Rooney deal on hold as Everton freeze all talks
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Your support makes all the difference.Everton have decided not to hold new contract talks with their England striker Wayne Rooney until the summer.
It had been expected that Everton would open negotiations to improve and extend Rooney's contract when he turned 18 in November. But that did not happen, and although his agent, Paul Stretford, insisted there was no rush, Rooney has since emerged as a target for Chelsea.
A statement by the Everton chief executive, Michael Dunford, on the club's website yesterday said that "All contract talks will take place in the summer. The club is unlikely to be entering into any talks before then". This was to allow the manager, David Moyes, to "fully take stock of all his options".
Rooney still has two-and-a-half years of his current deal remaining and has consistently expressed his desire to continue to play for his boyhood heroes. But this delay will only give encouragement to clubs interested in his services.
Contract talks are also expected to begin with Tomasz Radzinski in the summer. The Canadian international has 18 months remaining on his current deal and is reportedly keen to stay. The club will certainly be keen to negotiate with Radzinski.
David Unsworth has already turned down the offer of a new deal for one season on reduced wages. He will now have to wait until the end of the season, when his current deal runs out, to resume his negotiations.
Other players out of contract this summer are Paul Gerrard, Scot Gemmill, Steve Simonsen, Peter Clarke, Niclas Alexandersson and Sean O'Hanlon. All are believed to be allowed to leave on free transfers to reduce Everton's wage bill.
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