Frank Lampard made future ambitions crystal clear with Everton aware he’s ‘readily available’

Frank Lampard has insisted he is "ready to work" amid Everton's managerial search.

The Toffees are looking for the latest candidate to take over the helm at Goodison Park.

Everton decided to sack Rafa Benitez just six-and-a-half months into the job following a 2-1 defeat against lowly Norwich City on Saturday.

The Toffees had won just one of their previous 13 Premier League games and plummeted to 15th in the table.

‘I’m waiting for the call’

Lampard's name is one who's been linked with the role, along with the likes of Roberto Martinez and Wayne Rooney.

The former England international has been out of work for the past year. He was relieved of his duties at Chelsea despite being a club legend during his playing days.

The Telegraph reports the Toffees are aware he is ‘readily available’.

In an interview with Gary Neville on The Overlap last month, Lampard - who played under Benitez at Stamford Bridge - revealed he's hungry to land his next role.

He said: “I want to work. I'm ready to work.

“I've enjoyed different aspects of being out of the game. It's definitely given me different perspectives, having a baby and given me a lot of reflection to plan for the future.

“I'm definitely ready to work and I'm excited about it and I'm waiting for the call.

“It sounds a bit desperate but there have been a few opportunities I had pretty fresh after leaving Chelsea and then in the summer.

“I've been speaking to a couple of clubs at different times. Some didn't feel right for me. I'm not going to go into that because it's gone now.

“I don't want to sound overly selective, either, because if you want to be selective at football and look at any job that's available, there will be good and bad about it.

“The job is there for a reason. It's open for a reason - bad results, squad, whatever it is.

“I'm not scared about that. But the people you work with - it sounds a little bit cringey but what they want, the vision, the expectations - all those things.”

Will Frank Lampard become next Everton manager?

Lampard is currently as short as 7/1 with some bookmakers to take the reins at Goodison.

He insists he wants to join a club that 'feels positive' having turned down Norwich earlier this campaign.

Lampard added: “I'm fortunate enough I'm in a place where I want to work but I'm not desperate to work.

“You'll always hear that, I think it was a Fergie (Sir Alex Ferguson) quote: "Pick the owner, not the club" and I understand what that means.

“Maybe if you're Fergie you can pick what you want, I'm not in that position but you want something that feels positive.”