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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Adam Jones

Frank Lampard clarifies what happened with Alisher Usmanov and Farhad Moshiri before Everton interview

Frank Lampard has clarified that Alisher Usmanov was in conversation with Farhad Moshiri just before the manager's interview with Everton.

The former Chelsea and Derby County boss was appointed at Goodison Park at the end of January following the sacking of Rafael Benitez a few months previously.

On Wednesday, Everton announced that they were suspending all commercial agreements with USM, Megafon and Yota following a backlash due to Usmanov's ties with Vladimir Putin.

In the wake of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, the Blues had been under some pressure to take action after Usmanov was sanctioned by the EU on Monday - and Lampard was asked a number of questions about the decision in his pre-Boreham Wood press conference.

FULL STORY: Everton suspend all USM deals as statement released after Usmanov sanctions

READ MORE: Vitalii Mykolenko delivers powerful message on Russian invasion of Ukraine

Some later questions centred around an article that had been published on Tuesday claiming that the Uzbekistan-born billionaire, with close links with Moshiri, had taken part in Lampard's interview to become Everton manager.

The boss rejected that claim once more, and provided more clarity on what actually happened.

He remarked: "To clarify, because I saw the story yesterday, I always try and stay away from talking about the interview but I think this is important because of where we're at.

"As I went for my interview, Mr Usmanov was on a Zoom call with Mr Moshiri, so I walked into that. But at absolutely no point was that part of the interview.

"The interview happened after that event, with the board, as I said.

"That's kind of where I want to leave it because as I say I don't think it's right to talk about interviews. But that's for clarification on it."

Everton suspending their agreements with USM, Megafon and Yota could have significant financial effects in the future.

However, Lampard is not yet focused on how that could affect his dealings in the summer transfer window - with the Blues having struggled against financial fair play regulations for a number of years.

He claimed it is too soon to really appreciate the ramifications of the club's decision.

"It doesn't worry me at this point because I've got 14 games, plus cup games potentially, to worry about before I worry about any of that stuff," Lampard added.

"The recent events of this week have come very quickly at us all to digest exactly the ramifications, it's too difficult at this point.

"Who knows what the future holds on so many different levels. SO I can only control the games in front of us and the objectives this season."

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