Everton manager Ronald Koeman paved the way on Tuesday for Wayne Rooney’s return to the club of his youth by saying he would make the side “stronger”.
Last week Rooney said he was staying with Manchester United following persistent speculation he could make a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.
But doubts still surround the long-term club future of the 31-year-old Rooney, the England national side’s record goal-scorer, and Koeman appears ready to try to bring him back to Liverpool-based Everton.
“I believe that Wayne Rooney is still playing at a high level,” Koeman told Sky Sports.
“I think he made a good choice to stay at Manchester United and in the Premier League because he has still two or three years in front of him to play on a high level,” the former Dutch international added.
“What will happen at the end of the season? 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 Man Utd needs to do, and we are not involved in that project.
“But every player that we at Everton think can make the team stronger is welcome to Everton.”
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