Wayne Rooney is set for a sensational return to Everton by the end of this week.
The Everton bosses are will continue their summer spending spree by splurging £20million for securing the signatures of Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud.
Man Utd legend Rooney has been axed from the Red Devils squad that will fly off to the USA on Sunday for their pre-season campaign.
Rooney has found life difficult at Man Utd after the arrival of Jose Mourinho. He has gone down the pecking order and has played the role of a fringe player last season.
Manchester United and England’s all-time leading goalscorer has lacked game time both in the club and international circuit.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has axed Rooney from the current squad as he rested his hopes on his younger guns.
He had been linked with a move to China during the January transfer window but sources claim that his agent failed to agree in principle over a transfer with two Chinese Super League clubs.
Earlier, Everton had cooled down their interest in Wayne Rooney, but sources close to both the clubs revealed that the transfer move is on the brink of completion with Old Trafford officials saying last night that the deal is all but done.
Man Utd’s all-time leading goalscorer had joined the Red Devils in 2004 for a £26.5m transfer fee and now the former England skipper is all set to reunite with his boyhood club.
The English striker had given a nod to the deal after a summer break when he discussed his future in detail with his wife Coleen and other members in his family.
There were no concrete offers from the MLS and interest from the Chinese Super League has also cooled down because of the Beijing government’s new 100 per cent tax on foreign signings.
And earlier this year, Rooney had accentuated that if he had to play in the Premier League, he would either stay put at Man Utd or he would join the Toffees, where he began his footballing career.
Rooney is set to take up the No 10 role with Giroud up front at Everton as Romelu Lukaku is on the verge of completing a move to Chelsea for £90m.
Everton scout Carlo Jacomuzzi said: “We’re signing Giroud for £20m. It’s a bargain compared to the £22m Napoli asked us for Duvan Zapata.”
Koeman is busy bolstering his squad with the expected Lukaku cash, and has already roped in five players, including keeper Jordan Pickford, defender Michael Keane and midfielder Davy Klaassen.
And now it is understood that Man Utd would allow Rooney to leave on a free transfer but only if he does not ask that the final two years on his existing contract are paid up.
FootTheBall sources confirm that Everton will match his existing £250,000-a-week wage packet on a two-year deal, with an additional option of extending the contract by a year.
