Wayne Rooney admits he is ‘flattered’ to be linked with a return to Everton.
Rooney emerged as one of the early forerunners for the vacant manager’s position at Goodison Park after Rafael Benitez’s sacking last weekend.
The ex-England international has impressed at Derby County and is keeping them in contention for Championship survival despite a 21-point deduction.
But while Rooney, 36, is honoured by talk of a potential third spell with the Blues, he insists that no approaches have been made by his boyhood club.
He said: “I’m the same as everyone else: I see the speculation on social media and in the newspapers.
“Of course Everton is a club I grew up supporting. I’m flattered to get brought up in those conversations.
“But I know Everton know that to have any communication with me they have to go through the administrators.”
Rooney’s one-time Everton teammate Duncan Ferguson has been installed in temporary charge while the club undertakes its search for Benitez’s successor.
And the 50-year-old admits he has been impressed by the former striker’s body of work since moving into the dugout just two seasons ago.
“I wouldn’t dragged on too many names and who would be a good fit,” admits Ferguson.
“But certainly Wayne has done really well at Derby hasn’t he? He’s an Evertonian and the fans love him.
“Obviously that can be one candidate of many candidates. Wayne’s obviously proved at Derby he’s a very good manager.”