MORE ROONEY B*LLOCKS

Last updated : 09 July 2004 By editor

Everton striker Tomasz Radzinski is on his way out of Goodison, and has urged Wayne Rooney to leave as well.

"Wayne has shown in Euro 2004 that he can play at the top level and I think he needs to move on to further and better himself.

"My feeling is that Wayne will definitely move and I hope he'll go somewhere where he can improve and grow as a player and sadly I don't think that is Everton.

"I don't think it's a good place to be at the moment because next season we will be fighting another relegation battle, when good players want to be testing and improving themselves by playing in Europe.

"We have lost a lot of players this season and yet we have only brought one in and I am afraid I don't think Marcus Bent will be able to stop us from struggling again next season."

Radzinski’s dispute began with Everton when he was offered a one year contract when he wanted a longer deal, preferably for three years. Moyes was adamant that he would only be given a one year contract, but suddenly changed his mind and offered a three year deal. Could this be down to his plans for the forward line next season changing due to an immanent departure?

Bryan Robson has also advised Rooney to leave Everton, comparing him to Norman Whiteside in the Evening News:

"It's okay earning huge wages and being a top player but inside most of the biggest stars there is this burning ambition to win things and in all fairness you'd have to say he stands a far better chance doing that at Old Trafford as opposed to Goodison.

"He has to be looking to improve all the time and win things and that can be done at United. He'd be playing with top class players on the biggest stage. Wayne seems to be a big time player and the Old Trafford stage would not faze him at all.

"It would be a good move by United. I think they would need someone like Rooney to really make a push for the Champions League and the title again. He still has to prove himself. He's only had one good competition to his name but you have to say he was terrific in Euro 2004.

"Wayne reminds me as a player and character of Norman Whiteside. The way he holds the ball up and the way he strikes it I think the closest player I can recall with that ability was Norman.

"Norman didn't have Wayne's pace but Rooney has all Norman's attributes plus the pace. He's also mentally very tough like Norman was. Norman was 18 when he took the 1982 World Cup by storm and handled the Old Trafford pressure brilliantly. Old Trafford was the right place for him and it will be for Wayne."