Manchester United Transfer News: Latest on Wayne Rooney, Romelu Lukaku Swap

Manchester United are reportedly planning to offer club captain Wayne Rooney as part of a player-plus-cash deal to sign Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. 

Lukaku has been linked with a move to Old Trafford in the past, and the Mirror's John Cross and David McDonnell reported Rooney's speculated exit from United could open the door for its materialisation.

Per Cross and McDonnell, Toffees chairman Bill Kenwright held talks with Rooney's agent, Paul Stretford, in London on Wednesday, adding fuel to talk that this could lead to the forward's reunion with his boyhood club.

The speculation surrounding Rooney's potential return to Goodison has picked up pace, and BBC Sport's Phil McNulty recently suggested it could be completed in a matter of days, via BBC 5 live Sport:

The 31-year-old joined the Red Devils in a £27 million deal in 2004, at which point he was arguably the best youngster produced by Everton's academy and already established as a Premier League player.

Times have changed a lot since then, however, and the Telegraph's Matt Law echoed some words of caution regarding how the Merseyside club's money may be invested:

Some Toffees fans may argue that Lukaku leaving for Old Trafford doesn't equate to signing Rooney, whose value to the deal and what he can offer in terms of being a makeweight will attract some debate.

Interest in the Belgium international has emerged amid reports of United's desire to sign Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, per Metro's Mark Brus, although the Manchester Evening News' Hesham Bilal-Hafiz has teed up their potential partnership as a successful one:

"

Still cautious over reports but Morata (big game player) and Lukaku (flat track bully) is a perfectly complimented duo if it happened.

— Hesham Bilal-Hafiz (@hesham786) July 5, 2017"

United are in need of a striking alternative after a serious knee injury meant Zlatan Ibrahimovic was forced to cut short his time at the club, and Lukaku would strike as a savvy signing.

However, manager Jose Mourinho would be required to break the world transfer record for the second summer in succession is he were to land Lukaku, who has a £100 million price tag, per the Daily Mail's Matt Lawton.

Everton aren't taking any prisoners in their efforts to strengthen this year and have already conducted major deals to sign Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Jordan Pickford (Sunderland) and Sandro Ramirez (Malaga).

Rooney's proposed return to Merseyside would spell the end of a great United era and the reopening of an old one at Goodison Park, the question being whether it will be a part of any Lukaku move to Manchester.