The former Manchester United and Everton striker has flown in from the United States, landing at Heathrow airport early on Tuesday morning.
Wayne Rooney is in talks to join Derby County in a player-coach role with the 33-year-old in the twilight of his career.
The ex-England captain has spent the last 12 months in America and has enjoyed great success, with 23 goals and 13 assists for DC United, who were lingering around the Major League Soccer relegation zone when he first joined.
Given the rapid nature of his move to Pride Park, it was thought that Rooney was to make an immediate return to England.
But Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, speaking from outside Derby’s Moor Farm training ground, insists Rooney will actually see out the remainder of the MLS season with the Black and Red.
DC United currently sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, which would see them enter the MLS Cup Playoffs knockout round.
After receiving a text message, Dorsett said: “This is significant. I’m now being told that the deal that will see Rooney as player-coach at Derby County starting in January.
“He will not be playing for Derby as of next weekend. He will miss the first chunk of the season because he feels very loyal to DC United.
“He wants to go and finish the season with them there. They’re flying high and have the business end of the season still to go.
“This seems like it has happened in a great rush, my sources tell me Derby owner Mel Morris only made contact with Rooney and his representatives three days ago.
“We thought they were hurriedly trying to get this one over the line. They are, but that’s because they’re trying to stave interest off other clubs.
“But just to reiterate, the deal will see Rooney as a player and coach for Derby in January, it won’t start immediately.
“Either way Derby think this is a heck of a coup if they can get this one over the line and they’re pretty confident that most has been agreed now and they should be able to confirm him in that extraordinary role later on in some stage today.
“Twenty three goals in 42 games for Rooney in the MLS. Alright there’s a discussion about exactly what standard of football that is but he’s scored some extraordinary goals.
“He still thinks he can do it in the Championship. He wants at least one more season playing, potentially another.
“From his perspective and Derby’s, it’s a win-win. They get him as a player and as a coach.
“He is inside Derby’s training ground right now. Talks and negotiations are ongoing.”
Speaking on talkSPORT, Derby owner Morris said today: “It’s only been a couple of days [since talks started]. We understood he was keen to come back to the UK and of course we looked at it and decided if we could do something on the back of that.
“The key to me was the conversation that he had with Phillip Cocu. That was critical to the interest Wayne has had.
“It’s never done until it’s done but obviously we’re focused and keen to get it over the line this morning.”