Wayne Rooney Reportedly Willing to Take Pay Cut to Secure Everton Transfer

Wayne Rooney is reportedly prepared to take a pay cut in order to secure his return to Everton from Manchester United this summer.

According to Sky Sports' Eoin Griffin, Rooney is eager to move to Goodison Park in search of more regular football ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The forward, who has spent 13 years at Old Trafford since leaving the Toffees, has two years remaining on his deal with United but was phased out of the team by manager Jose Mourinho last season.

According to the Daily Telegraph's Matt Law, Rooney's wages amount to £250,000 per week, which the journalist believes would represent a poor deal for Everton:

It's natural they would be a significant sticking point, even if he's allowed to leave United for free.

BT Sport presenter Jake Humphrey believes there are many advantages to signing him, both on and off the field, though Law disagrees with the former:

Given Rooney's visible decline in recent years, it's unlikely he'd find any club willing to match his wage packet outside of the Chinese Super League, so it would be wise of the 31-year-old to reduce his demands if he is eager for the move to happen.

Much could depend on just how far Rooney is prepared to let his earnings drop.

He's done little on the pitch in recent years to justify anything close to his United salary, and a club like Everton—even with their new-found ability to spend thanks to the Premier League's TV revenue and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri's investment—can ill afford to have an expensive player on their books who isn't contributing much.

The return to his boyhood club could revitalise his career—in which case his signing would make for good business.

If Rooney fails to rekindle the old magic, however, Everton need to mitigate that risk as best they can by tying him to a much smaller salary than he's on at Old Trafford.