Former Chelsea and England defender Ashley Cole could be set for a role as part of Frank Lampard's Everton backroom staff.
Lampard was confirmed as Everton boss on Monday, saying he is "very hungry to get started" after taking up his new role.
Former Chelsea coach Paul Clement is among those to follow the 43-year-old to Goodison Park, while Joe Edwards - who worked under Lampard at Stamford Bridge - has left west London to move to Merseyside.
Duncan Ferguson had been in temporary charge at Everton after the dismissal of Rafa Benitez, and the Scot will also remain on the coaching staff following the change of manager.
There is still room for another addition, though, and Cole could end up being that man after working with Lampard a number of times over the course of his career.
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"It’s a two-way thing. I think Everton is a unique club in that you can really understand what the fans want to see," Lampard said after signing a contract until 2024.
"The first thing they want is fight and desire and that must always be our baseline.
“My first message to the players will be that we have to do this together. We’ll try to do our job and I know the fans will be there backing us.”
In addition to adding Edwards and Clement to his staff, Chris Jones will work with the manager after spending time with Lampard at Derby County, and Cole could yet end up joining the new recruits.
Cole, who played in the same Chelsea and England teams as Lampard, also briefly played under his former teammate at Derby in 2019.
He detailed his managerial ambitions last year, saying : “It's something I definitely want to get into. Hopefully in a few years I can go into a managerial role."
Cole played for Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Roma, LA Galaxy and Derby County across a 20-year playing career, and has moved into coaching since hanging up his boots.
He followed Lampard from Derby to Chelsea when his former teammate took over at Stamford Bridge, working as an academy coach with the Blues, and was appointed as an assistant to England under-21 coach Lee Carsley in 2021.
“I would love to take bits from all my managers," said Cole, who played under greats including Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Arsene Wenger,
"If I could take all those three together and squash them into one hopefully that will be me! A tough task.
“Carlo Ancelotti was key at man-managing, and understanding the person and trying to get the best out of the person. He set up sessions so that the minute you got into the training ground you wanted to get out and be on that pitch.
“He made you feel very safe and was very approachable. That really brought out the best in me.
“In terms of the tactical aspect, I think Jose Mourinho. It was his detail, the due diligence he would do. Going up against bigger opponents he would write down their height, their weight, strong foot, weak foot, the way you want to show them. Amazing game plans.
“I would take Arsene Wenger and at times he would let the game be the teacher. I was a young raw 19 year old but he let me play. I made a lot of mistakes in my early career, and he never took me out of the team.
"He trusted the process I was going to be a top player. I learned a lot from my mistakes in the game.”
