Koeman would welcome Rooney homecoming at Everton
Ronald Koeman believes Wayne Rooney "can make Everton stronger" as speculation mounts around the future of the Manchester United captain.
The Scouse forward felt impelled to dismiss speculation he was set to agree a lucrative contract in the Chinese Super League last week amid talk that his agent Paul Stretford was in the Far East discussing terms. Rumours are rife, however, that the increasingly peripheral member of Jose Mourinho's squad will be on his way in the summer.
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"I still think Wayne Rooney is playing at a high level and he made a good choice staying at Manchester United and in the Premier League," Koeman told Sky Sports News HQ.
"He still has two or three years in front of him to play at the highest level. What will happen at the end of the season, I do not know? In my opinion he's one of the players who can make Everton stronger than they are now."
Rooney, 31, began his career with his boyhood club, introducing himself with a superlative effort against Arsenal in his 10th Premier League appearance, and chose to play against the Toffees in his United testimonial last summer. He moved to United for £27 million in 2004, making him the most expensive teenager in British football history at the time.
After collecting 11 major honours at Old Trafford it seems an inevitability he'll leave Stretford in the summer due to his lack of chances in the first team. He was an unused substitute in Sunday's 3-2 League Cup final win over Southampton at Wembley, and hasn't started a Premier League match since mid-December.
"It's all about what the players likes, what Manchester United need to do and we are not involved in that project," Koeman added. "Every player who we feel can make the team stronger is welcome at Everton."
Rooney's potential strike partner on Merseyside would be Romelu Lukaku, although Koeman admitted he may need to prove that Everton has aspirations of competing in the Champions League - a stage with befits the Belgian's quality - to retain him.
"As a top goalscorer, he is in my opinion one of the best finishers I have ever seen both in the past and what I see around by strikers now," said Koeman.
Everton travels to second-placed Tottenham Hotspur in Sunday's early Premier League kick-off.