Wayne Rooney is keen to remain at Manchester United until the end of the season and help the club pursue silverware on three fronts before considering a move to China, sources have told ESPN FC.
Rooney, 31, is the subject of intensifying speculation over his future after being omitted from the squad for Wednesday's Europa League round-of-32 second leg tie against St Etienne in France.
Reports have linked the United and England captain with a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League before next Tuesday's transfer deadline in China, with the forward having been offered a salary in the region of £3 million a month.
United manager Jose Mourinho added to the uncertainty over Rooney's future on Tuesday by saying he could not definitively confirm that the player would still be at Old Trafford on March 1, only going so far as to say that he did not want the club's all-time leading goal scorer to leave.
But while Rooney accepts that his time at United is coming to a close due to his limited first-team opportunities in recent weeks -- injuries have contributed to his absence -- the player is in no rush to leave Old Trafford over the coming six days.
Sources have insisted that he retains a healthy working relationship with Mourinho, also adding that Rooney believes he still has the ability and experience to make a vital contribution to United's attempt to win the EFL Cup, FA Cup and Europa League this season.
As ESPN FC reported on Sunday, the prospect of United receiving a mammoth bid from China over the coming days could prompt a deal to happen before Feb. 28.
But with Rooney reluctant to push for a deal to happen this month, for footballing reasons and also because of a desire to ensure his next move is right for his wife, Coleen, and three young children, the most likely outcome is that he remains at Old Trafford until the end of the season.
At that point, interest from China and MLS will be considered, with United expected to bolster their attacking options in the summer and further diminish Rooney's first-team opportunities.
Talks have taken place between Rooney's representatives and Chinese clubs, but with only two Chinese Super League outfits -- Jiangsu Suning and Beijing Guoan -- having space to sign an overseas players under current limits, his options are limited.
Similarly, there is not anticipated to be a variety of offers from MLS due to the league's move away from highly paid imports, but there is some interest from America and that will also be considered in the summer.
Rooney, meanwhile, is continuing to train at United's Carrington training ground in an effort to prove his fitness to be named in Mourinho's squad for Sunday's EFL Cup Final against Southampton at Wembley.