Sven-Goran Eriksson is expecting England sensation Wayne Rooney to become the hottest property in Europe and admitted he would try to sign the Everton striker if he was still a club manager.

The England coach believes the list of clubs would be "very long" to land the signature of the 18-year-old should he become available.

Sources close to Everton indicate that they would want around £45m before even considering having to lose the services of the player.

That fee may have gone up again after Rooney's two-goal blast against Switzerland put England's bid for Euro 2004 glory back on track on Thursday night.

Eriksson is already placing Rooney on the same pedestal as other rising stars he worked with in their teens, including Roberto Baggio, Rui Costa and Paulo Sousa.

He said: "Would any other clubs or countries want Wayne Rooney? I'm quite sure if you are thinking about clubs then the queue is very long.

"I don't know if that is the case but if I were a club manager I should phone his agent. He is one of the biggest talents out there.

"He is fantastic as he is but I think he will get even better. He shouldn't be 100 per cent the finished article at 18 and he can improve."

Everton want Rooney to sign a new deal and are prepared to more than double his current £13,000-a-week salary and come up with a contract worth between £30,000 and £40,000.

Eriksson is just glad to have Rooney's services at international level and is surprised at the level of maturity that he shows for someone so young.

The England chief said: "I had Baggio and Rui Costa at 18, people like that, but Wayne is one of the best 18-year-olds I've ever had to work with because he is ready.

"As a manager, when you put in a young player like that, you normally talk to them and you have to protect them.

"In the case of Rooney, I don't know what to say to him. He doesn't seem to need any protection. He is not nervous. He is not worried at all about who he is playing and it is fantastic."