England and Manchester United record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has agreed in principle to be the next superstar recruit to Major League Soccer.
A $16.8 million (£12.5mn) deal between his club Everton and MLS side DC United is understood to be close to completion, with the former England skipper said to be keen to leave his boyhood club for pastures new stateside.
Rooney rejoined Everton in July of last year after 13 years in the red of Manchester United, where he scored 253 goals to become the most prolific scorer in the club’s history. There he won five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
Everton endured a tricky start to the Premier League season, a loss of form which cost manager Ronald Koeman his job. Fortunes have improved under replacement Sam Allardyce, although his relationship with Rooney appeared fractious following the player’s angry reaction to being substituted in a recent 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
Allardyce stated after the game that Rooney is far from unhappy at Everton, telling TalkSport: “It would have to be massive for him to want to leave Everton. I've not had a problem from day one with Wayne (but) the Wayne Rooney saga continues on, doesn't it?”
Reports suggest Rooney has been offered a contract until 2020 at DC United and, if the move goes ahead, it would make him one of the league’s most highly-paid players. However, fans will have to wait until the MLS transfer window opens in July before seeing Rooney in his new colors.