Rumors surfaced earlier today that Qatari owned French “powerhouse”(I use that term quite lightly for obvious reasons…it’s Ligue 1) have put away €150m to help secure the capture of Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. This is quite possibly the most shocking transfer rumor to hit football in some time.(Probably since Rooney’s superstar teammate Ronaldo left for Real Madrid a few years back) So what is the probability of this transfer happening, and what would it mean for Manchester United, the Barclay’s Premier League, and the rest of the footballing world?

Probability – 25:1

Okay, I’ll admit, I’m not a bookie or a Vegas odds maker, but I feel like these odds are pretty dead on. They’re far off enough to say two things – he most likely won’t be prised away from the northwest English club, but that it’s not that far off of a jump.

Wayne Rooney is THE Manchester United talisman, and is the heart and soul of the team, and quite possibly English Football as a whole.(EPL and FA) In many ways, the argument could be made that he is the best all around player in all of world football, something that my cohort Joe Champey and I have discussed a lot recently. More on that in a moment. He means more to Manchester United than any player in the EPL means to their respective team, the true definition of MVP, and with a total of 35 goals in 44 games this season(all competitions), it’s hard to argue. Odds of Manchester United wanting(key word) to sell him are near nil, but it’s not entirely up to the club. In a lot of ways, transfers are not only a two-way street, but a three-way. Get your minds out of the gutter for a moment.

The €150m that PSG has supposedly put away isn’t entirely for the transfer fee. There are plenty of other things that get factored into that, whether it’s agent fees, buyout clause, or maybe the most important, player wages. Remember back in 2010 when Manchester United had a press conference, and Sir Alex Ferguson let the world know that Wayne Rooney wanted to quit the club? Yeah, it wasn’t too long ago, and yes shortly after that statement he did sign a ridiculous 5 year deal that made him the world’s third highest paid player. He made a statement, or his people did rather, that he isn’t drawn to money, but ambition. Does that mean he’s married to the club? In no way shape or form. Paris Saint Germain are part of the nouveau riche in world football, led by Qatari billionaire owners. Two things the club do not lack as of late are money, and ambition, so Wayne Rooney wouldn’t have to choose from either. He will be faced with playing in the lowly French Ligue 1, which isn’t the most appealing league as late.

Partner Manchester United’s attachment to the player, Wayne Rooney’s recent desire to leave the club(2010), and PSG’s money and ambitious goals for the immediate future, and you have 25:1. As stated, it’s not that far of a leap if he does indeed get snapped up by the Parisian club.

What would it mean for Manchester United? – The World

It’s that simple. He is the aforementioned heart and soul of the Manchester club, and among the most popular players in the world, making him that much more valuable. As I said, Joe and I have talked extensively about how he is the best all-around(key word) player in the world. He brings the tenacity of a bulldog, the endurance and tendencies of a box-to-box midfielder, the power of a target man, and the silky smooth touch of lotion in front of goal. When you have a player of his nature, you’re guaranteed a bottomless gas tank, a forward who can score 25-35 goals a year, and a player who will tirelessly attack and defend. If Manchester United surrender his services to another club, it will not be worth it. Not to mention, he’s just as valuable off the pitch as he is on – he sells shirts.

What would it mean for the EPL? – Two Easier Games Per Team Per Season

We don’t really need to get too in-depth with this explanation. It’s really that simple. He is feared by all defenders in the Premier League, and if they say they’re not, they’re either liars or they play for Manchester United. He can do it all, as I said above, and without him on the pitch, EPL teams can revel in what must seem like drastically easier, and different games against the Red Devils. Sure Chicarito, Berbatov and Welbeck can score, but none of the three cause the havoc that Rooney does.

What would it mean for the world? – A New World Footballer of the Year

It’s no secret that Ligue 1 isn’t as powerful as the English Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, or La Liga, and is probably on par with the Portuguese League – Competitive, but a couple standout teams. As we’ve seen with La Liga over the past few years, the “best players in the world” reside there, and put up massive statistics, but it’s likely because of the lack of competition involved in their division. Look at Ronaldo, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Ozil, and more in the two el Clasico squads. There is no way that in the English League, Bundesliga, or even Serie A, that these guys could score more than 40 goals in the league, or set up as many goals as they do while in La Liga.

If Rooney were to sign for PSG, I would all but guarantee 50 goals in a season, and because of that he’d likely be crowned the best player in World Football, a crown that he somewhat already deserves. His exploits in the EPL are indicative of his ability to succeed at any level, and of his ability to dominate a league like Ligue 1.

If there is any player at the moment in the world that warrants a massive transfer fee, it’s probably Rooney. I wouldn’t bank on it happening in any way, but do not be surprised if the Qatari owners do everything in their power and pull out all the stops(out of their wallets) to land the Liverpool born superstar.