Following Wayne Rooney's move from Manchester United to Everton; which three Fulham stars would you like to see return to Craven Cottage?

Wayne Rooney’s return to Everton is one of the more heart-warming stories in football this summer.

Many will point to the money that Rooney will earn and say that is his main motivation, but it’s much more than that for him.

It’s a chance to finish his career at his boyhood club and to play in the blue of Everton again; to grace the field at Goodison Park and be backed by the home crowd, not jeered.

Of course, more often than not going back does not work. Players can’t replicate successful first spells and it can tarnish their memory.

That does not mean there are not players and former fan favourites that many supporters would like to see return to their old stomping ground.

Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham squad is in pretty good shape heading into the new season, but there are certainly former players that fans would love to see return to Craven Cottage.

With the help of Fulham fans on social media, we’ve picked out former Whites heroes who we’d love to see return.

Mousa Dembele

If there are any questions over just how good Dembele is, just remember that he’s a key figure in the most consistent side in the country over the past two years.

Amazingly, it is five years since Dembele left Fulham for £15 million (triple the fee it cost to bring him to London in 2010) and his career has gone from strength to strength at White Hart Lane.

The Belgian midfielder made 75 appearances during his two years at the Cottage and it would have been more, only for a foot injury to keep him out for a period midway through his first season – an injury that still causes him problems now.

He is immensely powerful, as well as having the ability to beat opposition midfielders with quick feet, and he’d be the best player in the Championship by a long, long way.

Premier League transfer fees have gone through the roof this summer and Dembele’s asking price would be at least double the money spent on him five years ago.

The chances are he’ll play at the top-level for the majority of his career, but what Fulham fans would give to see him play another season for the Cottagers.

Chris Smalling

It is easy to forget that Smalling only played 19 games for Fulham before Manchester United swooped in.

After joining as a teenager from Maidstone United, Smalling only spent two years at Craven Cottage and it’s at Old Trafford where he’s really made his name.

Although he’s had a difficult season, Smalling has played 243 games for Manchester United – and you don’t do that unless you’re a quality defender.

It appears his time in Manchester is limited, though, and Fulham fans would certainly welcome him back at Craven Cottage.

Unfortunately his price is probably out of reach for the Whites, as much as Jokanovic would love to have the England international at the heart of his defence.

Smalling is still just 27, though, and you never know, if Fulham can get back into the Premier League, he might return to west London one day.

Clint Dempsey

The big American spent five and a half years at the Cottage, playing 232 games and scoring 60 goals – including five appearances in a more recent, brief loan-spell.

Fifty of those goals came in the Premier League – the most any Fulham player managed during the 13-year stay in the top tier of English football.

Signed for £3 million and sold for £6 million, Dempsey was part of the side that reached the Europa League final and maintained the club’s Premier League status.