Mourinho: Wayne Rooney Bid Postponed

Jose Mourinho says Chelsea will not bid for Wayne Rooney until after the Premier League clash with Manchester United. The UEFA Europa League champions visit the English champions on 26 August, amid continuing speculation Rooney will force a big-money move to David Moyes' title rivals.

The west London club have made it clear signing the England striker is top priority this summer and have already seen two bids rejected. Chelsea are understood to be preparing a final £40m offer for the former Everton youngster but the ex-Real Madrid boss says that can wait until after the game at Old Trafford.

"I don't want Chelsea to do it before we go to Old Trafford, and the board share my opinion. There is time to do things, but this period from an ethical point of view we are going to be quiet and thinking just about that game," the Special One told his club's website.

The Blues went three points clear at the top of the 2013/14 Premier League table with a 2-1 home win over Aston Villa on Wednesday evening. A late winner from Serbian international Branislav Ivanovic settled matters after Christian Benteke cancelled out an own goal from Villa's Antonio Luna. The win follows Chelsea's comfortable 2-0 win over newly promoted Hull City on 18 August.

Mourinho reserved special praise for their opponents, who were on a high after a sensational 3-1 dismantling of Arsenal at the Emirates in their first game of the season.

"If we are here with a draw it would not be an unfair result. Aston Villa fought a lot for a result, they don't play a lot because every ball the goalkeeper has he kicks, but they created great difficulties and probably if Petr Cech did not save a shot at the far post from Weimann we don't even get a point," the Portuguese explained.

Chelsea have two high-profile games next week - they face German and European champions Bayern Munich for the UEFA Super Cup, after the United fixture. The game against Pep Guardiola's Bavarians will take place at Prague's Eden Arena on 30 August.

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