ROONEY BONUS

Pay-off sweetens switch to Everton

WAYNE Rooney will take a huge cut in wages to rejoin Everton, but Manchester United will fork out millions to pay up the final year of his contract.

Sportsmail understands Rooney has agreed to a salary reduction of around 50 per cent to facilitate a return to the club he supported as a boy.

The 31-year-old earns upwards of £300,000 a week at Old Trafford after sponsorship add- ons. His wages back on Merseyside will be nearer £150,000.

That is still a significant outlay for Everton, who were prepared to pay striker Romelu Lukaku a similar figure to keep him at Goodison Park.

Paying up the final season of the four-year deal Rooney signed in 2014 could cost United more than £15million, with the potential of a loyalty bonus on top of his salary — something Robin van Persie was afforded to the tune of £8.4m when he left for Fenerbahce two years ago.

Rooney’s basic wage of £230,000 a week decreased to £180,000 last season after United failed to qualify for the Champions League, in line with club policy.

His agent, Paul Stretford, was stationed at Goodison Park yesterday as the relevant parties attempted to thrash out the intricacies of a switch that has been in the pipeline for months.

Everton boss Ronald Koeman has already added Malaga striker Sandro Ramirez, and wants two more attacking targets beyond Rooney.

Swansea’s Gylfi Sigurdsson is valued at more than £30m, while Olivier Giroud’s future at Arsenal looks set to come to an end — although Marseille also want the France striker.