Struggling West Ham host Newcastle in a crucial Premier League match on Saturday evening – easyodds tipster Tom Powell previews the betting.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has played down the significance of the Wayne Rooney story and admitted his only surprise was at United’s decision to make the news public.

“Once the club came out and said they couldn’t find agreement, it was a message they wanted to sell,” he said. “There’s not a lot to talk about, when a player with 18 months on his contract speaks with his club. The only surprise for me was Manchester United came out and said that.

“It was just a story that for me, from the start to the end, was completely out of interest. When I saw headlines I just turned the page.”

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti was asked for his reaction to the news that the England player had signed a new five-year deal to stay at Old Trafford.

“I’m not surprised,” said Ancelotti. “Manchester United are happy to keep a fantastic player. I think that Rooney did a fantastic job for Manchester United and, in the future, I think he will do the same.”

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier believes Wayne Rooney has “taken the right decision in his development” by staying.

Houllier said: “I don’t know what happened really (with Rooney). I was impressed by Sir Alex’s press conference because he responded well to the situation. It was not easy and he felt emotion which showed the liking he had about the player.

“I think in the end I would say, all (sides) win because I wouldn’t imagine Rooney outside of Manchester United. I like the boy, I like the manager, it is a good club, and he probably made the right decision regarding contracts.

“But you never know what happens. Ronaldo had a contract as well and he left and when a player wants to leave maybe you can delay that for one or two years. It is not good when a player has nine or 10 clubs and this is why I think Rooney has taken the right decision in his development, whatever happens next year. We don’t know.

“Whether Wayne has realised he can’t play for Manchester City, I don’t know.”

Struggling West Ham host Newcastle in a crucial Premier League match on Saturday evening – easyodds tipster Tom Powell previews the betting.

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