Wayne Rooney might be a priority target for Everton this summer, according to football journalist Dean Jones, if Frank Lampard does not stay on as manager at Goodison Park. The Toffees have struggled in the Premier League this season, and Lampard’s arrival in January to replace Rafa Benitez as manager has had no impact.
Lampard has only 10 points in his 12 league games in charge, and his side is currently in the relegation zone, with Burnley leapfrogging them following the weekend’s fixtures. Everton’s leadership wanted to interview Rooney back in January when Benitez was ousted, so there could have been a different figure in the technical area at Goodison Park.
Rooney, a household figure in Liverpool’s blue half, played 117 times for his boyhood club over two stints, but he turned down an interview with the club three months ago because he wanted to keep doing what he was doing as Derby County manager.
Following fruitful conversations with potential new owner Chris Kirchner, Rooney has maintained his willingness to stay at Pride Park despite the club’s relegation to League One. Even though the more experienced Sean Dyche is now a free agent, Jones believes Everton may come calling for the 36-year-old if Lampard’s services are no longer required.
Because of his ties to the club, because of Rooney’s probable availability, and because he’s a big brand, he might be a better fit, to be honest. Jones explained
“If Lampard leaves, Sean Dyche would be a strong contender, but I still believe they should go for Rooney.”
Rooney will have a difficult decision to make if Everton approaches him in the summer, regardless of which league they are in. On the other hand, Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, is involved in the plan for Kirchner to buy Derby County, so if it goes through, he’ll be a part of it.
But Rooney is a driven man who would not turn down the chance to return to his boyhood club and maybe lead them back to the Premier League if they are demoted. Many in the Premier League will applaud Rooney’s performance this season in the face of adversity, and you have to wonder what could have happened if he had taken that January interview and joined the Toffees.
