Wayne Rooney: Everton signing from Man Utd has unfinished business

He will expect Rooney to make his full contribution. Everton will not regard this as a nostalgic farewell tour. Koeman is not interested in signing marketing tools – he believes he is getting a hugely intelligent footballer with something to offer.

Rooney’s vast experience, acquired over 631 club games, will be expected to provide leadership as well as the fighting mentality Everton lacked on occasions last season.

Rooney may not feature regularly in an area of the pitch where Everton could play teenager Tom Davies, Klaassen or even Ross Barkley behind a striker – but Koeman will look to the former England and Manchester United captain to provide moments of enduring quality that he still possesses.

Snodin said: “He’s not as dynamic as he was five years ago but he will bring something to the party.

“Everton have got some very exciting young players and he will give those young kids in the dressing room a real lift. Playing alongside Wayne Rooney, just being educated on the training ground and on the pitch, will do them the world of good. For me, it’s a no-brainer.”

Ratcliffe said: “My only question is ‘where will he play?’ I am not sure he is better than what we have got. We are talking about playing a high-pressure game at Everton but I don’t think Wayne can play that way now.

“He is still a fantastic player but when you have got Tom Davies, Morgan Schneiderlin, Idrissa Gueye and Davy Klaassen in there, he is going to be finding it hard, with that energy and those players, to break into the side.”

Could he yet play in a striker’s role in Koeman’s new-look Everton?

Former Everton midfielder Leon Osman told BBC Sport: “I don’t know if he is a direct replacement for Lukaku but it shows where Everton are. He would be able to give them real strength in depth.

“Everton have shown all summer they can compete to sign players and that’s really great for the club moving forward. They will have a lot more games with the European adventure they are going on and it will be interesting to see how the league mixes with that.”

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and England boss Gareth Southgate clearly feel they can do without Rooney, but Koeman believes the spark is still there.

He said: “In my opinion he is one of the players who can make Everton stronger and every player we think can make the team stronger is welcome at Everton.”

Koeman’s theory is about to be put to the test.