Wayne Rooney has reportedly been lined up as Everton’s next manager, should the Toffees cut their losses on Rafa Benitez.
The Sun report that Rooney, who had two spells at Goodison Park as a player, has had unofficial communication with Everton as pressure mounts on Benitez.
Benitez’s side have won just one of their last 10 games and supporters are growing restless against the former Liverpool manager, raising doubts over his future heading into 2022.
Majority owner Farhad Moshiri is desperate to see Benitez, who saw his appointment protested by a pocket of Everton’s supporters in the summer, succeed despite a rough patch.
Yet there is growing dissatisfaction being directed at the Spaniard and the report outlines that Rooney has been sounded out as a potential successor should Benitez be axed.
Rooney, 36, is currently cutting his teeth in management with cash-strapped Derby County.
The Rams have found themselves in administration for the last 11 weeks but when links were made between Rooney and the vacant job at Newcastle, since taken by Eddie Howe, he was adamant he would see the season through with Derby.
Rooney’s side remain 15 points from safety in the second tier having had to battle back from a 21-point deduction.
But any approach from Everton would no doubt prove tricky for Rooney to ignore given his strong ties to the club.
Rooney announced himself as a star of the game at Everton before sealing a then-record £27million move to Manchester United at the age of 18, back in 2004.
He then made a brief return to Merseyside to play for Everton in the 2017-18 season.
The striker joined on a free transfer from Manchester United but failed to ignite and he went to Major League Soccer 12 months later.
A 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace last time out has kept the microscope on Benitez.
Moshiri, speaking after the trouncing by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at the start of the month, reiterated his commitment to helping Benitez make it work.
Asked whether he still backs Benitez, Moshiri told talkSPORT: ‘Yes. Football is about crisis one and glory the following day.
‘Rafa is a good manager and underperformance is largely due to the injuries.
‘In the next two weeks we will get to a full squad. In the meantime results will improve.
‘Rafa needs time to have his mark on the squad. He will be supported to add depth to the squad, managers need time. I have no doubt that we will have a strong second half to the season.’
