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Everton name Ferguson interim boss, reportedly eyeing Rooney and Lampard

Mark Thompson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard are being considered for the managerial vacancy at Everton after the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB) insisted the head coach of its national team, Roberto Martinez, wouldn't be allowed to leave, according to BBC Sport's Phil McNulty.

Everton initially identified Martinez as a potential appointment despite him being sacked as the Premier League team's boss in May 2016 after three seasons in charge. However, the KBVB's stance has forced the club to explore other avenues.

Toffees legend Duncan Ferguson has been named caretaker manager "for the club's upcoming games," Everton confirmed Tuesday, and will be supported in his position by John Ebbrell, Leighton Baines, and Alan Kelly. Everton have been on the lookout for a new manager since Rafa Benitez was relieved of his duties on Sunday.

Former Everton forward Rooney, who is the record goal-scorer for Manchester United and England, is currently overseeing the Championship's Derby County. The club is in financial meltdown, and years of boardroom mismanagement led it to a deduction of 21 points this season. Despite that considerable disadvantage, Rooney's side is only eight points adrift of safety and has won four and drawn one of its past five league outings.

Lampard, a former England teammate of Rooney, is another name linked with the Everton job. The ex-midfielder also started his managerial career at Derby, where he lost the playoff final to Aston Villa in his first and only season at the helm, before he took the reins at Chelsea.

He finished fourth in the Premier League and reached the FA Cup final in his first term in charge of the Blues, but was dismissed midway through the following campaign when Chelsea occupied ninth spot in England's top flight.

Everton's list of managerial targets also includes Slaven Bilic and Lucien Favre, McNulty reports. Both candidates are out of work after their most recent roles at Beijing Gouan and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

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