Rooney set to ditch Manchester United?

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has reportedly told bosses at Old Trafford that he wants to leave the club as soon as possible after a massive fall-out with manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

According to the Daily Mail, Rooney has told his employers that he will not sign a new contract and would prefer them to let him leave when the transfer window reopens in January.

The troubled striker is believed to have complained that his relationship with Ferguson has completely disintegrated.

The problems between coach and player had begun after lurid details of Rooney's marital infidelities with prostitutes went public.

The scandal has had a negative effect on the 24 year-old, who has scored just one goal this season and has been getting less and less playing time.

Rooney was left out of the starting eleven against Valencia and Sunderland, and was also omitted from Saturday's 2-2 against West Brom.

Rooney has 18 months left on his contract, and the club may have to sell or risk losing him for nothing.

Earlier, United has described claims that Rooney could be sold as early as January as "nonsense", and former club captain Steve Bruce added that Ferguson would get the player back on track.