Everton appoint Lampard as new manager

Everton have appointed Frank Lampard as their new manager on a two-and-a-half-year contract to replace the sacked Rafael Benitez.

Lampard became the leading candidate on Friday after Everton held a final round of talks with their candidates, and was formally offered the job on Saturday.

Former Swansea and Derby County manager Paul Clement will be Lampard's assistant manager.

As well as the former Chelsea and Derby boss, The Toffees spoke to Vitor Pereira - who exclusively told Sky Sports News on Wednesday that he wanted the job - plus Duncan Ferguson, who was placed in caretaker charge after Benitez's departure.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri flew into London to hold talks with all three candidates.

Lampard had been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in January 2021 with the club ninth in the Premier League.

Prior to his 18-month spell at Chelsea - who he led to an FA Cup final and a top-four finish - Lampard spent a season at Derby, which ended in defeat to Aston Villa in the play-off final.

Everton had been searching for a successor to Benitez after he was sacked earlier this month in the wake of their 2-1 defeat at Norwich.

The former Liverpool manager had been in charge at Goodison Park for less than seven months.

Everton sit 16th in the Premier League and are just four points above the relegation zone having won one and drawn three of their last 14 matches.

Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol speaking on Friday:

"Frank Lampard has all the potential to be a great manager of the future. I would think if he does accept the job, if he does become the next Everton manager it will be very exciting, but let's not underestimate he would have a massive job on his hands.

"He would have gone from the relative stability of