Everton are ready to offer top managerial target Ronald Koeman a staggering annual salary of £6 million in an attempt to persuade the Dutchman to leave Southampton.
The 53-year-old reportedly heads the Blues’ list to replace Roberto Martinez after guiding the upwardly mobile Saints to an impressive fifth-place finish in this season’s Premier League.
And although the Barcelona legend has as yet showed no signs of being ready to make the switch to Merseyside, the Daily Mirror writes that ambitious new Blues backer Farhad Moshiri is prepared to more than double the former Netherlands international’s £2.5 million-per-year deal in a last-ditch effort to convince Koeman that Everton represent something other than a sideways step.
Koeman, who has a year left on his current deal with the south coast club, has also attracted interest from Arsenal and former club Barca.
Fellow Dutchman Frank de Boer, ex-City boss Manuel Pellegrini, Europa League winner Unai Emery and former Everton manager David Moyes have all been linked with the vacant role in recent weeks.