Wayne Rooney has reacted to speculation linking him with taking over from Rafael Benitez as Everton manager.
The current Derby County boss came through the Toffees youth setup and took the football world by storm as a teenager in the early 2000s.
Rooney eventually broke royal blue hearts when he moved to Manchester United in 2004, although tensions had settled been the player and fans when he made a one-year return to Goodison Park in 2017.
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Since retiring, Rooney has gone into management and is currently in charge of the Rams, who are enduring a campaign of crisis after financial mismanagement has seen the club slapped with a total of 21 points in deductions.
Even with the Rams heading to League One, Rooney has been mentioned as a possible successor to Benitez, with pressure mounting on the Everton boss in recent weeks after a run of one win in 11 games.
Rooney was asked by BBC Radio Derby (h/t Metro ) about the recent rumours linking him with a possible return to Goodison Park.
"I obviously came up through Everton’s academy and am an Everton fan," he said. "I see the reports but I’ve had no communication with Everton.
"As far as I’m aware, they’ve got a manager in place, so for me to discuss anything like that, it’s not my place to do that – and as I’ve said, I’m committed to this club
"...I’ve had no conversations with Everton football club regarding the manager’s job so it’s not even something I’m thinking about."
Although Benitez steered a depleted Everton team to an impressive point at Chelsea on Thursday in the Premier League, the Toffees are not yet out of choppy waters.
The manager has a number of key players missing due to injury and some fans made their dissatisfaction with the former Liverpool boss clear with chants in the 3-1 loss to Crystal Palace on Sunday and a banner at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.
