Everton F Wayne Rooney has "agreed a deal in principle that could see him leave" the EPL club for DC United this summer in a $16.8M deal, according to Simon Stone of the BBC. Rooney's reps have been in the U.S. to "negotiate terms" and the former England captain is "willing to leave" Everton. It is "understood Rooney has been offered a contract until the end" of the '20 MLS season. The U.S. transfer window "does not open until July" (BBC.com, 5/10). SKY SPORTS notes a "number of MLS franchises held talks with Rooney's agent Paul Stretford more than a year ago" before Rooney "returned to Goodison Park." This latest deal was "drafted over the past seven weeks, during several visits" to the U.S. by Stretford alongside DC United CEO Jason Levien. The agreement is "yet to be signed," but it would take a "significant change of heart by Rooney and his family to stop the transfer going ahead." Levien "hopes Rooney can become the club's marquee signing" ahead of its move on July 14 to Audi Field in the heart of DC. Rooney's salary would "make him the highest-paid player" on DC United (SKYSPORTS.com, 5/10). DC-based WTTG-TV's Grant Paulsen writes, "I don't follow soccer. I know who Wayne Rooney is. I am more likely to go to a DC United game if he's on the team. That is why they signed him" (TWITTER.com, 5/10).
WORTH THE RISK? In DC, Steven Goff writes Rooney is being pursued for "obvious reasons" -- DC United "needs to add pop on the field and in the marketplace." In both cases, "risk and reward will shadow this potential blockbuster move." Rooney "carries global name recognition rivaled by few athletes in any sport." But because he is "on the back side of a sterling career, United is in danger of perpetuating the perception -- some of it fair, some of it not -- that MLS is a soft-landing spot for the elite nearing retirement." Rooney at Everton this season is making an estimated $10M, "more than any other MLS player." Audi Field is also a "big piece in this puzzle." The 20,000-capacity stadium, two blocks from Nationals Park, will "generate revenue streams that weren't available at RFK Stadium, the rundown municipal facility that served as United's home for 22 seasons" (WASHINGTON POST, 5/10). SI's Grant Wahl tweeted, "Good to see DC United spending money, but can't help but think it would be better spent on a player in his 20s. Rooney is 32, and it's not a young 32." He added, "Still totally fine with Zlatan coming to MLS at a bargain price, but 2018 Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres at steep prices? Not so much" (TWITTER.com, 5/10).
