Manchester United edited Wayne Rooney out of the cover photo of their official Facebook page, intensifying speculation that he is set to exit the club in the summer.
A picture featuring Rooney, Pogba, Herrera and Lingard was replaced with one without their captain. This led to a number of fans on social media concluding that the end was near for Rooney and that this is the end of his 13-year-stay at Old Trafford.
Rooney has endured a difficult season at the club, one in which he fell behind the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford in the pecking order. Injuries to his knee, hamstring and ankle have also played their part in keeping the once talismanic figure sidelined.
He started a mere 15 of his 25 Premier League appearances and made only 25 starts out of his 39 appearances across all competitions. He finished the season with 8 goals to his name, his worst in a United shirt. It also happens to be his joint-lowest goal tally of a season.
Maybe something in it, maybe nothing in it. United have removed Wayne Rooney from their Facebook cover photo though… pic.twitter.com/bIYOaoZl65
— OldTraffordFaithful (@OTFaithful) June 13, 2017
The last time he got 8 goals in a season was with Everton in the 2002/03 campaign. He did, however, become the club’s all time top scorer after surpassing Sir Bobby Charlton’s record by scoring his 250th goal in January this year.
However, that has done little to reduce the speculation surrounding his future at the club and back in May, Rooney insisted that there were offers from other clubs both in the Premier League and abroad, and that he would sit down with his family to discuss the next step.
As per the Manchester Evening News, he said: “There’s lots of offers on the table, both in England, abroad and really that’s what I have to decide on. I’ve played for two Premier League clubs and they’re the only two Premier League clubs I’ll play for.”
He went on to say: “I just have to make a decision in terms of a football decision, and that’s what I’ll do. I’ll do that the next few weeks with my family while I’m away and, honestly, as soon as I know what’s going on then, I’m sure you will know.”
Everton are said to be frontrunners for his signature and could likely fund a transfer for their former wonderboy with the proceeds from the sale of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley, both of whom are expected to leave in the upcoming transfer window.
Stoke City are also said to be interested, but it is unlikely that he will be able to afford his wage demands. Everton, on the other hand, are now backed by the Iranian’s steel and energy tycoon, Farhad Moshiri. His millions will no doubt help the Toffees afford his exorbitant wages.
It is rumoured that there is also interest from China and the MLS, however a move to those league would severely hamper any chances he may have of representing England. With the World Cup only a year away, Rooney will both want and have to prove that he has what it takes to lead the line for the Three Lions at Russia for perhaps one final time.
