Everton’s plans to bring back Wayne Rooney are edging closer to being realised.
Talks are scheduled between Ronald Koeman and the out-of-favour Manchester United captain in a bid to convince him to rejoin the Blues this summer.
Rooney faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford and is understood to be willing to consider a return to his boyhood club, 13 years after he left for United.
The Independent claim that United are willing to waive Rooney’s transfer fee.
But a Goodison Park homecoming would come at a cost with the England international reportedly required to take a £100,000 hit on his current £250,000 per week salary.
That would still see him become the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
Ahead of next year’s World Cup, the Croxteth native is keen to stake a claim for England and believes that he still has plenty to offer in the Premier League.
Several clubs in the Chinese Super League had previously expressed an interest in signing Rooney during the January transfer window but were all spurned.
The 31-year-old fell out of favour for both club and country last season as he was regularly overlooked by Jose Mourinho and England boss Gareth Southgate.
Meanwhile Everton have confirmed the signing of Metz striker Boris Mathis.
Mathis will join David Unsworth’s under-23 setup after the 19-year-old made his professional debut in Ligue 1 in April.
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