It might be tongue-in-cheek, but one former England football star says he's trying to talk Wayne Rooney into coming to Australia.
Robbie Fowler, a prolific Liverpool and England striker during the height of his career, said Thursday he spoke to Manchester United forward Rooney about joining the A-League's Perth Glory during a recent two-week holiday in Britain.
Rooney reportedly is looking for a new club after opting against a contract extension at Old Trafford. Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona have been touted in speculation as Rooney's next home team.
But Fowler says he's using his star power to attract Rooney's attention.
"It's probably only just come out lately about Wayne Rooney (wanting to leave) but being in the football know, I found out a couple of weeks ago," Fowler said in an audio clip on Perth Glory's website.
"So I just had to go home and see whether he would be interested in coming to Perth. And the signs were good. Really pleased with the chat we had and we'll see where it takes us. He's very, very interested. I told him what a lovely place it is."
"So he's umming and ahhing at the minute but it's looking good, mate."
Fowler's tone sounded serious during the short interview.
The Glory could use Rooney's help. They are on a five-game winless streak and have had to deal with the recent resignation of coach Dave Mitchell.
The club said it had not made a formal approach to Rooney, but it is interested.
"Well if, and it's a big 'if' Wayne Rooney was out of contract and Robbie Fowler could pull some strings we would love to have him at Perth Glory even as a guest," Glory deputy chairman Lui Giuliani said.
"If I said four years ago that Robbie Fowler would be playing for Perth Glory, I'm sure many people would have had a laugh."
Fowler became the A-League's biggest recruit in 2009 by agreeing to join the North Queensland Fury after a career in England in which he became one of Liverpool's greats, followed by stints at Manchester City, Blackburn and elsewhere. He is the fourth-highest all-time scorer in the English Premier League.
