Everton target Beattie as Rooney says he wants out

David Moyes last night warned Wayne Rooney that he is making a huge mistake by leaving Everton as the manager earmarked Southampton's James Beattie as a replacement.

Rooney handed in a written transfer request yesterday, citing, in a statement issued through his agent Paul Stretford, his desire "to be with a club that is playing in Europe every year" as his primary motivation. Manchester United and Newcastle are expected to up their bids for the 18-year-old after having offers dismissed by Everton, with both suitors retaining hope that they will secure the signing over the weekend.

A proportion of the incoming fee for Rooney will go towards signing Beattie, with Everton prepared to meet Southampton's £8m asking price for the unsettled England striker. Aston Villa and Charlton have both failed in £6m attempts to prise the 26-year-old from St Mary's, though Everton are confident a deal will be concluded before the transfer window closes on Tuesday.

Even so, Rooney's desire to sever his ties with the club he supported as a boy has dismayed Everton supporters and the club's manager, for all that his sale had appeared inevitable once the auction for his services got serious this week. Rooney informed Moyes of his decision in a meeting attended by Stretford yesterday and has been advised to stay away from Everton's home game with West Bromwich Albion today and Monday's trip to Old Trafford.

"They [Rooney and Stretford] have indicated that they would like to leave," said Moyes at Bellefield, where Rooney trained as normal with his current club-mates. "I am very disappointed that he wouldn't stay longer here. I feel staying at Everton is the right move for his career. He has given his reasons and I don't think I can change his mind. He is under a lot of pressure and that is what he feels he wants to do - Wayne and his adviser have made their decision and he wants to go.

"Look at Fernando Torres at Atlético Madrid, a top player who has stayed where he is and is learning the ropes. Wayne could do the same and I think most people out there actually believe the best thing for him would be to stay at Everton. But they have their reasons. It's their decision. Wayne is a player with great talent, terrific ability, and is one of those players you don't want to lose, but we are also in a position where we don't want to keep people who are unhappy."

Rooney is still a month away from full fitness, though the metatarsal injury he sustained during Euro 2004 should not prevent him from passing a medical. "This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but I feel the time is now right for me to move forward with my career," he said. "The Euros were a fantastic experience for me, it made me realise I could play at the highest level. To do that I need to be with a club that is playing in Europe every year."

Despite the transfer request and their own desire to add to their squad, Everton will resist selling Rooney for a cut-price fee, though their valuation has already dropped from an initial £30m to nearer £25m. The bids received - £20m from United and Newcastle's improved £23.5m offer - have been turned down, though both clubs remain publicly confident they will secure the youngster's signature. Sir Alex Ferguson was so relaxed that he even mentioned that Bank Holiday Monday might present a "problem" in terms of Rooney needing a day-long medical, though in practice it would not.

"There has been more dialogue between Bill Kenwright [the Everton chairman] and our chief executive David Gill," said Ferguson. "I would look forward to working with Wayne. The deadline is an issue but it is not insurmountable. If it comes off we would have four out-and-out strikers [Ruud van Nistelrooy, Alan Smith, Louis Saha and Rooney] and the quality would be there. They are four great players and when you have an opportunity like this you don't want to refuse it."

"I think Wayne Rooney will be in another club by Tuesday, and I would like to think he will be wearing a black-and-white shirt," said the Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd. "Everton have to decide which way to go, but I would put my house on it all being sorted out before the transfer deadline."

"Unless we get made an offer which is sufficient, he remains an Everton player, but I think we have done all we could have to keep him," stressed Moyes. "We made him an unbelievable offer with a five-year contract and that has been on the table for six weeks, and I have to say that I was very close to getting a contract signed with Wayne.

"He played in the Euros and became England's best player playing for Everton and he would continue to do that at this club, but the offer from Newcastle has thrown a spanner in the works. Instead, it's come to this."