ROO CAN FORGET BALE
Wayne Rooney warns Man Utd off signing Bale… but urges Solskjaer to sign SIX players this summer
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WAYNE ROONEY has warned his old club Manchester United to forget bringing in 'Galactico' Gareth Bale - and focus on getting SIX up-and-coming stars.
Along with Bale, United have been linked with Ajax defender Matthijs De Ligt and Portugal's £106million-rated sensation Joao Felix.
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Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and Paris Saint-Germain full-back Thomas Meunier have also been on their radar.
But Rooney has told boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that any £100m-plus marquee signings will not help him with his massive rebuilding job in the long run.
The former England captain said: “I don’t think bringing one or two players in for over £100million is going to really help with the squad and the players who are there.
“I think he needs to try and look at maybe five or six players who have got potential to be top players but you’re not spending £120, £130million on these players.
“I think you spend £30million, £40million and then try to improve them, which will also give you longevity out of the players and allow you to build a squad around the five or six new players that come in, plus a few of the players who are still there.
“You could bring Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos and Messi in, or Gareth Bale for instance, and it’s going to cost you £300m, £350million (for) which you’d get what?
"Maybe two years out of Ronaldo, a couple of years out of Ramos and then you’ve written that money off.”
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I think you spend £30million, £40million and then try to improve them. That allows you to build a squad around the five or six new players that come in.
Solskjaer has looked to bring in some English talent.
He is already close to an £18m switch for Swansea winger Daniel James.
Leicester centre-half Harry Maguire and Crystal Palace duo Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Patrick van Aanholt have also been on his wishlist.
The Norwegian has also looked at Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld, who is available for a cut-price £25m this summer.
And he has lost midfielder Ander Herrera and defender Antonio Valencia.
There is huge speculation that Inter Milan target Romelu Lukaku, midfielder Paul Pogba and striker Alexis Sanchez could also leave Old Trafford this summer.
Solskjaer said: "I want to be sure when we come back pre-season that I have the right characters in and around.
“You have got to have qualities and our fans want to see exciting players. We want to get up from our seats.
";You see defenders who defend, like that’s their life, that’s the most important thing.
"You have to have that work ethic and we’re scouting the market trying to find the right ones.”
United record scorer Rooney with 253 goals, who was speaking to BBC Radio Five, now plies his trade in America with DC United.
Rooney, who scored a record 253 goals for United, says Solskjaer will get time and patience from the Old Trafford faithful.
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He added: “I just think the club needs to rebuild with younger players.
“And I think the Man United fans will understand that they are probably not going to compete for the Premier League next year.
“So let them have that time, let Ole have that time to build a team for the next two or three years who are going to compete, not only at Premier League level, but at Champions League level.”
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