Wayne Rooney reveals he REJECTED Everton interview due to Derby County loyalty, as Toffees prepare to choose between Duncan Ferguson, Frank Lampard and Vitor Pereira

Wayne Rooney has revealed he rejected an opportunity to speak with Everton about their vacant managerial position.

The Derby County boss is impressing under immensely difficult circumstances in his first coaching role at the Championship club.

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Having spent ten years at Goodison Park over two separate spells, many tipped the England and Manchester United legend as a frontrunner to replace Rafael Benitez, who was recently sacked.

And Rooney admits the Toffees did reach out to his team with an interview offer for the job - but he turned it down.

He said at a Rams press conference on Friday afternoon: “Everton approached my agent and asked me to interview for the vacant job, which I turned down.”

Rooney added: “I believe I will be a Premier League manager. I believe I'm ready for that, 100 per cent. And if that is with Everton one day in the future that would be absolutely great.

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“But I've got a job here that I'm doing at Derby County which is an important job to me.”

The 36-year-old admitted it was not an easy decision to decline talks with his former club.

“They got in touch with my agent, my agent let the administrators know as well, and yes of course it was a difficult decision for me [to turn it down],” Rooney said.

Meanwhile, talkSPORT understands Everton will make a decision on their new manager after the final round of interviews on Friday.

Farhad Moshiri is in London to hold conversations with Duncan Ferguson, Frank Lampard and Vitor Pereira, as the Toffees chief prepares to choose between the three remaining candidates.