Wayne Rooney to Reportedly Sign for Everton After Man United Pre-Season Exit

Wayne Rooney is reportedly set to meet Everton manager Ronald Koeman ahead of a return to the club from Manchester United, with whom he will not be heading to the United States for a pre-season tour. 

ITV Sport's Sam Matterface and The Sun's Neil Custis reported as much:

According to the latter, Rooney will move on a free transfer to Goodison Park but will not take a pay cut on his £250,000-per-week wages, though The Mirror's David McDonnell reported the deal might actually be a loan move with the Red Devils fielding half of his wages.

Per Custis, Rooney is said to have agreed to the move after talking it over with his family, and the deal is said to have been confirmed by "sources close to both clubs."

Joe.co.uk's Nooruddean Choudry is holding off on reflecting on Rooney's 13-year spell at Old Trafford until he has officially moved on:

Talk of his return to boyhood club Everton has gathered momentum, though, so it appears at this stage to be more or less a formality.

The 31-year-old should have several good years left in him, but his decline over the last two seasons has been noticeable, perhaps as a result of him starting so young having broken into Everton's first team at just 16.

Given the wages he's on and coupled with his decreasing effectiveness, it's clear United needed to get him off the books this summer.

BigSport's Adam Sweeney recognised as much while simultaneously remembering his incredible achievements at the club:

His return to Everton might be viewed with similar ambivalence by Toffees supporters.

It's a romantic move to potentially end his career on, but such is his decline, he has not only struggled to contribute at United, he may not even be good enough for Everton any more.

Bleacher Report's Matt Jones isn't thrilled at the prospect:

What Rooney will have at Goodison Park is unrivalled experience. His time at Old Trafford was remarkably successful, and he won five Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League, as well as the UEFA Europa League, FA Cup and three League Cups.

He has also served as captain both for the Red Devils and England, so he could be a highly beneficial presence in the dressing room.

However, if that is all he manages to bring, it will be difficult to justify paying him the same wages he currently receives, so a loan move would be better for the Toffees.

Even so, £125,000 per week is still a lot for a player who may not have much to give on the pitch, but it's a much less risky move than shouldering his full wage packet.