Everton are reportedly pushing to bring Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park.
Wayne Rooney in action for Everton
According to The Times, Everton are ready to step up their attempts to sign Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney this summer – but former Toffees defender Andy Hinchcliffe has questioned the move.
Rooney, 31, has sstruggled for first-team football under Jose Mourinho this season, starting just eight Premier League games so far this term.
The England forward has scored just twice in the Premier League this season, and with speculation over his future, he looks likely to leave Old Trafford this summer.
Now, The Times report that Everton failed to sign Rooney on loan in January, and are now prepared to step up their efforts to re-sign him at the end of the season.
Rooney came up through the ranks at Goodison Park having joined his boyhood club at the age of just nine, before exploding onto the scene with the Toffees as a teenager.
Rooney scored 17 goals in 77 games for Everton before moving to Manchester United in 2004, and he has become one of the Premier League’s top stars over the last 15 years.
Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney
A move back to Everton is now being suggested, but former Toffees defender and current pundit Andy Hinchcliffe has told Sky Sports that he isn’t convinced by the move.
Hinchcliffe made almost 200 league appearances for Everton, and claims that Everon can’t just bring Rooney back to Everton for sentimental reasons, hinting that it may be something of a backwards step for the club and manager Ronald Koeman.
“You can’t go back to Everton for sentimental reasons,” said Hinchcliffe. “If you look at Everton, everything’s moving forward in terms Ronald Koeman, the money they’re spending on players, the style of football they’re looking to play and what they’re looking to achieve.”
“I’m not saying Wayne Rooney would be a backward step but, to me, it would be a bit sentimental; it would be a short-term solution. Maybe for a year or more he could give something to Everton. Of course he would love to go back to the club he started his career with. But is that what Everton really need? Is that what Wayne Rooney really needs? I am not so sure,” he added.
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