Grading the summer transfer window: Everton

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney's Everton return has already seen some ups and downs

By far the highest profile signing of Everton’s summer, the return of the former England captain to his boyhood team was a big piece of business, if not in transfer fee – Rooney returned on a free transfer from Manchester United – in terms of wages instead. And since his return we’ve already been on a rollercoaster with probably the most famous English footballer since David Beckham.

Rooney showed flashes of brilliance early on, both in pre-season and then with goals against Stoke City and Manchester City. Since those early games though his level of performance has dropped dramatically, as he’s looked less like the young and dynamic Rooney and more like the ageing and stodgy one we saw at Old Trafford last season. He’s also retired from international football and – more alarmingly – been busted for drinking and driving.

The problem is that while Rooney offers Everton a ton of experience and can come up with the odd moment of magic, his lack of pace and fitness these days also means he blunts the Toffees’ attack and slows their play down pretty dramatically. If we’re honest the old Rooney is gone for good, and he’d be better deployed in a similar role to latter-day Teddy Sheringham. Used correctly he could be a good signing but as a focal point as he has been...just no, not in 2017.

Grading: 5/10