Everton 'eyeing Wayne Rooney as Rafael Benitez replacement'

Everton will reportedly consider moving for Wayne Rooney if the club decide to relieve Rafael Benitez of his managerial duties in the near future.

Benitez is believed to retain the support of the club's majority owner Farhad Moshiri, but the Toffees are currently down in 14th position in the Premier League table and have only won once in England's top flight since the end of September.

According to The Sun, Everton have identified Derby County manager Rooney as a potential replacement for the experienced head coach, and the former England international 'would find it very difficult' to reject the chance to return to Goodison Park.

The 36-year-old came through the youth system with the Toffees before representing their first team on 77 occasions ahead of a move to Manchester United.

Rooney then returned to Goodison Park for the 2017-18 campaign, scoring 11 times in 40 appearances before a switch to the MLS to represent DC United.

The former striker has been at the helm of Derby since November 2020, winning 15, drawing 19 and losing 26 of his 60 games in charge of the debt-ridden club.