that Ferguson and United have already started to plan for life without the England striker.

Rooney has left the manager exasperated with his ongoing failure to overcome concerns relating to his match fitness. Those issues, combined with the perception that Rooney's mobility and energy have been compromised, have accelerated his fall from grace at Old Trafford.

United have no plans to open negotiations with Rooney over a new contract to replace the final two years of his 250,000-a-week pounds deal, but with the former Everton player approaching his 28th birthday in October, his age and salary have left sources within the game placing his market value as low as 20 million pounds.

United's 22 million pounds capture of Robin van Persie from Arsenal last summer, and Manchester City's 20 million pounds sale of Mario Balotelli to AC Milan in January, have been cited as examples of transfer fees dropping from the levels of recent years, when Ferguson hit out at the "kamikaze" spending of clubs such as City.

City could renew their interest in Rooney, having failed to sign him during the 2010-11 season, but uncertainty surrounding the future of manager Roberto Mancini and this season's arrival of sporting director Txiki Begiristain ensure that an Abu Dhabi-funded move for the striker is by no means guaranteed, even if Carlos Tevez and Edin Dzeko leave.

Chelsea and Paris St-Germain also possess the financial power to sign Rooney, but both the player and United are facing up to a reality that the field of potential buyers is likely to be a small one.

Barcelona and Real Madrid have shown no interest and while Inter Milan are keen to recruit a leading forward, the Italian giants are expected to look to South America for a less expensive option.

Rooney is understood to have reacted calmly when informed by Ferguson of his omission from the team to face Real during a squad meeting at 5.30pm on Monday. He was allegedly more expressive to his team-mates prior to the game, however, with his frustration made clear, but sources close to Rooney yesterday refused to discuss his reaction to being dropped and thoughts on his Old Trafford prospects.

Ferguson's decision was backed, however, by former United forward Cristiano Ronaldo, whose winning goal settled a 3-2 aggregate victory for Real. "It's about decisions and you have to respect the decisions," Ronaldo said. "The coach knows better than anyone who is fit to play and you have to respect that."

Another of Rooney's former United team-mates, Michael Owen, said on Talksport: "For Rooney not to start is a real kick in the teeth and it's got to be a big worry for him.

"Sometimes when you're at the level he is at you don't have many options. If you are a mediocre player you have 20 teams in England and abroad that you can move to. If Wayne moves, where does he go to? Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Chelsea and PSG, there's only half-a-dozen teams."

Tensions between Ferguson and Rooney have been evident throughout this campaign, though, with the United manager raising concerns over the player's fitness last August following his delayed return to pre-season training in the wake of his participation for England at Euro 2012.

The United manager's reluctance to heap praise on Rooney has also been noticeable this season, with the Scot offering further evidence of this by claiming only that his stunning 30-yard goal against Norwich on Saturday would "do his confidence good".

Ironically, Rooney's performance against Norwich, when he created two goals for Shinji Kagawa in the 4-0 win, was arguably his best since scoring twice against City on Dec 9, but it proved insufficient to prompt Ferguson to select him on Tuesday.

The purchases of Van Persie and Kagawa - players who operate in the two positions favoured by Rooney - hinted at Ferguson reshaping his team and ending the over-reliance on Rooney. And the subsequent emergence of Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley has further eroded Rooney's status in the team.

With Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski a target this summer, Rooney's future prospects could be eclipsed further by the potential arrival of a player who has performed both as a central striker and wide player for the German champions and Poland national team.

Rooney is expected to return to training today ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against Chelsea at Old Trafford after the squad were given a day off by Ferguson.

Where next for Rooney?

Chelsea: Roman Abramovich is an admirer and possesses the financial muscle, and desire, to tempt Rooney to Stamford Bridge. Would be seen as a big capture.

Manchester City: Pursued Rooney in 2010 and 2011, but now target younger players such as Edinson Cavani. Roberto Mancini is a fan, but his future at City is as uncertain as Rooney's at United.

Paris St-Germain: Have the money and glamour, but also have Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezequiel Lavezzi and the emerging Lucas Moura. With Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani top targets, where would Rooney fit in?

Arsenal: Unlikely as Rooney does not fit the profile of an Arsene Wenger signing, but could he energise Arsenal the way Robin van Persie has transformed United?