Arsenal major shareholder Alisher Usmanov has called on the club to bid for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has since expressed his admiration for Rooney but United are reluctant to sell to a Premier League rival.

Usmanov told CNBC: "He is a great player and [joining Arsenal] would be great for Rooney, and Arsenal too."

The Uzbek billionaire is regarded the richest man in Britain, but has so far been blocked from joining the Gunners board.