Report: United's Rooney set for summer departure due to lack of playing time

Wayne Rooney could be entering the final stage of his career at Manchester United if first-team opportunities continue to pass him by.

The team's all-time leading scorer, who was reportedly caught off guard by manager Jose Mourinho's failure to guarantee his place at the club next season, is said to be considering a summer move away from United if he continues play a supporting role from the bench, according to the Guardian's Jamie Jackson.

He is, however, determined to see out the remaining months of the season in a United shirt.

Following reports that he could be set for a move to China before the country's transfer window closes next Tuesday, Simone Stone of the BBC reports that Rooney is "unlikely" to join the Chinese Super League this month. Like Jackson, Stone also reports that there's a good chance that Rooney will end his 13-year association with United after the season.

Reports of his possible departure have increased in the 24 hours since Mourinho's remarks, as the Portuguese manager insisted that he would not be at fault if Rooney were to leave.

"What I can guarantee is that, if one day Wayne leaves the club, it is not because I want him to leave the club," Mourinho said ahead of United's Europa League match against Saint-Etienne.

"I would never push a legend of this club to another destiny."

Along with failing to win a Premier League start since Dec. 17, Rooney was excluded from United's 20-man squad set to face Saint-Etienne on Wednesday despite overcoming an injury and returning to training Tuesday.

Despite the reports from the BBC and the Guardian, James Ducker and Luke Edwards of The Telegraph suggest Rooney could be on the move to China this month if he fails to win a place in United's starting XI ahead of the EFL Cup final against Southampton on Sunday.

Rooney's representatives allegedly engaged in talks with Chinese Super League outfit Tianjin Quanjian at an undisclosed time, according to team manager Fabio Cannavaro, who admitted to speaking about a possible transfer for the England captain but ruled out a move after determining that the 31-year-old doesn't fit his team's style of play.