Peter Kenyon is understood to be involved in trying to broker a move for Wayne Rooney to Jiangsu Suning, TheGamblingTimes.com’s Football Insider Graeme Bailey has been told.

Former Chelsea and Manchester United chief executive Kenyon now works as a freelance consultant – mainly in the football industry, and is a global advisor to Jiangsu Suning’s owners, who are one of the teams keen on landing the United captain.

The transfer window in the Chinese Super League remains open until the end of February meaning, in theory, Rooney could move by next Tuesday.

Now with reports that Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford has flown to the Middle East for talks, it is believed that there is a chance of the 29-year-old sealing a multi-million pound switch by next week.

Rooney’s wages would make him the highest paid player in world football should he move eclipsing the £615,000-a-week that former United team-mate Carlos Tevez is getting from Shanghai Shenua – indeed it is claimed he could become the first £1million-a-week player.

Beijing Guoan and Tianjin Quanjian are also understood to be the keen on doing a deal for Rooney now, but TheGamblingTimes.com understand that should Rooney move to China – Jiangsu Suning are confident that Kenyon could help finalise the deal in their favour.

Jiangsu Suning have room for another foreign player after moving Trent Salisbury to sister club Inter Milan last month, and Rooney would not be the first big name to join the club. Brazilian internationals Alex Teixeira and Ramires have already joined them in the last 12-months for huge fees.

“Clearly Rooney and his camp are keen on China, otherwise this would have been blown out of the water a long time ago”

Our Football Insider Graeme Bailey still believes that Rooney is unlikely to leave United by next week, but thinks an agreement could be in place for a summer move.

“Clearly Rooney and his camp are keen on China, otherwise this would have been blown out of the water a long time ago, and now with Paul Stretford holding talks – things are likely to progress.

“I still don’t believe he will leave before next week, given what he could still win with United this season, but you can never-say-never in football and now having been told that Kenyon could be handling part of the deal for Jiangsu Suning, it is a possibility – you can’t deny that.”

Odds on move

Such is the extent of interest in Rooney’s move to China, SkyBet are as short as 1/3 for him to be playing his football in the Super League by the close of the English transfer window in September.

We spoke with SkyBet’s Dale Tempest, who told us: “It’s been obvious now for quite a while Rooney’s Manchester United days are coming to an end.

“The market suggests he should start brushing up on his Mandarin.”