Wayne Rooney may see out his £250,000-a-week contract at Manchester United as Jose Mourinho searches for upgrades to Old Trafford strikeforce
WAYNE ROONEY could stay at Old Trafford for one more season and see out his Manchester United contract.
Jose Mourinho has left the door open to the striker staying at the club he has been at for the last 13 seasons.
And Rooney, who has been tipped for a move to China, the MLS or an unlikely switch back to Everton, could remain at United and see out the remainder of his £250,000-a-week deal.
The 31-year-old is currently having a break after a long season for United and a campaign for England at Euro 2016.
But Rooney’s form was clearly under par last season, with eight goals to his name for the Red Devils.
He did chip in with goals towards the end of the season, netting against Burnley, Swansea and Tottenham, but he could not help the club’s poor run of form in the Premier League.
And according to the , he is mulling over whether to stay at United for the final year of his contract.
Everton are unlikely to invite their former schoolboy back to Goodison Park to see out the rest of his career, as Ronald Koeman attempts to turn the Merseyside club into top four contenders.
And with his current £13million-a-year salary, it is unlikely he would match that at his former club.
The Chinese Super League could be a destination for Rooney but his wife Colleen is thought to be reluctant to move his young family there.
Rooney and family have been on holiday since United lifted the Europa League trophy at Old Trafford last month and he played in Michael Carrick’s testimonial at Old Trafford last weekend.
But after missing out on Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the forthcoming matches against Scotland and France, he could play for a move in a bid to make the World Cup next summer.
The Three Lions still have work to do on that front, but are four points clear at the top of European qualifying Group F and a win at Hampden Park would strengthen their position.
Many United fans thought Rooney was waving goodbye to competitive football at United when he came off for Angel Gomes late on in their 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Mourinho, meanwhile, is searching for upgrades to the club’s strikeforce, with Torino’s £70m foward Andrea Belotti and Real Madrid’s Alvaro Morata mooted replacements for Rooney and injured Zlatan Ibrahimovic.