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VIEWS: Dwight Yorke (PA)

DESPITE OPTIMISIM that Wayne Rooney will pen a new deal at Manchester United worth in the region of £300,000 per week, former Red Devil Dwight Yorke says the striker could walk away from the club if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

United resisted several bids for Rooney from Chelsea over the summer and the England player has since been in good form for David Moyes’ side.

It has been understood the 28-year-old would sign a contract extension for four and a half years, however, with United in seventh place in the league and looking increasingly unlikely to be playing in Europe’s best competition next season, Yorke believes Rooney may depart.

Yorke said: “I think Wayne Rooney will have to sit and sort of look at the situation.

“I think if I was Wayne Rooney that’s exactly what I would be doing because I don’t want to be in a Man United team that has been deemed the worst Man United team - or we are not challenging and playing in Champions League football next year.

“He can’t afford to do that. He is running out of time. He is at that certain age now when he needs Champions League football even more than before.”

The ex-United hitman from the Caribbean added: “I go back to what I’ve said earlier on in the season that I don’t think he would leave.

“But if he were to leave this time around simply because of results or the changes he’s seen at the football club, he doesn’t really like, that would show a sign of weakness.

“I don’t think the club could really afford for him to go. Because you are letting your star player go and yet you are trying to get star people in. it just doesn’t add up.

“The size of Man United - you can only do that. With no disrespect to likes of Aston Villa or Everton, when you let your star player go to a bigger club that’s just the norm.

“You don’t let your star players go from a football club that is struggling and then expect to attract big name players to the club it just doesn’t happen.”

United take on Fulham over the weekend and fans of the Premier League champions will expect nothing but a win against the top flight’s bottom side.