Sam Allardyce has emerged as the current favourite to become Everton’s next manager.
Allardyce made no secret of his willingness to take the Blues’ hot seat if he was approached to become Ronald Koeman’s permanent successor.
And the former England manager is now the forerunner to replace the Dutchman at following talks with majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
Burnley boss Sean Dyche and Marco Silva, whose Watford side suffered a 3-2 defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday, are also being assessed as alternatives.
Consideration is also being given to David Unsworth, who oversaw the last four games and lifted the club out of the Premier League relegation zone.
But Everton are understood to be swaying towards Allardyce on account of his record of safeguarding the Premier League status with various teams.
Steve Walsh, the club’s director of football, is also a known admirer of Allardyce’s reputation as a survival specialist in the English top flight.
The 63-year-old’s last role in management helped Crystal Palace beat the drop while he previously helped Sunderland and West Ham do similar.
Michael Keane, meanwhile, has been drafted into the England squad for their forthcoming friendlies with Germany and Brazil in the next 10 days.