According to reports in The Independent on Wednesday, Everton are understood to be closing in on the summer signing of Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney.

The 31-year-old is expected to leave the Red Devils at the end of the season with his first team opportunities under Jose Mourinho becoming less and less frequent – he has made just nine Premier League starts this term.

His first choice is said to be a return to his boyhood club – Rooney left the Toffees to move to Old Trafford in 2004 – which would also allow him to stay in the north-west.

Should the transfer be completed, the England skipper will be a regular starter on Merseyside, which could potentially throw the future of a number of Blues players up in the air.

Here are FOUR Everton players that will be fearing their future at the club as Rooney closes in on a return to Goodison Park…

Gareth Barry

Following the arrival of Idrissa Gueye last summer, and then Morgan Schneiderlin during the January transfer window, it appears as though Ronald Koeman is preparing for the eventual exit of the 36-year-old midfielder.

Barry is currently aiming to overtake Ryan Giggs as the Premier League’s all-time record appearance maker, and the arrival of Rooney could potentially make that less likely to happen.

The 31-year-old has often played in a deeper role for Manchester United in recent seasons, and if he does the same at Goodison Park it will push Barry further down the pecking order.

Muhamed Besic

The 24-year-old looked like he would become a prominent player for the Toffees after some impressive performances in the middle of the park following a move from Ferencvaros in 2014, but injury problems have blighted his career at Goodison Park since then.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international ironically suffered a knee injury in Wayne Rooney’s testimonial that has kept him out of action since August, and now the arrival of the England star could put his Everton future into further doubt.

James McCarthy

The Republic of Ireland international was one of Everton’s key players under the leadership of Roberto Martinez, but since the Spaniard was replaced by Ronald Koeman in the summer it has been a completely different story.

McCarthy has found first team opportunities hard to come by following the arrivals of Idrissa Gueye and Morgan Schneiderlin.

Similarly to Besic and Barry, if Rooney is given a deeper role in the midfield by the Dutchman should he arrive at Goodison Park this summer, it will surely push the 26-year-old closer to the exit door.

Kevin Mirallas

While Rooney could be deployed in a deeper role by manager Ronald Koeman – especially if the Toffees manage to keep hold of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley this summer – he could also be given a more attacking role in the side.

While he has accepted Louis van Gaal’s and Jose Mourinho’s decisions to play him in a midfield role at United in recent seasons, the 31-year-old would surely prefer to play as a forward.

If he is, it could put Mirallas’ Everton career under threat with the Belgian struggling to consistently impress Koeman, while the return of Yannick Bolasie from injury later this year could also affect his place in the team.

Do you agree, Everton fans? Let us know below.