Frank Lampard set to win the battle to become the new manager of Everton

Frank Lampard is set to win the race to land the Everton head coach job.

Lampard had emerged as a lead contender on Thursday for the post after the Toffees rode back on their plan to appoint Vitor Pereira due to a supporter backlash.

And following a final round of discussions with all candidates – including Pereira and Duncan Ferguson – the Goodison Park club are preparing to appoint Lampard.

Frank Lampard is set to win the race to land the Everton job after emerging as the main contender

Everton held discussions with the three main candidates on Friday (pictured majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri)

The former England star has been out of work since leaving Chelsea last January and has been looking for a route back into management.

And Lampard looks to be the man Everton have selected to replace sacked Rafa Benitez.

Everton will now turn their attentions to getting player reinforcements over the line to boost the club’s battle against relegation before Monday’s transfer deadline.

Lampard will have a role in the process, but the club must move quickly and decisively given the lack of time.  

The Chelsea legend, Ferguson and Pereira were interviewed one more time on Friday as the Toffees looked to wrap up their search to replace Benitez.

Benitez was sacked by Everton after their 2-1 defeat to Norwich earlier this month following a poor run of form.

Norwich – who had previously failed to score in six league matches – consigned Benitez’s side to a ninth defeat in 13 matches on Saturday, leading to a furious reaction from the travelling masses.

Vitor Pereira had been the main candidate for the role before fan protests led Everton to turn to Lampard

Caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson was also interviewed about taking over the role permanently

Former Porto boss Pereira was owner Farhad Moshiri’s No 1 choice to replace Benitez at the start of the week, the former Porto boss arriving in England to effectively seal his appointment.

However, protests from supporters have put Pereira’s job hopes in jeopardy. Sportsmail spoke to Pereira on Wednesday in which he said that he was saddened by the backlash against the club’s plans to name him as head coach – sentiments he later confirmed in an extraordinary telephone interview with Sky Sports News.

Everton legend Wayne Rooney meanwhile revealed on Friday that he had turned down the chance to be interviewed for the role.

In a Derby press conference he said: ‘They approached my agent and asked me to interview for the job which I turned down,’ he said. ‘I believe I will be a Premier League manager and that I’m ready for that, and if that’s with Everton in future that would be great.

Lampard has been out of work since he was sacked by Chelsea in January 2021

‘It was a very difficult decision but I’ve got a job here at Derby which is important to me, and that means me getting the team ready to play Birmingham on Sunday.’ 

Lampard started his managerial career at Derby before taking over at Chelsea in 2019.

After guiding them to a top-four finish in his first season he was sacked and replaced by Thomas Tuchel in January 2021 – with the German leading them to the Champions League.   

Lampard would be taking over a club that sits 16th in the Premier League table – just four points clear of the relegation zone.