Sam Allardyce will leave Everton this week with Marco Silva targeted as his successor.
Showdown talks are set to take place between the unpopular Blues manager and the club’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri in the coming days.
Allardyce has one year remaining on his current Goodison Park deal but is destined for a premature departure after just six months at the helm.
Silva is set to become the one-time England boss’s successor and was Moshiri’s intended target after parting with Ronald Koeman in October.
Watford cited Everton’s interest in their decision to part with the Portuguese coach in January, claiming an “unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival”.
An ongoing stand-off between the Hertfordshire club and Silva could complicate hopes of him being installed as manager at Goodison early.
Beyond the managerial situation, Everton will also discuss Wayne Rooney’s future as he weighs up a £12 million move to MLS outfit DC United.