Manchester United will let Wayne Rooney 'join Premier League club on free transfer'

Everton have already expressed an interest in the player, with manager Ronald Koeman insisting United's all-time top goal-scorer would be welcome to return to Goodison Park

Samuel Lovett
Friday 03 March 2017 13:13 GMT
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Wayne Rooney was named on the substitutes' bench for last Sunday's EFL Cup final
Wayne Rooney was named on the substitutes' bench for last Sunday's EFL Cup final (Getty)

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Manchester United are expected to let Wayne Rooney join another Premier League club this summer on a free transfer, new reports suggests.

Rooney’s future at the club has come under question in recent months, with the 31-year-old struggling to cement a first-team position for himself under manager Jose Mourinho.

Indeed, United’s all-time top goal-scorer has managed just eight Premier League starts this season having lost his place in the side to new-signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Although Rooney’s contract runs out in 2019, United are allegedly prepared to let him walk away this summer.

The club are even willing to compensate the player for the remaining time on his £250,000-a-week deal in a bid to get him out of the door, The Sun reports.

This would make Rooney a free agent and United will not insist on any clauses restricting him from joining a Premier League rival.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman opened the door to Rooney earlier this week, insisting the forward would be more than welcome to return to Goodison Park.

"What will happen at the end of the season?” he asked. “I don't know but in my opinion he is one of the players who can make Everton more stronger.

"It's all about what the player likes, what Manchester United needs to do, and we are not involved in that project.

Wayne Rooney's career in numbers after he pulls level with Sir Bobby Charlton as United's record scorer

"But every player that we at Everton think can make the team stronger is welcome to Everton."

Having recently rejected a multi-million move to China, there’s every chance Rooney could turn his expected release from United into an emotional return to his boyhood club.

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