United back in for Rooney with £25m bid

Manchester United last night appeared to move a step closer to successfully completing the signing of Wayne Rooney when they lodged an increased £25 million bid for the England striker.

However, it was understood that Everton were awaiting the entrance of a third - as yet unnamed - club to enter what had been a two-horse race between Manchester United and Newcastle United. Of potential English competitors, only Chelsea would appear to have the financial clout to launch such a late attempt.

In a week of high drama surrounding the future of a player who has yet to kick a ball this season due to an injury sustained on international duty during the summer, Manchester chief executive David Gill faxed the offer following his side's 1-1 draw with Blackburn Rovers early yesterday afternoon.

Despite Everton manager David Moyes insisting that Rooney would only be allowed to leave the club he has supported since childhood on their terms, he and his employers have been resigned to losing the player, even before he tabled a transfer request through his advisers on Friday.

The increased bid yesterday seemed to bring such a conclusion a step closer as an Everton statement confirmed: 'Manchester United this afternoon made an offer for Wayne Rooney which is in excess of the second bid lodged by Newcastle United earlier in the week.'

However, it is understood that Everton are delaying a response to the latest United offer, with the possibility of a third club entering the bidding.

Everton chairman Bill Kenwright said: 'Manchester United have upped their offer. They started at £20m, which was a day after Newcastle bid £20m and seemed a funny way to start. But we turned that down, Newcastle went to £23.5m and now Manchester United have upped it.

'We have not responded and we do not have a time scale as to when we will. United and Newcastle have both been as good as their word and they could not have been more understanding of our situation. You have got to remember we are talking about someone who is very special to Everton.'

For the moment, United's increased offer establishes them as favourites to win any two-way auction for the star, despite rumours on Merseyside that Rooney would favour a move to the north-east.

Rooney has claimed that he has handed in his transfer request in order to play in Europe on a regular basis. His approach, and that of his advisers, has drawn an angry response from Everton supporters.

Moyes has continued to insist that Rooney will only be allowed to leave the club at the 'right price' - a figure generally assumed to be in the region of £30m.