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 

Premier League all-star North XI v South XI: The best of Manchester United, City and Liverpool combined against a Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham dream team... so who would win?

Premier League all-star North XI v South XI: The best of Manchester United, City and Liverpool combined against a Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham dream team... so who would win?
 

Which is better: the north or the south? It's an argument that divides England on many levels: flat cap v bowler hat; barm cake v bread roll; Coronation Street v Eastenders; rain v slightly less rain; and many other stereotypes besides.

The top six of the Premier League also happens to be divided equally among teams from the north (Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool) and three from the south (Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham).

But which region can boast the stronger players? Sportsmail has selected combined XIs for both the north and south in an attempt to work it out.

NORTH XI

GK: David de Gea, Manchester United

Easy. City's Claudio Bravo and Willy Caballero, and Liverpool's Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius didn't come close to being chosen over De Gea.

United's No 1 is one of the best in Europe, let alone England, and our shot-stopper between the sticks here.

Manchester United's David de Gea was the simple choice in goal for our North team 

RB: Antonio Valencia, Manchester United

The right-back position wasn't as easy to pick.

Other considerations are Bacary Sagna and Nathaniel Clyne, but Valencia's form this season has seen him become crucial component of the team at Old Trafford. He gets the nod.

Antonio Valencia isn't a natural right back, but he's still edged out his rivals here

CB: Eric Bailly, Manchester United

At centre back is Bailly, the £30m summer signing. He's helped United to one trophy – the EFL Cup – and is searching for more silverware.

The final against Southampton at Wembley Stadium saw him play alongside Chris Smalling but that's not who he partners in our North XI.

Eric Bailly (left) has already won a trophy in English football after his move last summer

CB: Joel Matip, Liverpool

This means City's £47.5m man John Stones misses out.

Instead, we've gone with Matip. The Liverpool centre back is alongside United's Bailly and sorry to all City supporters because you have no representatives in our back four.

Joel Matip (right) battles against Leicester striker Jamie Vardy for Liverpool on Monday night

LB: Marcos Rojo, Manchester United

Like right back, left back wasn't so easy either.

There's Liverpool's James Milner, City's Gael Clichy… but Rojo gets the gig. United's full back has been a fixture in Jose Mourinho's defence this season.

Marcos Rojo (right) makes it three members of Manchester United's back four in our line-up

RW: Sadio Mane, Liverpool

This is where it starts to get tough. There was Raheem Sterling to consider – particularly after his performance in the Champions League against Monaco last week – but Mane is our choice.

The Liverpool winger is world class and was missed by Jurgen Klopp during the Africa Cup of Nations.

MD: Paul Pogba, Manchester United

The £89m man. Pogba has become the first player in the Premier League to make more than 1,000 passes in the opposition half this season.

Being the world's priciest player can be a burden, but the 23-year-old is showing why United were willing to part with so much money.

Sadio Mane (left) and Paul Pogba can put club rivalries aside for their places in this team 

MD: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

And it gets tougher. How do you leave out someone like David Silva? It can be down to personal preference but, for us, it's De Bruyne.

The 25-year-old is one of Pep Guardiola's star players. Silva, 31, is too but De Bruyne is our pick.

Kevin De Bruyne is the creative brain at the heart of so much of Manchester City's good play

LW: Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool

As much as we like Leroy Sane following his arrival at City, we've gone with the experienced Premier League playmaker that is Coutinho.

The 24-year-old can terrorise the wing when he wants and is our attacker on the left here.

Philippe Coutinho (left) has become one of the Premier League's outstanding creative talents

FW: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Manchester United

Who else? Ibrahimovic was tipped to fail in the Premier League by the majority of pundits, particularly now he is at the age of 35. 

With 26 goals in all competitions this season, though, the Swedish great is an easy choice to be one of our strikers in our North XI. 

Zlatan Ibrahimovic continues to defy his age and is banging in the goals aged 35

FW: Sergio Aguero, Manchester City

He may have lost out on his place to Gabriel Jesus in Guardiola's eyes – but not ours. Aguero, the man who turned City into champions, partners Ibrahimovic here.

The City striker showed against Monaco in Europe's elite competition in February why he is still one of the world's best. The question now is, will he stay or go this summer?

Sergio Aguero (left) teams up with Ibrahimovic in a mouthwatering strike partnership

North combined XI (4-4-2): De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Matip, Rojo; Mane, Pogba, De Bruyne, Coutinho; Ibrahimovic, Aguero

SOUTH XI

GK: Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea

This was a choice between Arsenal's Petr Cech, Tottenham's Hugo Lloris and Chelsea's Courtois.

Courtois saw off competition from Cech to become the No 1 at Stamford Bridge. It's deja vu here. As for Courtois and Lloris, it's close, but Chelsea win it.

Thibaut Courtois is the pick of three very strong goalkeepers for the South dream team

RB: Cesar Azpilicueta, Chelsea

Azpilicueta has arguably been the Premier League's best defender this season. That makes this as easy a choice as any.

As part of Antonio Conte's three-man defence, he has been solid, and always ready to help in attack.

CB: David Luiz, Chelsea

When Luiz returned to Chelsea in a cut-price transfer, eyebrows were raised. Why was Antonio Conte doing this? We knew he wanted a central defender, but Luiz? Really?

Well, now we know why. Luiz is a contender for Chelsea's player of the year. The former Paris Saint-Germain defender is playing through the pain like a warrior, showing his dedication.

 Cesar Azpilicueta (left) and David Luiz reprise their club partnership in this combined XI

CB: Jan Vertonghen, Tottenham

To go alongside Luiz, we looked at Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, the duo who were destroyed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Yet Vertonghen is a leader in Tottenham's team. Here, it's a Chelsea-Tottenham partnership of Luiz and Vertonghen.

LB: Danny Rose, Tottenham

Sorry Marcos Alonso. Chelsea's left-sided wing back has been one of the best in the Premier League this season under Conte – but Rose is the best.

Rose, currently injured, is Mauricio Pochettino's not-so-secret weapon on the left wing. The England international has turned into a superstar at Spurs.

Jan Vertonghen (left) and Danny Rose make it two Tottenham defenders in this line-up 

RW: Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal

How can you have a South XI and leave out Sanchez? Simple answer: you cannot.

Arsenal's superstar, though usually used as a centre forward by Arsene Wenger, is no stranger to the wing. Here, we have handed him a place on the right.

Alexis Sanchez is a force of nature for Arsenal, in whichever position he is picked

MD: N'Golo Kante, Chelsea

Easy. Easy, easy, easy. It should be a criminal offence to leave Kante out of any side, from Chelsea to our South XI to the Premier League team of the year.

He is in the running to win the player of the year award after helping Leicester to the title last season and Chelsea towards it this.

N'Golo Kante's influence at the heart of midfield has been crucial to Leicester and Chelsea

MD: Mesut Ozil, Arsenal

He has his critics but Ozil can show himself as world class on his day. Arsenal's playmaker, then, has a position in our XI.

Ozil is after a new contract at Arsenal. His form has been up and down, but we prefer him to Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, Cesc Fabregas and Co here.

LW: Eden Hazard, Chelsea

Last season he went AWOL. This season he is doing anything but. Hazard is looking like his old self again and, on the left wing, there are few players you'd prefer.

Arsenal's wingers – Alex Iwobi, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, etc – don't come close. Eriksen, Alli and Son Heung-min don't either. It's Hazard for us.

Mesut Ozil (left) and Eden Hazard would make a mouthwatering combination in midfield

FW: Harry Kane, Tottenham

Kane, who was once said to be a one-season wonder, has turned it on again this year. The Tottenham striker has now scored more than 20 goals in all competitions.

With his second hat-trick in a week, he sunk Stoke at the weekend. He is in the race for the Golden Boot in the Premier League and one of our two strikers in the South XI.

Harry Kane's lethal finishing make him one of the league's most feared marksmen

FW: Diego Costa, Chelsea

A mixture of good and bad for us up front. With good-guy Kane getting a place, the other goes to Chelsea's bad boy in Costa.

The striker is lethal and has scored 16 goals for the west London club this season. They may have to fight to hold on to him this summer, with Chinese clubs circling, but Costa is world class.

While Kane is the good cop in our team, Chelsea's Diego Costa is very much the bad cop

South combined XI (4-4-2): Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Vertonghen, Rose; Sanchez, Kante, Ozil, Hazard; Kane, Costa

Each club's player totals for each dream team:

NORTH XI:

Manchester United: 6

(De Gea, Antonio, Bailly, Rojo, Pogba, Ibrahimovic) 

Liverpool: 3 

(Matip, Mane, Coutinho)

Manchester City: 2

(De Bruyne, Aguero) 

SOUTH XI: 

Chelsea: 6

(Courtois, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Kante, Hazard, Costa) 

Tottenham: 3

(Vertonghen, Rose, Kane) 

Arsenal: 2

(Ozil, Sanchez) 

Juventus full-back Dani Alves shares throwback picture from Bahia days.

Dani Alves posted a photo of himself alongside side one from his younger days

The Brazilian played for hometown club Bahia between 2001 and 2002 

The 33-year-old moved to Sevilla before joining Catalan giants Barcelona

Juventus full-back Dani Alves has given fans a look at just how far he has come in his footballing career.

The Brazilian took to Instagram to share a photo of himself from the present alongside a snap from his days playing at his first professional club, Bahia.

'If you did not want me like this, now do not come to want me like this,' he wrote alongside the side-by-side image with the hashtags #gooodcrazyinthahouse #dontkillmyvibeplease #likeapicasso.'

Dani Alves shared a picture of himself on Tuesday (right) alongside a snap from his Bahia days

Alves (left) celebrates after scoring during last week's Champions League victory over Porto

Alves made his professional debut for the Brazilian outfit in 2001, quickly becoming a regular starter before moving to Sevilla in 2002.

The 33-year-old has since gone on to become one of the greatest full-back's of the modern era, being named in the FIFPro World XI on no more than six occasions.

After sucessful spells at Sevilla and Barcelona, Alves is now plying his trade in Turin but another move could be on the cards.

Alves and Pep Guardiola could be reunited at Manchester City next season but only if the Brazil international makes himself available at the right price.

The former Barcelona right-back could have moved to City in the winter window but he cracked a bone in his lower leg in November and was out for two months.

Sportsmail understands friendly conversations were had – the player still has an excellent relationship with City’s Director of Football Txiki Beguiristain and with coach Guardiola. 

DANI ALVES' CAREER

Bahia (01-02)

Games: 25

Goals: 2

Sevilla (02-08)

Games: 246

Goals: 16

Barcelona (08-16)

Games: 391

Goals: 21

Juventus (16-)

Games: 17

Goals: 3 

 

Brazil

Games: 99

Goals: 7

Alves made his professional debut for the

 

Alves rose to prominence during his six-year spell at Sevilla between 2002 and 2008

The full-back became one of the greatest in his position when playing for Barcelona