Chelsea are preparing an ‘imminent’ second bid of around £40 million for Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney — and the England striker will leap at the chance to become Jose Mourinho’s No 1 striker at Stamford Bridge, the Mail on Sunday reports.

United have already turned down a bid of £30m but Mourinho has made it clear that 27-year-old Rooney is his main transfer target and an increased offer is expected this month.

Rooney should make a first public appearance for United since May 5 in Sweden on Tuesday in a pre-season friendly against AIK Stockholm, and be back in action at Old Trafford for Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial against Sevilla on Friday. 

He completed a 45-minute run-out in a behind-closed-doors match with Real Betis yesterday to prove his fitness and has impressed backroom staff at Carrington with his work-rate and application since coming home early from United’s Asian tour because of injury.

But while Rooney has no ongoing grievances with David Moyes, despite the new United manager making it clear he considers Robin Van Persie his first-choice centre-forward, Rooney wants to be played consistently in his preferred position at the heart of attack and sources say Mourinho would provide that guarantee.