Barcelona to launch £85M bid for Man Utd ace Rooney

Barcelona are prepared to offer £85 million to land Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.

The News of the World says the Spanish and European champions are lining up an incredible £85million summer swoop for the Manchester United striker.

The Nou Camp club have identified the 24-year-old as the star of the next World Cup and have already put plans in motion to trump Real Madrid's capture of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Catalan giants believe United's massive debts mean they're under increasing pressure to consider bids for all their top players.

United's failure to pump the funds from Ronaldo's £80m sale back into the squad has provided a reminder the Old Trafford's club's finances are in a mess.

But as in the case of Ronaldo, Rooney himself will hold the key to any successful bid from the Nou Camp.