Michael Owen believes Wayne Rooney misses being the main man at Manchester United, which could be the reason behind the England international allegedly asking for a move away this summer.
Rooney has been usurped by Robin Van Persie as the premier forward at the club and Owen, a former United player himself, said Rooney needs to feel loved and appreciated if he is to continue at Old Trafford, something that new United manager David Moyes could be capable of achieving.
"I don't think it's a case that it's his last chance for a big move, you don't get anywhere bigger than Manchester United," Owen told talkSPORT.
"It's more a case of, is he wanted, is he loved, is he appreciated? He wants to be the top man, the main goalscorer, and I think that's what it all boils down to.
"I think one thing that may have knocked him off his stride a bit last season was Robin van Persie coming in and becoming the main man.
"If you're the striker in a team for so long you like having that pressure it puts you under, and when someone comes in and gets picked ahead of you on certain occasions, it knocks your confidence a bit and consequently he's not feeling on top of the world.
"He wants to be scoring goals on a regular basis for Manchester United. If that's going to happen then he'll be more than happy to stay.
"His ideal situation would just to be back in the United team, feeling at the top of his game again and staying put.
"Why would he want to move away from a club like Manchester United?
"But they've got a new manager now, so hopefully Moyes and Rooney will be on the same page he'll be back and banging the goals in next year."
Moyes has insisted Rooney is not for sale, but that has not stopped reports linking the 27-year-old to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona.
