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The news that Wayne Rooney could be leaving Everton this summer for the MLS has not only grown legs, it’s sprouted wings, made its way across the pond and is about to set up shop just down the road from the White House.
After some initial rumours that US club D.C. United were interested in the forward seemed to have died down, it all picked back up yesterday with a vengeance, and now the Daily Mail are reporting that his agent Paul Stretford was in the nation’s capital on Wednesday negotiating a contract.
Apparently Rooney told the Toffees’ hierarchy yesterday that he would be looking for a move away from Goodison Park (but would keep his Everton pyjamas, thank you), and the transfer fee mooted is £12.5million, which would represent a profit for the Blues. While no official announcement was made for what the player cost Everton when he switched over from Manchester United last season, it was expected to be in £10million range, subtracted from Romelu Lukaku’s transfer fee.
The Red Devils are reported to have continued to bankroll the 32-year-old’s wages as well, chipping in £200,000 of the £300,000 he gets paid per week with his contract extending to 2018-19. It is not clear at this time whether that deal will continue or if DC United will work out a new arrangement with Rooney.
Rooney's agent Paul Stretford toured @AudiField a few weeks ago with Jason Levien and met the #dcu technical staff.
— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) May 9, 2018
A major move to China had beckoned when Everton had stepped in last summer, but the forward was hesitant to move his family out to the Far East with him. Switching to America’s East Coast will be much more amenable for him and his family away from the tabloid spotlight, though his drinking-and-driving indiscretions are unlikely to be treated as lightly by DC authorities as on Merseyside.
The article goes on to add that contact by the MLS club was first made last summer, and then again a couple of months ago when DC United’s CEO Jason Levien reached out to Stretford. The club opens their new ground, the state-of-the-art £300million Audi Field, on July 14th and have been looking for a marquee signing, but have been turned down on approaches for Robin van Persie, Javier Hernandez, Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli.