Rooney reveals he turned down Everton approach

Wayne Rooney has revealed he turned down an approach to discuss the vacant Everton job, as the Merseyside club hold a final round of talks with Vitor Pereira, Frank Lampard and current caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson.

Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Rooney said: "Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the vacant job, which I turned down.

"I believe that I will be a Premier League manager and I believe I'm ready for that 100 per cent, and if that is with Everton one day in the future that'd be absolutely great. But I've got a job here to do at Derby County which is an important job to me."

Asked if it was a hard decision to not speak to Everton, Rooney added: "Yes, of course I did [think hard about it]. They got in touch with my agent and my agent let the administrators know as well. Of course it was a very difficult decision for me."

Everton continue their search for a successor to Rafael Benitez after the former Liverpool boss was relieved of his duties after just 200 days in the wake of the recent 2-1 defeat to Norwich.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is flying into London to hold talks with Pereira, Lampard and Ferguson.

Former Porto and Fenerbahce manager Pereira has been in contention for the Everton job twice in the past, losing out to Roberto Martinez in 2013 followed by Marco Silva in 2018.

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News on Wednesday, Pereira revealed he had received "good feedback" after talks over the role with Everton majority shareholder Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright.

Lampard is looking for his first coaching opportunity since being sacked as Chelsea manager 12 months ago, while club legend Ferguson is currently in his second spell as caretaker manager.

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