Resurfaced comments from Wayne Rooney could spell trouble for Frank Lampard, with the former Chelsea star clinging to his job at Everton by a thread.
The Toffees last won a game on 22 October, with supporters staging a mass walkout from Goodison Park during their dismal defeat to Brighton on Tuesday. While Lampard is expected to stay in charge for the FA Cup clash with Manchester United, he appears on the verge of being sacked.
Though he masterminded a Great Escape last season, they are back in the Premier League's relegation zone, having won just three times all season. The pressure will only be ramped up amid resurfaced comments from Rooney that make clear he is eyeing the job.
Rooney had two spells at Everton as a player, famously scoring a last-minute wonder-goal against Arsenal in 2002. Since his retirement, the former attacker has turned to management, first at Derby County and now at DC United.
During his spell at the Rams, where he earned praise for leading the club during their financial problems, he was approached to replace Rafa Benitez at Everton. And, worryingly for Lampard, the job at Goodison Park remains one Rooney has his eye on.
“Obviously Everton and Manchester United are the two clubs who are really close to my heart so to manage one of them two would be a dream. I’m still gaining a lot of experience from what I’m doing," Rooney told CNN in November.
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"You want to learn, and I want to go into Everton or Manchester United, I want to go in there and be able to give the best version of me. I’d be naive to say, ‘I’m going to go and manage Manchester United in the next year or so.’
"For me it’s about putting the work in and developing myself and if I do that and I do it in the right way, then I feel these jobs, these opportunities will come to me eventually.
"The appealing thing, obviously going back to D.C. and going in as head coach for me was if you look at all the big teams and the culture, it’s so diverse with different nationalities, different religions.”
Rooney's dream may be realised sooner than he expected, with The Sun reporting he has been shortlisted as a potential replacement for Lampard. Toffees owner Farhad Moshiri views him as a candidate who could inspire the disillusioned fans.
Moshiri is also consdering Roberto Martinez, Sean Dyche and Ange Postecoglu as he weighs up Lampard's position. It is unknown how much more time Lampard may be given, though Everton host Southampton in a relegation six-pointer a week on Saturday.
Everton are currently just three points ahead of the Saints, who are rock bottom of the Premier League table. A week later, they face fellow strugglers West Ham in yet another six-pointer, with the pressure on Lampard to bring in results already ramping up.
