Everton have held talks with Manuel Pellegrini as their search for Roberto Martinez’s successor continues.
Pellegrini is understood to have met with new Blues majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri and is among a series of high-profile candidates in contention for the Goodison Park hot seat.
The former Manchester City manager, 62, has made no secret of his desire to remain in the Premier League after making way for Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium this summer.
But Everton have also targeted other big-name coaches, with Ronald Koeman still high on the list of potential successors to Martinez as he deliberates over whether to commit his future to Southampton beyond the final year of his current deal.
Koeman’s compatriot Frank de Boer, who recently left Ajax, has opened himself to potentially managing Everton while Unai Emery, who guided Sevilla to a third successive Europa League crown earlier this week, remains open to the prospect of working in England after being interviewed by West Ham last summer.