WAYNE ROONEY lifted the spirits of Manchester United fans, who have not had a lot to smile about this season, when he signed a new four-year contract worth around £300,000 a week and £85m in total.

Rooney's future had been the source of speculation since Chelsea launched a bid to sign the striker last year.

With 18 months left on his previous deal, there had been interest in the 28-year-old striker, but last night he committed his future to United until the end of the 2018-19 season. After so much talk about the striker leaving Old Trafford, David Moyes was delighted to have kept hold of his man.

"I am thrilled that we have got Wayne to stay," the United manager said. "Everyone would want him in their team. But he was never going to leave Manchester United, certainly not on my watch."