Wayne Rooney will not sign a new contract with Manchester United, it has been revealed.
PA Sport says Red Devils officials have been informed Rooney will not sign a new contract, and therefore may have little option other than to cash in on their most valuable asset.
There has been plenty of speculation about Sir Alex Ferguson's relationship with his star striker since stories about the 24-year-old's private life first surfaced at the beginning of last month.
Rooney appeared to make a direct challenge to Ferguson's authority on Tuesday after England's Euro 2012 qualifier with Montenegro, when he went out of his way to contradict the Scot's claim that he has been suffering from an ankle injury.
Ferguson has so far avoided any meaningful public discussion about Rooney's situation but appeared to deliver his own verdict when he left the forward out of his starting line-up for Saturday's Premier League encounter with West Brom, then brought him on as a substitute with 19 minutes remaining and told him to play on the left wing.
Although it was interpreted as the final straw by some, Rooney's relationship with Ferguson soured some time ago.
Talks over a new contract have stalled and there is no intention from the player's side to reopen negotiations.
