According to Sky Sports, Everton are expected to approach Wayne Rooney as the Premier League outfit look to replace Rafa Benitez.
What’s the story?
Well, earlier today, Sky Sports revealed live on air that Everton are expected to make contact with Derby as they look to interview Rooney.
The 36-year-old’s stock in the world of football management has soared this season as a result of his fine work at Pride Park.
Rooney – who came through Everton’s Academy – has given Derby hope of staying in the Championship against all odds following a 21-point deduction.
As things stand, the Rams are eight points from safety, and somehow, they’re not even bottom of the table after four wins and a draw from their last five Championship games.
Interestingly, Sky Sports believe Rooney would find it difficult to reject Everton if they offered him the job.
Frank Lampard is also expected to be interviewed for the vacancy.
Everton must be wary of Wayne Rooney
Make no mistake about it, Rooney is working miracles at Derby against all odds.
However, his efforts must be taken into context.
Rooney spent the end of his playing career at Derby, before becoming player manager – he later retired from playing, and became manager outright.
In that time, he’ll have learned plenty about his players, while he’s also been able to work under little expectation given the circumstances.
If Everton hired Rooney, he’d be expected to hit the ground running, and he wouldn’t be afforded years of patience like he’s had at Derby.
Of course, the likes of Patrick Vieira and Steven Gerrard have proven that there can be value in hiring legends of the game as your manager.
However, the pair of them have a bit more experience in management than Rooney, who is still very much an infant of his trade – he’s only ever managed 64 games.
Keep an eye on this saga – only time will tell what happens.
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