According to multiple reports Wayne Rooney's time at Man Utd is likely to be over by the end of the week.
The Sun's Neil Custis first reported last night that the 31-year-old will be returning to Everton. The club will not pay a fee for Rooney but will continue to pay him the £250,000 per week he's currently on at Old Trafford. He is expected to sign a two-year deal.
Rooney was due to be part of the Man Utd group which leaves on Sunday for their pre-season tour of the US. However, he has been withdrawn from the squad.
EXCL: Rooney IS going to Everton.
OFF Utd US tour.
GONE by end of the week.
All done.— Neil Custis (@ncustisTheSun) July 4, 2017
Rooney's departure from Man Utd comes as no surprise. He became a fringe player at the club last season, failing to start big games such as the Europa League final against Ajax. It was also a season where he wrote himself into the Man Utd record books, becoming their all-time record goalscorer, surpassing Bobby Charlton.
He would become the latest in a series of high profile acquisitions by Everton. Already this season they have signed Jordan Pickford, Davy Klaassen and Michael Keane. It is also reported by the Sun that Arsenal's Olivier Giroud is likely to be playing his football at Goodison Park next season as a direct replacement for the Chelsea-bound Romelu Lukaku.
Rooney reportedly had alternative options to Everton open to him throughout the season, such as the Chinese Super League. However, a return to Everton, the club from which he joined Man Utd 13 years ago, was always his preferred option.
Rooney had chance to change his 'only to Everton in Prem' stance post Europa final. Instead he repeated it. Boyhood bond evidently strong
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) July 4, 2017
Rooney remains one of the most commercially attractive English players. Can hit a mass audience Everton - or others - might not get to.
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) July 4, 2017
