Rumors still persist that Wayne Rooney is more likely to move to the Chinese Super League at the end of the season despite reports that the England captain's boyhood club, Everton, is set to pursue him this summer.

Rooney, 31, has been out of Jose Mourinho's starting XI at the Old Trafford this season as the new head coach prefers another veteran superstar, Zlatan Ibrahimović, as his starter in the middle. The England national team and Manchester United skipper is rumored to be unhappy about his current status in the squad and is looking for a summer exit.

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There are rumors that Everton is keen on welcoming Rooney back should he decide to leave United this summer, as per 90min. Speculations have also emerged that Rooney is willing to accept half of the salary he currently earns at United just to return to his former club.

Rooney began his senior career straight out of Everton's youth academy in 2002 before pulling off a $30 million transfer to Manchester in the summer of 2004. He has been a Red Devils ever since, spending the last 13 seasons with United, becoming the club's all-time leading scorer with 250 goals in 550 appearances in all competitions so far.

However, the Mirror reported that a Chinese Super League or Major League Soccer move is still the "more likely" decision for Rooney. Last December, the Englishman was rumored to have received a $1.2 million-per-week deal by CSL champions Guangzhou Evergrande, which would have made him the richest footballer in the world right now if he had accepted it.

As it turned out, Rooney turned down the offer to become the world's highest-paid footballer to remain at the Old Trafford and try to regain his starting spot. However, the former Golden Boy awardee is still out of favor in Mourinho's plans and is now said to be considering a move out of Manchester at the end of the season.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League rumors, Chinese Super League rumors 2017, Wayne Rooney, Manchester United, Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao FC