Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has said he admires Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney.

But he refused to say whether the Blues would bid for the England forward.

"He is a player I like very much," said Mourinho of Rooney.

"I cannot say much more that than, but being fast and direct, I like him very much. But he is a Manchester United player.”

Newspapers continue to claim Chelsea are interested in the player, even though Man United manager David Moyes has said they want to keep him at the club.

The striker has left United's pre-season tour of Asia after suffering a hamstring injury in training.