Everton are closing in on a deal to make Carlo Ancelotti their next manager.
Ancelotti emerged as the Goodison Park hierarchy’s preferred target to succeed Marco Silva following Vitor Pereira’s withdrawal from the running last Tuesday.
He has become an increasingly in-demand figure in the days since his sacking by Napoli despite guiding them into the Champions League’s last 16 stage.
Farhad Moshiri has led the search for Silva’s replacement and is understood to be planning to hold talks additional with Ancelotti’s representatives on Tuesday.
Contrary to reports, Ancelotti did not travel to Merseyside on Monday and is currently preparing to spend Christmas in Vancouver, where his wife hails from.
But the Blues are hoping to beat their rivals to the punch by acting swiftly to appoint the Italian, 60, before next month’s FA Cup third round clash with Liverpool.
However Goodison chiefs have dismissed suggestions of striking formal agreements despite confirming talks with ‘a number of candidates’.
“We can confirm that thus far no contract offer has been made and no candidate has chosen to withdraw from the process,” read a club statement.
While the club is keen to confirm a new permanent manager as soon as possible, the only important duty is that the right appointment is made.”
Caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson will continue to take charge of first-team matters for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with Leicester City.
Ferguson has taken four points from his first two matches in the Everton hot seat, a 3-1 win over Chelsea and a 1-1 draw with Manchester United.