Chelsea will not make Wayne Rooney their first-choice transfer target this summer as they are looking at other strikers to strengthen the squad.
The Manchester United player continues to be strongly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge as he has yet to sign an extension to his contract, which expires in 2015.
Signing a quality centre-forward will be a priority for Chelsea at the end of this season but it is understood the club are wary of a repeat of last summer’s saga with the England international.
Jose Mourinho hinted at the time he had been given encouragement by the player’s camp to bid for the player but the 28-year-old decided not to hand in a transfer request.
Chelsea had two offers for Rooney rejected by United and, significantly, Mourinho voiced his frustration publicly as he said: “The person that started the story has to finish the story. A club like us, a manager like me, we are not silly to try and get a player from a big club that doesn’t want to sell.
“We are not silly to try and start something if somebody didn’t start it.”
With the Rooney deal failing to come off, Mourinho was forced into making a move for Samuel Eto’o from Anzhi Makhachkala just a few days before the window shut.
The 32-year-old has scored just three Premier League goals since his arrival.
While Rooney remains on a shortlist, there is concern that history could repeat itself and their interest could merely be used as part of any contract negotiations with United.
Other targets being discussed are Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Costa, of Atletico Madrid, and Porto’s Jackson Martinez.
