Former Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac insists that he never held talks with Everton regarding a move to the Premier League, speaking to BILD.
In the space of just seven days, Frank Lampard has seen the best and the worst of this Everton side.
In 4-1 and 3-0 victories over Brentford and Leeds United, The Toffees were aggressive, tenacious and ruthless. Three attributes that could hardly have been used to describe the ill-fated Rafa Benitez era at Goodison Park.
Then there was that 3-1 midweek defeat to Newcastle. A performance which served as a reminder that, on the blue side of Merseyside, confidence remains about as brittle as an antique China vase in a Tom and Jerry sketch.
The early signs, under Lampard, look more positive than negative however. Arguably Everton’s best two performances of the current campaign have come since hiring the former Chelsea and Derby boss as Benitez’s successor.
The nature of Saturday’s thumping win over an insipid Leeds side certainly suggests that, if Everton can hit these sorts of standards on a fairly regular basis, any lingering relegation fears will be emphatically dispelled.
Is Frank Lampard the right manager for Everton?
Lampard was not the only name on Everton’s radar following Benitez’s drawn-out departure, however. The Toffees initially prioritised former boss Roberto Martinez, they were snubbed by Wayne Rooney and interviewed Vitor Pereira.
According to The Mirror, former Bayern Munich, Frankfurt and Monaco coach Kovac was another on Everton’s radar.
Though, according to the man himself, talks never even began, let alone reached the interview stage.
“I was very surprised that my name was reported everywhere,” said Kovac, who led Bayern to a domestic treble before transforming Monaco into Ligue 1 title challengers.
“Nobody spoke to me. I want to do something again from the summer and not replace someone in the middle.
“(Club football) is really very intense. Especially when you play every three days, travel a lot and also have to watch other games.
“So I said to myself that I needed some free time. I want to do everything that I couldn’t do in the past.”
One suspects Kovac will not be out of a job for much longer, given his track record in the club game.
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