Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has hinted that the Ligue 1 outfit were close to signing Wayne Rooney last summer and is confident of sealing a deal for the Manchester United captain in the future.
Former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed Rooney handed in a transfer request ahead of the 2013 summer window, with Monaco believed to have launched a bid following David Moyes's appointment.
Rooney has since penned a five-and-a-half-year deal - boosting his salary to a reported £300,000 a week - and been made club and England skipper, but Vadim Vasilyev insists the deal "will happen".
"One year ago, we were discussing one of the top players of the Premier League, a top English player," Vasilyev told reporters.
"But it was on the table. This opportunity finally did not happen, but I think one day that it will come, that it will happen."
Monaco's spending spree has halted of late following a second-placed finish in Ligue 1 last term, with James Rodriguez joining Real Madrid and Radamel Falcao securing a loan to partner Rooney at United.
But Vasilyev maintains his aim to help make Monaco one of the best clubs in Europe despite starting the season with just three wins from their opening nine league games.
"I wouldn’t really compare Monaco to any other club," he added. "Our ambition is eventually to win the title of French champions. This is true. I will not give you a time frame, but we would like to do it as soon as possible.
"We would like to be one of the clubs that plays regularly in the Champions League. I think we can play an important role on the European scene."
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