How good’s Wayne Rooney? Sven’s being a bit OTT when he says he’s the greatest teenage talent since Pelé but he’s certainly got it in him to become one of the outstanding players of his generation.
David Moyes is adamant that he’s not for sale, but I’d be amazed if he’s still an Everton player at the end of next season. Firstly because of Wayne’s own desire to be at a more successful club, and secondly because unless they bring in four or five new players the Blues are in serious danger of being relegated.
I’ve spoken to a lot of Evertonians and, while they understandably don’t want to lose him, most admit that he’s been far more effective for England than he has for them. Not through any lack of effort, but because the players around him aren’t of sufficient quality. To run rings round the opposition defence you need good service from midfield, and Everton don’t have anybody who can thread the ball through like, say, Steven Gerrard.
Football being what it is nowadays, the deciding factor will be how much money somebody’s prepared to pay for him. £30 million upfront and there’s no way Everton can say “no”.
What Wayne absolutely mustn’t do at this stage in his career is go abroad. Never mind Rome or Madrid, moving to Tranmere would be a wrench for a down to earth Liverpool lad who’s still heavily reliant on his friends and family. I imagine his agent realises that, which realistically leaves two options – Chelsea and the one I’d go for if I was him, Man U. People say that Sir Alex isn’t the man manager he once was, but just look at the improvement in Christiano Ronaldo since he moved to Old Trafford. It’ll be a better learning environment still next season with Carlos Queiroz back from Real and in charge of coaching again.
As much as he eclipsed him in Portugal, I don’t think Wayne’s as natural a goalscorer as Michael Owen is. He won’t get 30 a season himself, but he is capable of providing the ammunition for a Louis Saha or a Ruud Van Nistelrooy to do it.
What’s certain is that with David Beckham’s halo slipping, Wayne’s going to be the player who has his professional and private life dissected by the media next season. At just 18 years of age, I hope he’s able for it.

Ian Rush was in Ireland to launch the Elvis Presley Charity Golf Classic, which takes place at Citywest in Saggart on Saturday August 13 and benefits the St. John of God’s Menni Services. Tickets for the gala concert afterwards featuring The Elvis Spectacular, Flash Harry and Red Hurley are available priced 130 by calling (01) 677 4022.