Could Norwich’s James Maddison replace Wayne Rooney at Everton?

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Wayne Rooney is set to leave Everton and the Premier League for MLS, so the Toffees have reportedly turned to Norwich City’s James Maddison.

Wayne Rooney’s second spell at Everton is unlikely to end quite as acrimoniously as the first. But, then again, he is not the rising superstar that jumped ship to Manchester United in 2004.

Rooney is now a 32-year-old whose best days are well behind him and who, barring a few moments of nostalgia-inducing class, simply does not make an impact frequently enough at Premier League level.

The Telegraph report that Rooney could complete a move to MLS and DC United this week, bringing the curtain down on a second spell at Everton amid a flat, rather than furious, atmosphere.

But the Toffees need to look forward. And they certainly are with an alleged bid for James Maddison.

The Telegraph adds that Everton are leading the chase for the £25 million-rated Norwich City prodigy and could make a bid once Rooney’s departure is confirmed. Does this, however, suggest that the Toffees could see Maddison as a replacement for one of the greatest talents in their recent history?

The similarities are certainly there. The 21-year-old Maddison is a young, English attacker of tremendous potential and natural ability. And, like Rooney, he thrives in a free role behind the striker, scoring 14 goals and setting up eight to earn a place in the Championship Team of the Season despite Norwich’s struggles.

Maddison has everything to be a younger model of the latter-day Rooney, slotting straight into the number ten position the former England skipper is set to leave behind, or perhaps in a deeper midfield role alongside Idrissa Gana Gueye or Morgan Schneiderlin.

He has a long way to go to match Rooney’s achievements but Maddison would provide the energy, creativity and pace that Everton’s number ten lost a long time ago.