Rooney contract talks postponed

EVERTON have decided not to hold new contract talks with teenage star Wayne Rooney until the summer.

The club have decided to freeze negotiations with all their players until after the current season and that includes Rooney, who has emerged as a target for Chelsea.

It had been expected that Everton would open negotiations to improve and extend Rooney's contract after his 18th birthday in November.

But that did not happen, although his agent Paul Stretford insisted there was no rush.

Now the cash-strapped club will put the block on talks with any of their players until the summer.

A statement on the club's website says Everton decided to wait until the summer for boss David Moyes to "fully take stock of all his options".

Chief executive Michael Dunford revealed: "All contract talks will take place in the summer. The club is unlikely to be entering into any talks before then."

Rooney still has two and a half years of his current deal left and has expressed his desire to continue to play for his boyhood heroes.

But any delay from the club in talking seriously about a wage hike and contract extension for Rooney will only encourage other clubs interested in his services.

Contract talks are also expected to begin with Tomasz Radzinski in the summer. The Canadian international has 18 months remaining on his current deal.

Injury-jinxed Alessandro Pistone is in the same situation and wants to stay at the club.

David Unsworth has already turned down the offer of a new deal for one season on reduced wages. He will have to wait until his current deal runs out at the end of the season before sitting down with the club again.

Several players are out of contract at the end of the season, including Paul Gerrard, Scot Gemmill, Steve Simonsen, Peter Clarke, Niclas Alexandersson and Sean O'Hanlon.

It's thought they will be allowed to leave on free transfers to reduce Everton's wage bill, but the club will certainly want to negotiate with Rooney and Radzinski.