Paul Merson feels Derby County manager Wayne Rooney, with Goodison Park hero Duncan Ferguson as his assistant, is the best option for Everton right now, via his Daily Star column.
The Arsenal icon urges the Blues to hire Rooney, as Farhad Moshiri looks for Rafa Benitez’s successor. The British-Iranian businessman, who increased his stake in Everton to 94%, is chasing a sixth permanent appointment since first investing in the Merseysiders in 2016.
Moshiri has torn through six head coaches in only six-years with Roberto Martinez, Ronald Koeman, Sam Allardyce, Marco Silva and now Benitez sacked. Carlo Ancelotti also stood at the helm, but walked away when offered the chance to re-join Real Madrid last summer.
Rooney is in contention to replace Benitez as Everton’s next manager after impressing the Toffees with his work at Derby. But The Sun report Moshiri is clashing with Chairman Bill Kenwright – who is pushing the former Blues striker – as he questions Rooney’s experience.
Merson urges Everton to hire Derby boss Rooney as next manager
Everton would hire Rooney as their next manager based solely on his 14-months as Derby’s head coach. He took his first step into the dugout as the Rams’ caretaker boss in November 2020. The Championship side then hired the 36-year-old full-time in the following January.
Rooney has now overseen 64 games in all competitions, while bidding to keep Derby in the second-tier after a 21-point deduction. They could also go out of business in a few weeks.
Merson feels Rooney’s successes over his run as Derby’s manager have proven he is ready for the Everton gig. The Arsenal icon firmly believes he and Ferguson as the assistant coach is the Blues the best bet. He also feels the argument over his experience does not hold up.
“Everton should give the manager’s job to Wayne Rooney,” Merson wrote. “Give him and Duncan Ferguson a chance. Why not?
“I’m fed up with all this talk about him being too inexperienced. How do we know? He’s pulling up trees at Derby. Rooney and Duncan gives them a chance.”
Rooney has said he is ‘flattered’ by speculation linking him with Everton’s manager’s role, via Sky Sports. But the Derby boss also noted he is yet to receive any approach by Moshiri.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
