Everton tipped to reignite interest in Derby figure should struggles continue

Everton have been tipped to reignite their interest in Derby County manager Wayne Rooney this summer should they finish the season poorly under Frank Lampard.

Rooney has made it no secret that he turned down an interview to stay at Pride Park when his former club came calling following the departure of Rafa Benitez.

They opted for Frank Lampard as the Spaniard’s replacement but there has not been the change in fortunes that they may have been hoping for – with the Toffees winning just three of their 11 Premier League games under the 43-year-old.

If Everton are to avoid relegation this season it looks set to be by a very narrow margin and, speaking on Touchline Talk, journalist Dean Jones has suggested that could see them reignite their interest in Rooney.

He explained: “I think unless he’s going to be given investment, unless this takeover happens and he is promised this, this, and this, and Rooney is like ‘OK, I can definitely get up’ then he’ll consider leaving.

“One of the situations that could open up I guess is Everton. We’ll see what happens with Frank Lampard at the end of the season.

“The season hasn’t panned out in the way they thought it would in terms of a bounce-back effect from Lampard going in at Everton.

“I think personally that there is a possibility they part ways in the summer, even if they stay up.

“We’ll have to wait and see if that happens but if it did, for example, then they have to go and get Wayne Rooney and that’s the way I would be looking at that.

“I’ve got a feeling they’ve got a clause where they can walk away from Lampard at the end of the season and if that’s the case, then Wayne Rooney could be ideal to build that club.

“To look at what his biggest strengths have been at Derby – the unity