EXCLUSIVE: Wayne Rooney switches clubs... on a round of golf near Chelsea HQ

WAYNE ROONEY has been playing golf at an exclusive course just ten miles from Chelsea’s training ground in spite of his current hamstring injury.

Wayne Rooney gets in the swing of things

Chelsea last week failed with a £20m bid for the unsettled striker, who faces a race against time to be fit for the start of the new season.

Rooney was sent home from Manchester United’s pre-season tour of Asia and Australia with the injury - which the club said would sideline him for up to a month.

But despite his fitness concerns, Rooney travelled down to the London area over the weekend and played at the member’s only Queenwood Golf Club in Surrey, where a host of Cheslea stars play.

Unsettled Rooney seen here in his hotel

Rooney was subject of a bid from Chelsea last week

Rooney takes time out after playing golf earlier near to Chelsea's training ground

“He was spotted at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire on Saturday night, before journeying to Surrey on Sunday”

He was spotted at the Grove Hotel in Hertfordshire on Saturday night, before journeying to Surrey on Sunday.

Queenwood is one of the most exclusive golf courses in Europe, where members can only join by invitation.

Some of the world’s top professional golfers and high rollers are members, and so secretive is the club about joining that membership fees are not made public, though Starsport understands they are in excess of £200,000.

News that Rooney was so close to Chelsea’s Cobham base will be interesting to Old Trafford officials, with United insisting they do not want to sell their £240,000-a-week striker.

David Moyes wants to keep Rooney at Old Trafford

Jose Mourinho said last week it was 'Rooney or bust' as far as he was concerned

Rooney had been part of United's pre-season tour

Chelsea are currently in the middle of their pre-season tour of Asia

But Rooney is understood to be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, and will be aware that playing golf while recovering from a hamstring problem - and in the London area - will raise eyebrows with some.

Starsport contacted Rooney’s advisors to ask them directly about his Grove and Queenwood visits, but they declined to confirm or deny the story.