ARSENE WENGER is set to revive his interest in Wayne Rooney - as Liverpool stand firm over refusing to sell Luis Suarez to Arsenal.

jose, mourinho, wayne, rooney, premier, league, win, chelsea, trophy, arsene, wenger,

Arsene Wenger is set to make a new bid for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney

Although the Gunners boss remains hopeful of landing the Kop rebel before deadline day, last week's statement from Anfield chief John W Henry definitely left him stunned.

USA tycoon Henry made it clear on Thursday that Liverpool have no intention of allowing Suarez to leave this summer - at any price - and certainly not for their top-four rivals Arsenal.

That is a crushing blow to Wenger's transfer plans and, with only 23 days left to strengthen his squad, the Frenchman is turning elsewhere in his desperate search for a world-class striker.

“Wenger's interest in Rooney, 27, was first revealed by the Daily Star Sunday in May and he later confirmed he would love to land the England ace”

And it means the Gunners boss is considering a formal £33million bid for Rooney - and going head-to-head with Chelsea for the unsettled Manchester United star.

Wenger's interest in Rooney, 27, was first revealed by the Daily Star Sunday in May and he later confirmed he would love to land the England ace.

However, when Jose Mourinho's Blues also entered the race - the South West Londoners have had two bids of £25m and £30m rejected by United - Wenger decided he had more chance of capturing Suarez.

Rooney, currently training with the kids at Old Trafford, is thought to prefer Stamford Bridge to The Emirates because Chelsea are genuine title challengers.

But United, much like Liverpool's position on Suarez and Arsenal, are loathe to sell their prolific marksman to one of their main threats to a successful Premier League defence.

And, ironically, that could work in the North Londoners' favour. For as things stand, Roo, whose standing with United fans appears damaged beyond repair, would have little choice but to head to N5.

New United boss David Moyes does not want an unhappy Rooney in the camp and may well feel selling him to Arsenal is a risk worth taking - given they are no more than title outsiders.

Wenger, who also lost out to Napoli in pursuit of Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain, knows he must pull off a marquee signing before the window closes on September 2 to stem growing unrest.