Everton have cooled down their interest in Wayne Rooney.
It is believed that Ronald Koeman is no longer keen on roping in the Man Utd legend and former Everton player Wayne Rooney.
This has now left Rooney eyeing a move to either the cash-rich Chinese Super League or MLS.
Rooney accentuated that if he had to play in the Premier League, he would either stay put at Man Utd or he would join the Toffees, where he began his footballing career.
But all hopes of a sensational return to Merseyside now looks extremely difficult.
Earlier in the season, Koeman had revealed that he would like to bring back Rooney, 31, at Everton.
But it is believed that the Dutch boss has realised that he would require huge cash to sigh the Red Devils legend.
Koeman would also face an uphill task in finding a role for Rooney in his squad full of youngsters.
However, Rooney has been under the radar of several Chinese Super League and MLS clubs this season and now he has been heavily linked with Gus Poyet’s CSL side Shanghai Shenhua.
His former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is also keen on roping him in – but his club Shenzhen FC are in the Chinese second division.
MLS side LA Galaxy have shown huge interest in luring him away but it is understood that Manchester United and Rooney are finding it difficult to reach an agreement to release him from his current Old Trafford contract.
Rooney would receive full compensation if Man Utd opt to terminate his existing contract.
But sources reveal that he has informed Jose Mourinho that he would like to part ways with the club in search of more game-time and will be ready to pocket less than the £28.8m he is owed.
It is understood an offer of around £21m has been made but there remains a disagreement over who will foot the tax bill.