Everton boss Ronald Koeman has suggested that he would be willing to bring Manchester United skipper Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park should he become available.
The England international has not started any of the Red Devils' last six games, while also being overlooked for national team duty due to a mixture of poor form and injury.
United manager Jose Mourinho recently denied that he is looking to sell Rooney in the New Year, claiming that the 31-year-old can remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of his playing days should he wish.
Speculation surrounding the out-of-form attacker's future continues to rumble on, however, with Inter Milan the latest team to have shown a reported interest, and Koeman is also refusing to rule out a move for the boyhood Everton fan.
"Rooney is a great player," he told reporters. "Rooney has still not finished his career. I do not know what his situation is - that's not my problem, but if we got the opportunity for Rooney to be available for Everton I would be very pleased."
Rooney spent eight years at Everton in his formative years, making the breakthrough into the senior team in 2002 before moving on to Man United for a fee of around £26m in 2004.
Daniel Lewis
