Interesting return clause in Rooney transfer deal

Sky Sports are reporting that the Wayne Rooney transfer to Major League Soccer (MLS) side DC United is close to completion, after a month of negotiations between Everton, the American side and Rooney’s representation. The player flew out to Washington last week to meet with club officials DC’s managing general partner Jason Levien and general manager Dave Kasper in person and see the facilities, and reportedly came away impressed. He was also rumoured to have undergone a medical though no confirmation was reported in the media.

The Croxteth-born Blue has spent exactly half of his 32 years playing in the Premier League, and despite rumours last summer that he would be looking at a jackpot move to the Chinese Super League he chose to come back to the Toffees.

He was Everton’s top scorer in an underwhelming season however, failing to score in the second half of the season. It was clear to see that the pace of the Premier League had worn him down and he seemed out of sorts even as Sam Allardyce insisted on playing him to the detriment of the club’s performances.

Rooney is expected to sign a two-year, £3.8m-a-year deal, with the one year left on his current Everton contract being nullified. Sky also add that there will be no transfer fee paid to the Blues for the player, with the American club instead paying a hefty chunk of his £180,000 per week wages. When he transferred over to Everton it was rumoured that Manchester United were paying about half of his then £300,000-a-week deal.

The most interesting part of the report for Evertonians anyways was buried deep in the story - apparently the deal also allows for Rooney to return to Everton at an unspecified later date in a coaching role should he so choose. He has always expressed an interest in management and could be a shrewd addition in the future to a backroom staff that already has former player Duncan Ferguson.

The player still has to apply for a US visa to be able to play in the MLS, with a targeted debut at home on July 15th against the Vancouver Whitecaps.