Wayne Rooney becomes only second player ever to score 200 Premier League goals

Wayne Rooney scored his 200th Premier League goal (Picture: Getty)

Wayne Rooney made history with the opening goal as Everton took on Manchester City at the Etihad on Monday evening.

The England and Manchester United legend joined the Toffees on a free transfer in July and has hit the ground running since returning to Goodison Park, scoring in the side’s two opening games of the Premier League campaign.

After finding the only goal of the game in Everton’s 1-0 defeat of Stoke last weekend, Rooney broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish in the 35th minute at the Etihad.

The goal means the forward is now only the second player to score 200 goals in Premier League goals – joining an elite group with Newcastle United icon Alan Shearer.

Rooney also becomes the only player in Premier League history to score 200+ goals and record 100+ assists.

All-time Premier League top scorers

1. Alan Shearer – 260
2. Wayne Rooney – 200
3. Andy Cole – 187
4. Frank Lampard – 177
5. Thierry Henry – 175

The 31-year-old, who began his top flight-career at Goodison Park as a fresh-faced teenager, rejoined the Merseyside outfit on a two-year contract and will be hoping for far more goals over the course of the campaign.

Jose Mourinho was in attendance at the Etihad on Monday night and many United fans joked he was there to keep an eye on Rooney.

Can Rooney catch Shearer's tally of 260 in the Premier League?

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Real Madrid ready to sell Gareth Bale to Manchester United after secret meeting with Kylian Mbappe

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Real Madrid are ready to offload Gareth Bale this summer. (Reuters)

Manchester United have been given the green light to make a move for Gareth Bale after Real Madrid admitted that they would be willing to sell the 27-year-old, according to reports in France.

L’Equipe claims that Zinedine Zidane and Madrid president Florentino Perez met with Kylian Mbappe last week in order to persuade the Monaco forward to move to the Spanish capital this summer.

During their conversation, Zidane and Perez reportedly told Mbappe that they would be willing to offload one of Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema in order to guarantee him more playing time next season.

L’Equipe claim that out of those three players, Bale’s transfer would be the most likely and United could now follow up with a bid, given their long-standing interest in the Wales international.

L’Equipe claim that Zidane met with Mbappe last week.

Earlier this month, reports claimed that Bale was open to the idea of joining United but Madrid would command a £100 million transfer fee.

United have held talks with over a deal for Bale, although Madrid’s hierarchy are reportedly split over their decision to sell the forward they signed from Tottenham for £86m four years ago.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, is due to meet with Perez after Portugal's Confederations Cup campaign to discuss his own future at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Manchester United have already held talks with Madrid over a deal for Bale. (Getty Images)

The 32-year-old already has an offer on the table from Paris Saint-Germain, while United have not yet launched a concrete bid to re-sign their former player.

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