David Moyes plays long game on Wayne Rooney's Manchester United talks David Moyes and Manchester United appeared to be in no hurry to resolve the uncertainty surrounding the future of Wayne Rooney, with indications that the talks on which the 27-year-old's career at the club now hinges did not take place. United are unconcerned that a failure to resolve the issue quickly means the press conference at which Moyes will be presented as manager, scheduled for tomorrow, will be dominated by the Rooney question. United may act today or tomorrow to clarify that the striker did not demand a transfer when he told Moyes' predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, at the end of last season that he was unsure where his future lay. But the club consider him to be their player and will not allow the managerial transition to force their hand on a new contract. Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, is likely to want a new deal, as well as a public clarification that the striker did not demand to leave the club, to smooth things over with supporters from whom Rooney expects a difficult time if he returns to competitive action. While that is the easy part for Moyes and the club's chief executive, Edward Woodward, the contract is likely to be a sticking point. After a season in which Rooney failed to hold down a regular place as a striker and was inconsistent, it will be difficult for United to justify offering him the same £250,000 a week. Agreement may hinge on how much ground the Rooney camp are willing to concede on a reduced salary. United are using Rooney's image on bus advertisements for the club TV channel's coverage of the forthcoming tour of the Far East and Australia, and clearly do not expect him to be absent from that.