Everton could face a points deduction over their pursuit of Marco Silva.
Silva was appointed Sam Allardyce’s successor in June following a lengthy courtship which dated back to his time in charge of Watford last season.
The Hornets rejected a £12 million compensation offer in November last year before they cited the Blues’ interest as a factor in their decision to part with him.
Now an inquiry commissioned by the Premier League is set to probe allegations of the Portuguese coach’s ‘tapping up’ by the Goodison Park hierarchy.
Board members and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri could be forced to hand over phone records to ascertain Everton’s previous contact with Silva.
It remains Watford’s belief that the pursuit of their erstwhile manager proved a catalyst in their ensuing battle for Premier League survival last term.
Should Everton be found guilty of ‘tapping up’ Silva, they risk incurring either a hefty fine or even be deducted points by the league as a form of punishment.