Rooney appears poised to bolt to North America

LONDON－Wayne Rooney has agreed to "a deal in principle" to join Major League Soccer side DC United from Premier League club Everton, reports said on Thursday.

Some US media reported that a $17 million deal has been agreed that could see the 32-year-old Rooney leave his boyhood club just 12 months after rejoining it from Manchester United.

Reports say Rooney has been offered a contract until the end of the 2020 season, although the MLS transfer window does not open until July.

"In MLS you have always some iconic players that are going to end their careers there," said Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who coached Rooney in his final season at Old Trafford.

"You had (Steven) Gerrard, (Frank) Lampard, (Patrick) Vieira... now you have Zlatan (Ibrahimovic), you have Wayne, so I hope he enjoys it.

"Of course he will bring the attention that MLS needs to attract more fans, to steal some people from the other sports Americans like more."

DC United is in last place in the MLS Eastern Conference with five points from seven games, and is averaging crowds of around 18,000.

Earlier this week, Everton manager Sam Allardyce said he wanted England's and Manchester United's record scorer to see out the final year of his contract next season.

"There have been rumors about Wayne going abroad, to China or America. It would have to be massive for him to want leave Everton," the Toffees boss told talkSPORT.

Allardyce and Rooney have had their differences and the player's show of dissent when substituted in April's Merseyside derby resulted in clear-the-air talks between the pair.

Rooney, who first burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old with Everton, is the club's top scorer this season with 11 goals, but he has not scored since Dec 18.

Allardyce has played him in a midfield role in the second half of the season in an attempt to inject some creativity into the team, but that has impacted on the player's personal form and led to growing frustration.

Neither Everton nor Rooney's agents were available for comment, while sources at DC United said they did not comment on player speculation.

"Wayne has been a great player, one of the best players to grace the last era of football," said West Ham United manager David Moyes, who gave Rooney his debut at Everton, and also managed him at Manchester United.

"I really enjoyed him at Everton, he was very young then, and at Manchester United he helped me a lot. If he chooses to go, DC will be getting a good player.

"He can play in a few roles, he's a brilliant scorer, and I think he's got a lot to give."

The former England captain left United last year on a free transfer following 13 trophy-laden years after becoming a peripheral figure under Mourinho.

Agence France - presse