Everton planning Wayne Rooney return to Goodison Park

With every passing day it is becoming increasingly clear that Wayne Rooney’s days are numbered at Manchester United. He has achieved a legendary status at the club, but the general perception about him is that it is time for him to move elsewhere.

There are lucrative offers on the table from the far east where Rooney could earn twice the money on a weekly basis, should any deal materialise.

Rooney could opt to stay in the Premier League, but big clubs are highly unlikely to make an offer for him. Everton are reportedly interested in bringing back their former player, with Ronald Koeman, the Toffees manager, saying that the 31-year-old would make the club “stronger”.

According to reports from The Times, Everton will intensify their efforts in signing Rooney in the summer. The Merseyside club approached United with a loan offer for Rooney in January, but it was rebuffed.

Everton keep on continuing their charm offensive, with Koeman saying:

I believe that Wayne Rooney is still playing at a high level,” the Dutchman said. “I think he made a good choice to stay at Manchester United and in the Premier League because he has still two or three years in front of him to play on a high level.

What will happen at the end of the season? I don’t know, but in my opinion he is one of the players who can make Everton stronger. It’s all about what the player likes, what Manchester United needs to do, and we are not involved in that project. But every player that we at Everton think can make the team stronger is welcome to Everton.

Steve Walsh, Everton’s director of football, has speculated further by saying that it would be wrong for the club not to be interested in Rooney.

Wayne Rooney is one of the greatest players that has ever played the game in England and for us not to be interested would be wrong.

Rooney announced last week that he would be staying at Old Trafford, despite interest from the Chinese Super League. He was an unused substitute in United’s 3-2 EFL Cup win over Southampton at Wembley on Sunday, and his future beyond the summer remains unclear.

The England striker earns about £300,000 a week at United, and meeting his wage demands could be a major stumbling block for Everton.

The decision rests on Rooney. If he is still hungry enough to play at the highest level, he may consider taking a pay-cut and return to his boyhood club. Otherwise, a move to China still makes a lot of sense.