Everton are hopeful of landing Ronald Koeman as Roberto Martinez’s preferred replacement.
Martinez’s three-year tenure came to an end yesterday as the Blues attempted to arrest an on-field decline that has hung over Goodison Park for the past two seasons.
And Southampton manager Koeman, with a year remaining on his current deal, has been identified as the man to succeed Martinez.
Koeman’s success at St Mary’s over the past two seasons, with the South Coast club in contention to finish in a Europa League qualification place this term, has led Everton’s new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri to earmark him as the club’s ideal candidate.
Contact has yet to be made with either Koeman, 53, or Southampton but Moshiri hopes that a bumper £100 million transfer budget, coupled with a burgeoning crop of players will be enough to entice the Barcelona icon to Merseyside.
But Frank de Boer, who shares the same agent as Koeman, has also expressed an interest in taking the reins at Everton.
The 45-year-old stood down from his post at Ajax, just hours before Martinez’s sacking was confirmed and has made no secret of his desire to coach in the Premier League.
Both Liverpool and Tottenham previously met with him and Ronald de Boer confirmed his brother’s interest in becoming Everton manager.
He said: “Frank is interested in the Everton job.
“But it’s not up to him to make the move – that’s up to the club. In my eyes he’s the right man for that job.
‘He thought he was going to fulfill his ambition of managing in the Premier League but talks with Tottenham collapsed at the last minute.”
Everton, meanwhile, have confirmed that Joe Royle and David Unsworth will take temporary charge for Sunday’s final Premier League game against Norwich City.
Royle was the last manager to deliver silverware to Goodison Park during his time in charge, winning the FA Cup in 1995, and is now involved in scouting and recruitment at the club’s youth academy.
Unsworth, a member of Royle’s cup-winning side, also returned to his former club to oversee Everton’s under-21s.