Rooney nowhere near the player he was to step up after Lukaku's exit from Everton

Matt Jones - Editor 09:48 09/08/2017
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  • MANAGER

    Ronald Koeman

    STAR MAN

    Wayne Rooney

    LAST SEASON

    7th

    TOP SCORER

    Romelu Lukaku (25)

    KEY INS

    Jordan Pickford (Sunderland, £30m), Michael Keane (Burnley, £25m), Davy Klaassen (Ajax, £23.6m), Sandro Ramirez (Malaga, £5m), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United, free)

    Sandro Ramirez

    Sandro Ramirez

    KEY OUTS

    Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United, £75m), Gerard Deulofeu (Barcelona, £10.5m), Tom Cleverley (Watford, £8m)

    REASONS TO BE POSITIVE

    Have done some good business and did it early, allowing their arrivals to integrate. Koeman has bolstered his spine, with Pickford, Keane and Klaassen all solid additions.

    REASONS TO BE PESSIMISTIC

    Replacing Lukaku’s 25 goals will be tough. For all the romance of Rooney’s return, he is nowhere near the player he was.

    ONE TO WATCH

    Jordan Pickford. Can theoretically become England’s No1 for the World Cup.

    Jordan Pickford

    Jordan Pickford

    EXPECTATION

    Capable of a push for a top six finish, and they are the team best equipped to pounce should one of the big boys stumble.

    REALITY

    With Lukaku gone, they are lacking an X-factor star, with too many 7/10 players only fleetingly capable of the fantastic. Europa League beckons.

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