NilSatisOptimum
Player Valuation: £70m
Is it possible that contracts are not now the issue with either Barkley and/or Lukaku ?
Is it possible that before they agree to sign anything they are waiting to see if the club actually delivers on it's promise to back the manager in the transfer market and bring in the quality of player required to challenge for a top four spot.
The total silence from the club and the reps. of both Barkley and Lukaku leads me to believe there is more to this story than we are being told.
Regarding Rooney.. I think this is Everton playing hardball to squeeze the best deal possible out of Utd.
Utd want Rooney out but are probably unwilling to pay him anything on the remainder of his contract, Everton are almost certainly not going to recompense him for the huge loss he will suffer because of the drop in his salary by joining Everton.
At the same time Utd cannot afford to keep him at a probable cost of 40m over the remainder of the two years of his contract. Rooney has ruled out joining any other club in England and if he won't go abroad then Utd have to arrange a deal with Everton or keep a hugely expensive player that doesn't fit into the managers plans... this one could drag on for a while.
You may be right with Barkley and Lukaku. Regarding Barkley when does the official business of the Premier League finish? However, what you say about Rooney fits utd and Everton. Rooney himself is probabaly down to some loyality clause not openely seeking a move etc.
I’m still not convinced, we are out of 'let us be competitive' modus operandi.