Everton manager Ronald Koeman has revealed he would be interested in Wayne Rooney returning to Goodison Park in the future.
Rooney, 31, has been heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford after dropping down the pecking order this season despite Jose Mourinho’s insistence he will not leave the club.
The United captain is reportedly already being lined up by MLS giants LA Galaxy, but Koeman has paved the way for Rooney to return to Merseyside, 12 years after he left to join United.
“First of all you speak about the captain of the national team and if he is on the bench then of course the media will ask how and why is it possible? The Daily Mail quote Koeman as saying. “I am not at United, I don’t see sessions and every game.
“It is a decision of the manager of Manchester United. I understand why the media are interested. But he is 31, he still has two or three years at least at the highest level. Wayne Rooney is a top player and if there is one day when he is available, of course we would like to have him
“But it is too early and I don’t like to speak about players who are under contract at other teams. He is still not finished. I don’t know how the situation is. But if Rooney is ever an option for Everton, I would be very pleased.”
Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old at Everton before making a £30m move to United in 2004 where he has since developed into one of the club’s most illustrious players.
The England skipper is only four goals off of Sir Bobby Charlton’s all-time record for goals at United and, despite the fact his form has dipped this season, no United player has registered more assists in all competition this season than Rooney (4).
For more stats on Wayne Rooney, click here to visit his WhoScored player page