January 29, (THEWILL) – After a day of interviews in London, Frank Lampard has emerged as the board’s favourite candidate for the post as Everton’s new manager.
Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s principal owner, chose Lampard over former Porto coach Vitor Pereira after a lengthy hunt for a replacement for the dismissed Rafa Benitez.
Lampard is expected to be followed in by Chelsea coach Anthony Barry, according to The Athletic, but no deal has yet been reached with Chelsea.
Lampard’s deputy manager at Chelsea and Derby, Jody Morris, is considered to be unlikely to join Lampard at Goodison Park. Duncan Ferguson, the caretaker manager, is currently unsure about his place in the new coaching team.
Lampard, Pereira, and caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson were all evaluated for the position last week, with a second interview on Friday.
Since dismissing Benitez following Everton’s 2-1 loss to Norwich, the Merseyside club has been looking for a replacement.
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, who is currently the manager of Derby County, revealed he had turned down the chance to be interviewed for the post on Friday.
Ferguson, the Everton assistant coach, has been in charge of the first team since Benitez’s departure and presided over the club’s 1-0 loss to Aston Villa over the weekend.
THEWILL recalls that Lampard has been unemployed since being fired by Chelsea a year ago, following a bad run of form that saw the west London club drop to ninth place in the Premier League.
In the last 12 months, the former England midfielder has held talks with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Norwich City about job openings but has yet to accept one.
Since leaving Chelsea, Lampard has been connected with a number of clubs, including Rangers, Ipswich Town, Newcastle United, and even Southampton. These connections arose mostly as a result of his availability.
Everton’s next match is an FA Cup fourth-round clash against Brentford on February 5 as the Premier League takes a break for the winter.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
