Everton will intensify their efforts to recruit Wayne Rooney in the summer, having failed in an attempt to sign the Manchester United captain in January.

A loan offer was rebuffed by United last month but Everton will return at the end of season in the hope of luring the England captain back to his boyhood club.

The Goodison Park club continued their charm offensive yesterday with the manager, Ronald Koeman, saying that the 31-year-old would make “Everton stronger”.

Last week Rooney announced that he would be staying at Old Trafford despite interest from the Chinese Super League, where he was being offered at least £750,000 a week. Yet his future beyond the summer remains unclear. Rooney was an unused substitute in United’s 3-2 EFL Cup