Barca plot £80m Rooney bid

Barcelona are plotting a sensational £80m bid to lure Wayne Rooney to Spain, according to reports in today's papers.

The Catalan giants are about to tie up a deal for David Silva, and are actively pursuing Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, but have also set their sights on landing the England striker.

Rooney is currently away in Austria with the England squad but Barca are reported to have already started making enquiries about bringing him to the Nou Camp.

Manager Pep Guardiola is determined to lead Barca back to the top of European football after they surrendered their Champions League crown when Jose Mourinho's Inter Milan knocked them out of the competition in the semi-finals.

Rooney is under contract at United until 2012 and is happy at the club but Barca believe the thought of playing alongside Lionel Messi in such a star-studded team would appeal to the former Everton star, who has had to carry much of the goalscoring burden this season after the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

They also believe an £80m could tempt the Glazer family to do business, as the club struggle to keep up repayments on their massive debts.