Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney face competition in the battle to become Everton's next permanent manager from Italian football icon Fabio Cannavaro. Everton plan to speak to all three candidates as they search for Rafa Benitez's successor at Goodison Park.
Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard are contenders for the Everton job. (Image: GETTY)
Everton will be desperate to replace the unpopular Spaniard correctly, and a new name has entered the fray.
SunSport report Cannavaro is the latest name the Merseyside outfit's hierarchy are considering.
The 48-year-old has already been interviewed for the role by owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright.
Cannavaro is looking to return to work after calling quits at Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande in September after four years at the helm.
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He joins Rooney, Lampard, Jose Mourinho, Graham Potter, Roberto Martinez, and Duncan Ferguson on the pair's shortlist, whilst ex-West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has also been touted as a potential target.
However, the Belgian FA have blocked Martinez from returning to Goodison ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
And AS Roma boss Mourinho - formerly of Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur - and Potter - impressing at Brighton & Hove Albion - have also ruled themselves out.
It leaves Cannavaro, Rooney, Lampard and Ferguson in the running, and the latter could currently be in pole position.
Fabio Cannavaro last coached Guangzhou Evergrande. (Image: GETTY)
The Scotsman has been appointed caretaker manager for a second time, with his first game in charge against Aston Villa this weekend.
He will have the chance to stake his claim to Moshiri and Kenwright by guiding Everton up the Premier League table in the coming weeks.
Rooney is earning mass plaudits for his work at troubled Championship club Derby County this season, whilst Lampard has been out of management since his Chelsea sacking last January.
All four names are supposedly candidates, and a decision could be made once they are all interviewed.