Everton’s summer transfer window is likely to be characterised by exactly what happens to Romelu Lukaku with Chelsea almost certain to bring the Belgian back to the club to replace Diego Costa.
The Merseyside club have made peace with the fact their leading goalscorer for the campaign will depart the club and are likely to place far more of a focus on attempting to stop Ross Barkley following him out of the exit door.
What hasn’t necessarily been discussed, which is odd when you consider the club’s newfound wealth, are potential incomings with the only names linked significantly with a move to Goodison Park being Gylfi Sigurdsson and one Wayne Rooney.
There is a feel good factor about Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer returning to the club where he burst onto the scene in 2002.
As his Old Trafford career has drawn to an inconspicuous close it seems perfect from a narrative point of view that he gives his final years service to the club he adored as a boy.
Makes little sense
However, from a football perspective people are likely to be surprised by how little sense such a move would make and Everton under Ronald Koeman would be wise to avoid such an emotional decision.
The Toffees are looking to move forward and build a team that is capable of qualifying for the Champions League on a regular basis; it is difficult to see what Rooney would bring to that other than experience.
He is only 31 years old but has had a full-time career at the top level essentially since he was 17 and he has made at least 27 league appearances every single season since.
It has taken its toll on his body as he is currently constantly struggling with fitness and minor injuries.
This isn’t reliable and it would be a huge risk to bring Rooney in as the summer’s marquee signing especially as you would be pinning your hopes on someone who hasn’t been able to deliver for Manchester United all season.
Too often this campaign Rooney has been a passenger in United matches, of course his level of effort never dips below 100%, yet he rarely actually contributes in most cases.
There was good reason for Jose Mourinho ushering the club icon out into the cold in terms of team selections and it is only a spate of injuries that has seen him return.
England’s top flight is an unforgiving league with teams improving every single year as the finance within the division increases.
To improve in this league you have to have real quality across all areas of the pitch and you have to surprise people.
Rooney isn’t going to surprise any other team in the league, it is difficult to see what else he can do differently and I think people will be shocked by just how off the pace he would be, should he arrive in what could be a youthful Toffees team next term.
Surprising link
What is truly surprising about this link is that Koeman is actually sitting on a goldmine of midfield talent that is ready to be given the chance to surprise the league.
Tom Davies has been a revelation since the Dutch coach began to trust him and there is a lot to be excited about with Ademola Lookman having settled well since his January arrival from Charlton Athletic.
Beni Baningime, Liam Walsh and Joe Williams are the next three promising talents that are expected to break into the first-team.
With them all featuring in midfield it would surely be dangerous to hold them back by allowing an ageing Rooney to come in and take a spot.
The signings Koeman has already made for the club should be a blueprint on how to move forward.
It isn’t a secret that unless a club of Everton’s size move very early and decisively on a star talent then they aren’t going to be able to bring one to the club.
They aren’t going to be able to go toe-to-toe with the likes of Chelsea or Tottenham Hotspur and sign one of Europe’s best performers of the season.
Patrik Schick is having his breakout season with Sampdoria in Serie A and has netted 10 league goals this season; he is attracting interesting across Europe yet Everton cannot at this point look to beat a higher profile rival to his signature, they have to be smarter.
Not the signing Everton need
This is why the arrival of Morgan Schneiderlin was absolutely perfect.
He is a player with experience at 27 but he isn’t too old, he had Arsenal and Manchester United fighting over him a year ago and finally he is hungry to bounce back after his Old Trafford disappointment.
He is a player of the optimum quality in the Premier League irrespective of how Louis van Gaal used him last term and Everton picking him up was an astute piece of business.
It is a perfect example of what the Goodison Park club need to do in order to move forward, they need to sign talented players in their prime to blend with the incredible young home-grown talent they have at their disposal.
Wayne Rooney, whilst a fairytale signing, wouldn’t fit that category and it is incredibly difficult to envisage it working out in any way, shape or form.
Wazza not in for the long-haul
Koeman is in the Merseyside project for the long-haul and he has to build a team that will be there with him, unfortunately Rooney simply isn’t the man to do that and Everton should continue their recent transfer market strategy and continue to improve rather than seeking a short-term, emotion driven signing.
Written by Chris Winterburn
Follow Chris on Twitter @Chriswin4
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