Wayne Rooney to Everton on a Free Reported Amid Manchester United Exit Rumours

Wayne Rooney's mooted summer return to Everton is reportedly "likely to happen," and the Manchester United captain could even move back to his boyhood club for free. 

According to Miguel Delaney in The Independent, United may "be willing to waive a transfer fee" for the 31-year-old to return to the club he left for Old Trafford in 2004 for £27 million, even though his current contract runs until 2019.

Meanwhile, Rooney himself would be happy to accept a reduction in wages to £150,000 per week—around half what he currently earns—in order to seal a move back to Goodison Park, added Delaney. 

The England international has become a peripheral figure at United under manager Jose Mourinho in 2016-17.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

During the current season, he has eclipsed Sir Bobby Charlton as United's all-time record goalscorer but has only started nine of the Red Devils' 27 Premier League games.

His lack of action and a recent injury led to him being left out of Gareth Southgate's England squad for upcoming internationals against Germany and Lithuania, and effectively stripped him of the Three Lions captaincy, per Daniel Taylor in the Guardian.

Rooney's departure from United now seems inevitable, and a potential move to the Chinese Super League was widely rumoured last month, per The Sun's Richard Moriarty.

It has also recently emerged that West Ham United could bid for him, per Sky Sports News HQ's Kaveh Solhekol:

However, according to Delaney, Everton have been planning a move for Rooney for a few months and a return to Merseyside for the forward is becoming increasingly likely.

Toffees manager Ronald Koeman previously said Rooney would be "welcome" back at the club where he burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old, per Sky Sports (h/t the Press Association, via the Guardian).

His experience of winning numerous trophies—including five Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League—would make him a big asset back at Everton.

Meanwhile, as noted by Delaney, it would also be a romantic return for Rooney to go back to Everton for what would likely be the final stage of his playing career.