What Is Wayne Rooney Worth to Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United in 14/15?

Wayne Rooney is held to a higher standard than most English footballers. It's because we all had such high hopes for him. 

The 16-year-old who broke into the Everton team more than a decade ago looked like he might be the superstar this country is permanently on the lookout for. There was a genuine hope he could go on to become the best player in the world.

Even if he didn't play another game or win another trophy, he would retire after a distinguished career. But his place among the best in the world will always be up for debate. So will his value.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Manchester United paid a British record £59.7 million for Angel Di Maria in the summer. So how much is Rooney worth? Commercially, he's very valuable to United. As one of the most recognisable footballers in the world, he sells a lot of shirts and brings in his fair share of revenue.

But what is he worth in purely footballing terms? If he was sold in the final days of this transfer window, how much would he go for? Much depends on what the buying club thought they were getting.

He's had some terrific seasons playing as a centre forward, scoring 34 goals in both 2009/10 and 2012/13. It's the position he's played in most often for England, as well, scoring 46 goals in 101 games. Still only 29, he will almost certainly break Sir Bobby Charlton's record and reach 50 goals for his country.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

Some will still argue that he's best as a No.10, although his impact in that position is harder to measure. This season under Louis van Gaal, he's played a lot games as a midfielder, although that, in part, is down to the difficulties in fitting Rooney, Di Maria, Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Juan Mata into the same team.

Playing in a variety of different positions hasn't helped Rooney find any kind of rhythm this season. He's scored eight goals in 17 games, but you can't calculate his value purely on that. After all, he's not played as a striker that often.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Yet, even in a star-studded squad, he's still one of United's best players. Even after the £150 million Van Gaal spent in the summer, he's still the captain and one of the first names on the team sheet. 

He would never command the same fee Di Maria did in the summer. Not now, anyway. But then his place among the world's elite players has always been up for debate.

What's not in question is his value to Van Gaal, as the Dutchman tries to build a new empire at Old Trafford. The 63-year-old has said himself he likes "versatile" players rather than "specialists." And Rooney has shown himself to be very versatile.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Van Gaal is not one to keep players he doesn't rate. Danny Welbeck, Javier Hernandez and Shinji Kagawa found that out in the summer. 

Rooney may never win over the doubters who remain steadfast in their belief he hasn't lived up to his early potential. But more than 10 years after his debut, he's still at the forefront of a team Van Gaal hopes to turn into Premier League and Champions League winners. He's worth a lot more to the United manager than his price tag. Whatever that may be.

Quotes obtained first-hand.