A year after his unceremonious sacking from Chelsea, Frank Lampard is closing in on a managerial return, with the English icon set to dive headfirst into one of the most chaotic job in the Premier League.
Yes, we are talking about the Everton hot seat. According to several sources, such as the Daily Mail and Goal, the Stamford Bridge legend has been chosen as the man to succeed Rafael Benitez, with the Spanish tactician being sacked two weeks after an unpopular and disastrous six-and-a-half months spell in Merseyside.
Initially, Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira was leading the race for the Goodison Park role. However, the Toffees board were forced to dial down their interest in the former Porto and Fenerbahce boss after fans reacted angrily to the links with Pereira, sparking fears of a toxic situation similar to that brought on by the appointment of Rafa, the former Liverpool man.
A final round of interviews was held on Friday, which included Pereira as well as interim boss Duncan Ferguson, who made his plea for the permanent job. Wayne Rooney had also been contacted, but the Derby manager turned down the position to focus on his club's dire situation.
While Everton refused to offer updates on their managerial search, Lampard has reportedly won the race and is now simply waiting for a formal contract offer. In fact, the former midfielder could finalize this deal in time to make his debut in their upcoming fixture, an FA Cup fourth round showdown with Brentford on February 5.
The Toffees goal for this season is simple. While they were in and around the European spots earlier this campaign, the Merseyside outfit must now focus on avoiding relegation. Richarlison and Co. currently sit 16th in the table, boasting a mere four-point advantage over 17th-placed Newcastle, who they will face next in the Premier League.
After that is a home clash with Leeds, another huge club who find themselves in a similar predicament. Lampard will be hoping to have some of his colleagues from his time in the Chelsea dugout alongside him, namely Joe Edwards and Anthony Barry, as he embarks on a mission to keep the club in the English top-flight.
