Former England captain Wayne Rooney in talks with DC United over MLS transfer

Wayne Rooney has flown to Washington DC for talks over a potentially record-breaking move to Major League Soccer.

The Everton forward had planned to end his career on Merseyside after returning to his boyhood club from Manchester United last summer but his future has now been placed into serious doubt by the Goodison Park club’s determination to have a full rebuild this off-season

New sporting director Marcel Brands has already been announced - hired from PSV - and Marco Silva, the former Watford head coach, is favourite to join him in a revamped hierarchy.

And should there be no space for Rooney then he is expected to sign on with the side from the American capital, who are prepared to offer the highest salary in MLS history, around $7m (£6m), to become their new star player.

While Everton have given Rooney permission to speak to DC United, they are still expecting a transfer fee if they are to let the former England captain depart.

Rooney has been on a post-season holiday with his family in the Caribbean but took a flight to the US for talks that have been planned as exploratory rather than definitive.

The 32-year-old forward had long considered a late-career move to the USA, where he frequently holidays with his family, until Everton came calling last year and suggested he’d finish his playing days as he began them, in a blue shirt.