Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney is open to a move back to Everton in the summer

Sky Sports have reported that Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney will consider a return to Everton at the end of the season. The report comes in the wake of Ronald Koeman’s comments leaving the door open for Rooney for a move back to Goodison Park.

Wayne Rooney’s storied career at Manchester United could soon be coming to an end, 13 years after he moved to Old Trafford from Everton. That is because after being one of the first names on the team sheet for the longest time, he is no longer a regular at Manchester United.

Rooney has achieved it all with Manchester United, winning five Premier League titles, one FA Cup, four League Cups as well as a Champions League title, and is the club’s all-time leading goal scorer as well – a record he broke earlier this year.

However, this season, the 31-year-old Red Devils captain has had to contend with playing a bit-part role under Jose Mourinho. Rooney has started just 17 games in all competitions in the current campaign, scoring just five goals, and the lack of sharpness in his game has been apparent in recent times.

Rooney is likely to move on from Manchester United in the summer. (Photo courtesy - Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Rooney is likely to move on from Manchester United in the summer. (Photo courtesy – Michael Steele/Getty Images)

With Rooney no longer featuring prominently at Manchester United, it was widely reported that the Red Devils were considering selling their captain, with Chinese Super League clubs interested in signing him. Reports last week also claimed that his agent, Paul Stretford, was in China to negotiate a switch to the Asian country.

However, the transfer window in China has since slammed shut, meaning a potential move will have to be put off until the summer. When the transfer window reopens in June, the Chinese clubs are likely to face battle from Everton, with Ronald Koeman recently admitting that he could make a move for Rooney.

In fact, the report by Sky Sports indicates that Everton also tried to sign Rooney on loan for the rest of the season in January before being rebuffed by Mourinho. With just 16 months left on the England captain’s contract, a summer move back to Goodison Park might well be on the cards.

A boyhood Evertonian, Rooney has previously indicated that he would not play for any other Premier League side other than Everton. And while he is also expected to have offers from MLS and China on his table in the summer, his heart’s deepest desire is to play for the Toffees once again.

And a player of Rooney’s calibre could be just the move Everton need to take the next step towards contesting for Europe consistently, as he will bring invaluable experience of playing for England’s most successful club for thirteen years while also being a proven leader.

It now remains to be seen if Everton indeed make a move for him in the summer, and whether clubs from MLS and the Chinese Super League are interested as well.

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