Ronald Koeman: "Wayne Rooney is very welcome at Everton"

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney on the bench during his side's 1-1 draw with Stoke City at Old Trafford on October 2, 2016
© SilverHub
Everton manager Ronald Koeman 'hopes' to bring Wayne Rooney back to Goodison Park in the near future, but says that he is unsure how likely it is to happen.

Ronald Koeman has reiterated that he would be interested in bringing Manchester United outcast Wayne Rooney back to Everton next year.

The England international has now gone seven games since last starting for the Red Devils, having been dropped to the bench prior to picking up a recent knock.

Rooney was back in the United squad for the goalless draw against Burnley on Saturday afternoon, being afforded 20 minutes at the end of the game, but the 31-year-old's future at Old Trafford beyond the end of the current campaign has been questioned by many.

Speaking on Friday, Koeman admitted that he "would be very pleased" to sign Rooney - views he has now added to following his side's 2-0 win over West Ham United this afternoon.

"How likely is it [to happen]? I don't know, we can hope," he told Sky Sports News. "Maybe if it happens in the future I don't know. Rooney is very welcome at Everton."

Los Angeles Galaxy have also been linked with Rooney in recent days, though former general manager Alexi Lalas has warned that it would be a bad move for the Major League Soccer side.

Everton captain Phil Jagielka shouts during the Premier League match against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on September 12, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City107212491523
2Arsenal1072123101323
3Liverpool1072124131123
4Chelsea107122191222
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs10550145920
6Everton10532158718
7Watford104331413115
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd104331312115
9Southampton103431110113
10Bournemouth103341214-212
11Leicester CityLeicester103341216-412
12Stoke CityStoke103341217-512
13Crystal Palace103251416-211
14Burnley10325813-511
15Middlesbrough10244911-210
16West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom102441014-410
17West Ham UnitedWest Ham103161019-910
18Hull City10217823-157
19Swansea CitySwansea10127918-95
20Sunderland10028720-132