Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney would consider Everton return.

• Manchester United star Wayne Rooney is wanted by former club Everton 
• The 31-year-old forward will leave Old Trafford after 13 seasons at Old Trafford 
• Ronald Koeman believes Rooney would improve the current Everton squad 

Wayne Rooney would consider a sensational return to Everton this summer as the curtain comes down on his Manchester United career.

Sportsmail revealed last week that Rooney has told friends of his decision to leave after 13 trophy-laden years at Old Trafford.

Everton have made no secret of their desire to re-sign the striker, with both Ronald Koeman and director of football Steve Walsh talking openly about potentially landing him. They saw a loan bid rejected by United in January. 

 Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney would consider a summer return to Everton

Rooney, pictured at a 2015 testimonial, could be lured back by the club he supported as a boy

Rooney is willing to listen to what his boyhood club offer in the summer should firm contact be made, although that will involve taking a substantial pay cut on his £230,000-a-week wages.

Interest in the 31-year-old persists from China and Major League Soccer in America, with Koeman believing he has ‘two or three years’ left to give the Premier League.

The romantic lure of a Goodison Park return could be enough for Rooney, who would not need to uproot his young family from their Cheshire home.

But financial logistics might represent problems for Everton, who are still waiting on top earner Romelu Lukaku to sign a new contract. 

Ronald Koeman believes a Goodison Park return for Rooney would improve his Everton side

The Belgian’s proposed deal would take him way beyond £100,000 a week, a club record.

Rooney and Lukaku together represents a tantalising prospect for Everton supporters, who were impressed with the former for playing in Duncan Ferguson’s testimonial 18 months ago.

Now a coach with the Toffees, Ferguson has been making it clear to Koeman the club should do everything to secure Rooney’s services.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale will not feature for Real Madrid at Eibar 

• Real Madrid will be without the suspended Gareth Bale against Eibar 
• The Welshman serves the first of a two-game ban after being sent off in midweek 
• Cristiano Ronaldo will also be absent because of a minor knee injury  

Real Madrid will be without both Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Eibar on Saturday.

Bale has been handed a two-match ban for his sending-off in midweek and Ronaldo did not train with his team-mates on Friday ahead of the trip north to face Jose Luis Mendilibar's team and will not to travel.

The club's record scorer did laps around the pitch as his team-mates were put through their paces by Zidane, who as expected will eave Ronaldo at home after he picked up a minor knee knock in the draw with Las Palmas.

Real Madrid will be without Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Eibar in La Liga

The game is another huge test for Madrid because Eibar's tight ground has become a difficult place to visit – they have only lost three of their 13 home games all season.

Ronaldo has scored seven goals in eight games and five goals in four games against Eibar.

But the player has a history of knee problems and, with Napoli away next week in the Champions League, he will not be risked if the club's medical staff detect the slightest risk. There is no suggestion he will not start against Napoli.

Bale expected the two-game ban after his red card for kicking and pushing Las Palmas' Jonathan Vieira in Madrid's midweek draw. He will also miss Madrid's home game with Real Betis.

Gareth Bale serves a suspension after being sent off against Las Palmas in midweek

Mesut Ozil could yet feature at Liverpool as Arsene Wenger gives him time to recover from illness.

Arsene Wenger will make a late decision on Mesut Ozil's fitness on Saturday 

The German has been struggling with an illness ahead of the trip to Liverpool 

Wenger admits that Ozil is one of many players to 'owe' a performance 

He travelled with the rest of the Arsenal squad to Merseyside on Friday

MARTIN KEOWN: Big-match analysis ahead of the crunch clash at Anfield 

BETTING GUIDE: Liverpool and Arsenal will be trying to catch Man United 

Arsene Wenger will make a late decision on Mesut Ozil's availability for Arsenal's clash at Liverpool.

The playmaker has been struggling with an illness that forced Wenger to send him home from training on Wednesday, but Sportsmail understands Ozil did travel with his team-mates up to Merseyside on Friday.

If he plays, his manager says Ozil and his team-mates owe Arsenal a 'big performance'. 

Mesut Ozil could still feature for Arsenal against Liverpool on Saturday despite recent illness

Ozil's performances in games against England's and Europe's elite, particularly away from home, have left much to be desired.

Supporters and members of the Gunners coaching staff have noticed it.

'Does he owe us a big performance in this game? Everybody owes us a performance,' said Wenger.

'I don't want to make a debate about one player before a game like this. It's not Ozil alone who will win us the game. It's a strong team performance.

'If you play for Arsenal, you always owe us a performance. You cannot say you want to play for Arsenal and not perform.

'Is it a confidence problem (with Ozil)? I'm not a psychiatrist but I think confidence plays a part.

Ozil is understood to have travelled to Merseyside with his Gunners team-mates on Friday

'Ozil is a guy who, when you speak about parking the bus, if you want to park the bus then you lose Ozil.

'He is a guy who needs possession and with possession he is a marvellous player. I think he has been a bit analysed a lot.'

Wenger believes one of the reasons behind Ozil's slump is the absence of Santi Cazorla.

The Arsenal boss said: 'He suffered a lot from the loss of [Santi] Cazorla because Cazorla in deep midfield, can get you out of pressure, gets the ball played through to a player who is higher up and then Ozil is a player who, with the timing of the pass, with the ball at the right moment, can always do damage.

'He had 17 or 18 assists last year, he has less this year, but his numbers dropped since we had less collective possession in deep midfield, providing less ammunition for the high midfield.'  

Dimitri Payet was West Ham's beauty but Michail Antonio is their beast… the Hammers should hand him his new £70,000-per-week contract before someone like Chelsea comes calling . 

Michail Antonio has stepped up at West Ham to compensate for the departure of Dimitri Payet and the injury absences of Andy Carroll

Versatile 26-year-old can play in defence, midfield and up front 

West Ham are keen to reward Antonio with a new £70,000-a-week contract

Antonio has scored more headed goals than anyone in Premier League

West Ham lost Dimitri Payet in January then Andy Carroll in February. There in their absence, though, was Michail Antonio – also affectionately known as Mr Fix It.

The 26-year-old – a prime example of how to progress from non-League to the Premier League – has turned into Slaven Bilic's unlikely star attraction at the London Stadium.

This season alone West Ham's utility man been used in defence, midfield and attack. He is universal, unique and fits in anywhere. If anyone deserves a new deal, it's him.

Michail Antonio has been outstanding for Slaven Bilic's West Ham this season

Antonio celebrates after scoring for West Ham in their 2-2 draw at Anfield back in December

The versatile Antonio, 26, has played in a number of positions for the Hammers this season

Arsenal are in chaos as Arsene Wenger wobbles over new deal, the futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez remain unclear and academy coach Andries Jonker leaves for Wolfsburg.

Arsene Wenger is having another wobble over his future with Arsenal 

The Gunners boss has reigned for 20 years but could be set to leave the club 

Defeat by Liverpool would ramp up the pressure on the Frenchman from fans

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are approaching the final year of their contracts

Both players could end up leaving at the end of the season, as it stands

Academy head coach Andries Jonker moved to Wolfsburg earlier this week 

READ: Who could replace Ozil and Sanchez at the Emirates Stadium?

Uncertainty reigns at Arsenal. The future of the club's best players, Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, is unclear with both refusing to sign new contracts.

How or why they were allowed to approach the final 12 months of their deals without signing is an argument for another day. As it stands, they will be out of the door this summer.

Similarly, Arsenal's academy lacks direction following the departure of head coach Andries Jonker, who took over as Wolfsburg boss earlier this week.  

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is wobbling over committing to a new two-year contract

Arsenal could lose both Wenger and Mesut Ozil (right) over the course of the summer

And then, of course, there is the future of the manager. Arsene Wenger has considered leaving before. If Arsenal had failed to beat Hull in the 2014 FA Cup final to end a nine-year trophy drought, he would have walked.

Three years on, Wenger is having another wobble, with Arsenal's Champions League status under threat. Defeat by Liverpool on Saturday would see the Gunners drop out of the top four and ramp up the resentment from fans who once worshipped Wenger.

The Frenchman has time to turn it round, of course. A top-four finish and a third FA Cup in four years could convince him to sign the two-year contract that is on the table. But with both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham still in the FA Cup, lifting that trophy on May 27 will not be easy.

And even another Wembley win may not persuade Wenger to stay for a 22nd year.

Wenger may not be persuaded to stay with the Gunners for a 22rd year after recent results

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante wins London Premier League player of the year as Antonio Conte scoops managerial award while Tottenham's Dele Alli is crowned best young player in the capital.

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante wins London Premier League player of the year as Antonio Conte scoops managerial award while Tottenham's Dele Alli is crowned best young player in the capital.

Chelsea's dynamic midfielder N'Golo Kante has scooped the prize after just months of being in London 

Blues boss Antonio Conte has lead his side to the top of the Premier League and has won the managerial prize 

Dele Alli has made an impact for Tottenham and England and takes the award for young player of the year 

Frank Lampard was recognised for his for his services to London football over the last 20 years

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante has won London Premier League player of the year after being in the capital for only several months.

Kante, who has been instrumental in Chelsea's rise to the top of the Premier League this season, picked up the gong at the London Football Awards on Thursday night.

The midfield dynamo won the prize ahead of Blues team-mate Diego Costa, Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez and Tottenham's Dele Alli.

Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante at the London Football Awards at Battersea Evolution on Thursday night

Kante was joined by former Arsenal striker Ian Wright as he was awarded the capital's player of the year

Kante has impressed Chelsea supporters throughout this season after his move last summer from Leicester City

BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker was present as London's footballers were celebrated

Wright and Lineker share a joke as the night gets underway at the Battersea Evolution in Wandsworth

The 25-year-old has clocked up the miles in the centre of midfield this season following his move from Leicester City last summer and has impressed supporters and pundits alike.

His ability to intercept, dictate and create has given Antonio Conte's men a recipe for success. 

Sportsmail columnist Jamie Carragher said recently that Kante has been 'unbelievable at Chelsea'. 

He is one of the favourites to be named PFA Player of the Year.

Blues manager Conte, who is on course to win his first Premier League title with the club, was awarded the manager of the year award.

He arrived at Stamford Bridge last summer after leaving the Italy manager's job at the end of the European Championship in France.

He has found a winning formula since moving to a 3-4-3 formation and Chelsea sit ten points clear of Tottenham at the top of the league.

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte holds his award for winning the London manager of the year

Arsenal boys will think twice before moaning about decisions again! Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Petr Cech become referees for the day. 

Premier League refs have made a number of high-profile blunders this term

But match officials are under increasing pressure to make correct decision

Three Arsenal players went to find out just how hard it is to officiate a game

Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Petr Cech took it in turns to be main man

Premier League officials haven't been too far away from controversy this season but how hard is it to officiate a crunch game under intense pressure? 

With the cameras rolling and all eyes on them, Arsenal stars Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Petr Cech went to find out what it takes to be a ref in the limelight. 

The trio became whistleblowers for the day at the Gunners' London Colney training base to experience the difficulties of making decisions under pressure.

(L-R, in black) Petr Cech, Olivier Giroud and Nacho Monreal line up ahead of refereeing a game 

The Arsenal players took it in turns to officiate a game of amateur players and ex-Prem officials 

The trio cut serious figures as Giroud prepares to be the first player to become the referee

It comes at a time when top-flight referees have been under increasing pressure following a number of high-profile blunders this campaign.  

But it didn't take the Arsenal stars too long to understand the stresses of officiating a game where you have seconds to make a decision.

Giroud, the Arsenal striker, was the first man to step onto the pitch while Cech and Monreal were his trusted assistants on the touchline.

The 11-a-side match, arranged by Betfair as part of their Back The Whistleblowers campaign, included amateur players and former Premier League officials Mark Halsey and Glenn Turner; and Giroud showed confidence as the main main.

Understanding he couldn't allow the players to take advantage of him, he warned them of challenging in the penalty box.

He said: 'Watch your hands guys! I will not hesitate to give a penalty kick.' 

Giroud awards a free-kick during the 11-a-side match at the club's London Colney base 

The France striker was called into action when a player in white went down in the box