Ronald Koeman reveals Everton's summer transfer plans, remains coy on Wayne Rooney

Ronald Koeman says Everton will scour the world for new recruits during the summer months and remained coy over the potential return of Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney. The Toffees are set to spend heavily at the end of the campaign as they look gatecrash the Champions League positions and are targeting former boy wonder Rooney, Burnley defender Michael Keane and Sunderland goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The aforementioned trio all currently ply their trade in the Premier League, but Koeman does not think potential new signings need to have experience of the English top-flight and is only interested in signing players who will improve his squad at Goodison Park, regardless of their current location.

Asked if new signings need Premier League experience, Koeman told The Liverpool Echo: "Not in my opinion, it is not the most important, more important is if we sign players, the new players bring more quality to the team and even more competition in different positions of the team.

"If it's someone from the Premier League that's good, he knows the competition, that's good, but can also be players from abroad.

"If you are looking for some players in a position in a team you have a list, of course you have experience you know players better at the moment in the Premier League than from outside, but if there is a player from abroad who makes the team better, then we sign that player."

Koeman was later pressed about Manchester United captain Rooney, who is set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season. The Dutchman and Everton's director of football Steve Walsh have both made no secret of their desire to bring Rooney back to his boyhood club, but Koeman refused to give anything away regarding a potential summer swoop.

Asked if he will talk to Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho about signing Rooney, Koeman said: "Why? We are interested in all the good players and that means every game...I like (Philippe) Coutinho of Liverpool, but I did not speak to club. I like David Silva but did not speak to (Pep) Guardiola. We will see what happens, I don't know."

The return of Rooney may provide food for thought for the Everton hierarchy but Koeman and co's immediate focus is on clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The Barcelona legend emerged victorious from both of his visits to the Theatre of Dreams with Southampton, but the Toffees have only won once away to United this century.