Chelsea prepare 3rd bid for Rooney

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says that Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney remains his main transfer target.

However, Mourinho now admits that he does have possible back-up plans in mind if United remain steadfast in their determination to keep the England international.
Chelsea have reportedly had two bids for Rooney turned down already but Mourinho says they are likely to submit another offer before the transfer window closes.
Asked if he had any news on the situation, the Blues boss said: "Nothing has changed and, at a certain point, I agree with what Alan Pardew (Newcastle boss) was saying, that the transfer window goes too far.
"It goes to the third, fourth fixture of the season, which I agree is too much.
"But, at the same time, it gives everyone a chance to be in the market, while we are winning or losing points, and we will be until the last day."
Mourinho then discussed the Rooney bid specifically and pointed out that United are well within their rights to decline any bid, as Chelsea did when Barcelona attempted to purchase Brazilian defender David Luiz.

Mourinho: Official bids not forbidden

"We trust a lot in our project for the future because the team is very, very young," he said. "But we have conditions to try and improve our team by bringing in one more player and we are going to try that until the end.
"When you think that you'd like to have one player and the market is open, then official bids are not forbidden. Official bids are always accepted in an ethic way.
"You try because nobody forbids you to try and, of course, the player's owners can do exactly what we did in relation to David Luiz and Barcelona."
Samuel Eto'o, who worked with Mourinho at Inter, is believed to be another possible target for Chelsea.
Asked if he might turn to Eto'o, if Rooney remains at Old Trafford, Mourinho said: "We have a plan B and a plan C! Don't ask me names, because it's difficult to speak about players from other clubs."