There was something gloriously romantic about Wayne Rooney’s return to Everton last summer. Even more romantic than the time he gallantly offered a lift home to a woman he met in the pub despite being too drunk to drive.

There was the pay cut; the rejection of lucrative offers from across the world; the emotional homecoming; the goalscoring return; the memories of that famous T-shirt slogan, “Once a Blue, Always a Blue.”

Who could fail to be touched by the moving story of a grizzled old pro going back to his boyhood club and rediscovering his love for the beautiful game?

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Well anyway, he’s leaving again.

The Mirror reports that Rooney was merely delaying his acceptance of lucrative offers from across the world, and is set to quit Merseyside once and for all to join Major League Soccer outfit DC United.

Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford has apparently “held talks” with Donald Trump’s local side, with the tabloid suggesting that playing in America could be “the shot in the arm his flagging career needs”.

Everton want Wenger to replace Big Sam

And Wazza might not be the only grizzled pro leaving Goodison Park this summer. There are reportedly a queue of managers being lined up to replace Sam Allardyce as soon all the chewing gum has been scraped from under the desk in his office – and at the front of the line is Arsene Wenger.

The Sun says the departing Arsenal boss is the first choice of Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri, who is ready to match the £8m salary the Frenchman earns at the Emirates.

But with Wenger recently boasting that he has received “more offers than expected” since announcing his Gunners departure, Everton will face plenty of competition.

In which case they could turn to Sérgio Conceição. The Times says the Porto coach has been “identified as a candidate” to succeed Allardyce, whose popularity among Toffees supporters is currently on a par with that of Per Kroldrup.

But Big Sam is set to get the final year of his contract paid up in full anyway, along with his customary survival bonus, so he’ll be all right.

Red Devils propose Martial/Pulisic swap

Meanwhile, Manchester United are ready to offer Anthony Martial to Borussia Dortmund in part-exchange for their teenage sensation Christian Pulisic, claims the Mirror.

The 19-year-old American has been long courted by Liverpool and also linked with Chelsea, but the Red Devils believe dangling Martial in front of the Germans (not literally) could swing things in their favour.

Across the city, Pep Guardiola is set to “revive” Manchester City’s bid to sign Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City, says the Times. The Foxes demanded £95m for the Algerian winger in January, prompting him to have an almighty strop, but they may be prepared to drop the asking price in the summer.

Elsewhere, Etihad legend Yaya Toure is wanted by Everton, Burnley and Wolves after declaring that he wants to stay in the Premier League when his City contact expires next month (Express) Juventus are “yet to make a bid” for Alvaro Morata despite their alleged interest in the Chelsea striker (Goal) and Bournemouth are interested in £10m-rated Porto defender Diogo Queiros (Guardian). And yes, that is how you spell Diogo.

@darlingkevin