Ronald Koeman Discusses Potentially Signing Wayne Rooney

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has indicated he would be happy to bring Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney back to boyhood club Everton, should the opportunity ever arise.

The Toffees manager chose his words carefully when the subject of Rooney's United future and a possible return to Goodison Park was mooted.

But Koeman was still clear he'd welcome any chance to sign the veteran striker, according to ITV.com: "First of all, I think it is a great player, and he has still not finished his career. I do not know how his situation is, and I need to respect that situation. That's not my problem. But even when we get one time the possibility that Rooney is an option for Everton, I'm very pleased."

Koeman's words are well-timed given the current uncertainty surrounding how long Rooney has left at Old Trafford. The 31-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in recent seasons, as successive managers have struggled to find the best role for his talents.

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Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have all moved Rooney around since 2012. He's played centre-forward, arguably still his best position, wide and even in central midfield.

Yet his continued indifferent form has sparked rumours of an imminent exit from the Red half of Manchester. In fact, Mourinho has reportedly even recently told Rooney he must leave United in January if he wants regular first-team football, per Ben Burrows and Neil Moxley of the Daily Mirror.

A possible lucrative move to China was also suggested in the Mirror report. Meanwhile, the Sun's Neil Custis has stated MLS club LA Galaxy are among those keen.

A return to Everton may be close to a fairytale ending, even if his original move to United back in 2004 left a bad taste with some. However, plenty will remember the excitement of when Rooney first burst onto the scene as the most dynamic teenage talent England's top flight had seen in many a year.

He announced himself as a 16-year-old who netted a spectacular winner against then-defending champions Arsenal in October 2002. It was a goal and a performance that prompted Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to herald Rooney as "the biggest England talent I've seen since I arrived in England," per BBC Sport.

Rooney's career is approaching its winter years, but he remains as good a striker as there is in the game. His passing radar and eye for goal have not diminished, so he'd still be an asset to any squad.

Going back to the club he supported as a youth and helping Koeman and minted shareholder Farhad Moshiri try to drag Everton into the Premier League's elite would be a fitting swan song.