Everton to decide next manager from four-man shortlist but face Wayne Rooney rejection

Everton have made Friday their managerial D-Day, as they look to appoint a new manager before the transfer window closes.

The club will interview - once more - all the candidates on their short-list, as they complete an exhaustive process before deciding on the man to succeed Rafa Benitez.

It is understood that despite interviewing twice already, controversial Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira will again speak to owner Farhad Moshiri and the club’s board.

And he will essentially go head to head with Frank Lampard, who will also have a third interview, after speaking with Chairman Bill Kenwright last week, and Moshiri earlier this week.

Current Blues assistant boss Duncan Ferguson is also on the short-list and will be interviewed as a third candidate, with the club giving him the opportunity to make his case for the role.

Wayne Rooney was the fourth man on the short-list, and Everton were keen to have him in the discussion, it is understood he is reluctant to enter into a ‘beauty pageant’ and he has so far rejected the process.

Only after that final round of conversations will the club make a choice on the man they want to get them out of the relegation trouble that is currently haunting the club.

And the Mirror understands, key areas will be explored with the prospective new boss, namely: the need for an extensive and thorough plan to ensure that Everton avoid relegation this season, and then a longer term blueprint for next season and beyond to rebuild the team and the club.

Pereira’s inclusion in the final round of interviews is particularly interesting after the fan backlash to the Mirror story that he was Moshiri’s preferred candidate, and was close to being offered the job.

There were fan protests in the