England sensation Wayne Rooney has been offered a five-year contract at Everton, his club announced on Tuesday.
Toffees officials confirmed they have offered the 18-year-old striker the biggest contract in the Premiership club’s history and are awaiting a response from his agent, Paul Stretford.
”We believe this is the right offer for Wayne — one which fully reflects his growing stature within football,” Everton chief executive Trevor Birch told the club’s website.
”The five-year deal which has been offered to Wayne is the biggest ever made in this club’s history and will hopefully not only satisfy Wayne’s demands but will also serve to underscore the club’s ambition.”
The move is an attempt to stave off interest from other clubs eager to sign the precocious talent.
Rooney struck four goals in Euro 2004 to help England reach the quarterfinals, where they lost to hosts Portugal on penalties.
The teenager sustained a broken bone in his right foot during the defeat but his excellent performances had already rocketed him into the limelight.
”Wayne Rooney is a great talent and there can be no doubting that he has benifited from spending all his formative years as a footballer at a club which has a proven track record in helping young players to realise their true potential,” Birch continued.
”Everyone at Everton Football Club is anxious that Wayne remains at Goodison Park to continue his footballing education under the stewardship of manager David Moyes and his coaching staff.”
New Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho said on Monday he was not interested in signing the stocky forward but Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was pictured with Stretford in Portugal last weekend, adding to the speculation the Premiership giants were preparing to swoop for Rooney.
United chief executive David Gill had denied his club would be willing to pay record transfer sums, saying: ”We can’t afford to spend £45-million or £50-million on one player.”
Everton, who disappointed last season, have had no official contact from any club over the youngster, but their contract offer could tempt Rooney to sign before other teams move for him.
”Whilst we understand that a player of such ability will inevitably be coveted by others, we honestly believe that Wayne’s interests, at this stage in his career, would be best served by him committing his future to the club he plays for and has always supported,” Birch said.
”We have therefore, in the offer of this new contract, made every conceivable effort to ensure that Wayne remains a key figure at Everton football club for the foreseeable future.” — Sapa-AFP