Football
ESPN staff 6y

Everton's 'door is open' for Rooney to stay amid D.C. United talks - Silva

Everton's "door is open" for Wayne Rooney to stay at the Premier League club, new manager Marco Silva says, amid personal talks to join D.C. United.

Multiple reports in England last month said Rooney has agreed a deal in principle with the MLS club, but the 32-year-old has a year left on his Everton deal, and Silva said he wasn't ruling out Rooney returning next season.

"He has already started his deal [talks]," the manager said at his first news conference since being hired on Thursday. "Rooney is a club legend and we need to understand everything. The door is open every time for him."

Rooney rejoined his boyhood club from Manchester United last summer, scoring 11 goals in 40 games in all competitions upon his return.

Marcel Brands, Everton's new director of football, said he hopes Rooney would return to Everton in a coaching role in the future, even if he does leave for D.C. this summer.

"There is a possibility he will leave," Brands said. "He is talking with Washington [D.C. United], it is no secret. We will also talk with him.

"If this is a move he wants... then I hope he will return when he is finished there as he is still a legend in this club. At PSV Eindhoven I always hoped to use the legends in the club."

However, Brands also noted that he thought Everton's squad is already "too big," while Silva said he was evaluating the current team before pursuing transfer targets.

"We know what we want but the first thing we will do is look inside at what we have," Silva said. "I have big names. The list is not so big. It's important to respect our squad and players. We will do everything we can to improve and to put more competition as I like to see competition everyday."

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