Manchester United star Wayne Rooney’s return to Merseyside is on the rocks as Everton chiefs are split over whether he is worth the astronomical fee he is set to demand, according to a Mirror report.
The newspaper claims Everton manager Ronald Koeman and chairman Bill Kenwright are in favour of the move, but owner Farhad Moshiri is against the move which would cost the club £21million and a three-year deal worth £150,000-a-week.
It is said Kenwright would like to bring the 31-year-old back to his former club for sheer the romance of the move, while Koeman wants him to mentor host of young talent in the Toffees’ squad.
However, another sticking point for Moshiri is that there would be no re-sale value on the 31-year-old and it is not certain he would even bring success to Goodison.
If the 119-time England international does complete the move, his £150,000-a-week wages would make him the highest paid player in their history.
The 31-year-old was a bit-part player at United this term, starting only 15 Premier League games, and Moshiri’s advisers are claiming a move for him does not make “financial sense at this stage of his career”.
The report states “at least two” Chinese Super League clubs are ready to offer £70million to the attacker in an attempt to tempt him away from England, but it would mean him moving his young family to foreign soils.
There has also been interest from Major League Soccer clubs, and even some European names, which could be more attractive options for Rooney and his family.
Rooney boasts a prolific record in the Premier League with 198 goals from his 460 top-flight matches.