Wayne Rooney will travel to the United States to meet officials at DC United this week, his spokesperson has confirmed. The former England captain, who has one year left on his contract at Everton, has been linked with a move to Washington DC’s MLS team.
No deal has been made between Everton and DC United but Rooney is travelling to the US for exploratory talks with permission from Everton. The journey is a fact-finding trip for the 32-year-old and his support staff as they get to know DC United’s set-up. Any transfer, however, would need to meet the approval of Everton.
The final decision on any proposed deal would rest with the Premier League club and their new manager. Marco Silva is the leading candidate to succeed Sam Allardyce and Rooney wants to discuss his role under the next manager before making a final decision.
Marcel Brands, who becomes Everton’s new director of football on 1 June, has confirmed Allardyce’s replacement needs to assess the squad ahead of any transfer moves. “If we are going to take decisions about players it is important the manager is involved because he is going to work with them every day,” said Brands, recently hired from PSV Eindhoven. “I will take care of the long-term strategy but the first job now is to find a manager as soon as possible and straight away go to work with the squad.”
Rooney is currently on holiday in Barbados and will be accompanied on his trip to Washington by his long-time adviser Paul Stretford.
News of the visit first emerged in a report in the Washington Post on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the player confirmed that it is to take place in the coming days. Everton have not commented on the news.
Rooney rejoined first club Everton last summer after 13 years with Manchester United. He scored 11 goals during the season just finished, including a hat-trick against West Ham in November.
Brands, meanwhile, will meet Silva before Everton finalise the appointment of their new manager. The Dutchman will have a powerful and wide-ranging remit at Goodison Park and has outlined his criteria for the new appointment. It may not bode well for the 32-year-old Rooney.
“I think it is important that he (the next manager) wants to work in the new philosophy, the new strategy of how we want to work with a director of football. I think it is important that he creates the environment for the long-term, and I think it is important that he is a modern coach. If you think about what Everton’s plans are, I think a modern coach will fit into that profile. Then his philosophy and how he wants to play is important. I think it has to be a coach who wants to work with young players.”