Vitor Pereira is on the verge of being offered the Everton manager’s position.
Pereira has been out of work since being sacked by Fenerbahce in December, little over five months into his time in charge of the Turkish Super Lig outfit.
But the Portuguese coach is now expected to be named as the Blues’ choice to succeed Rafael Benitez after talks with major shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
Moshiri is understood to have made Pereira, who was touted for the Goodison Park hot seat between 2013 and 2019, his first choice following discussions.
However the 53-year-old’s lack of Premier League experience and spell with 1860 Munich has emerged as a concern within sections of Everton’s hierarchy.
During that five-month spell, the German club won just six of their remaining 20 fixtures and were relegated from the Bundesliga’s second tier as a result.
Everton’s precarious Premier League status means that the 53-year-old could be appointed on a contract heavily dependent on them avoiding relegation.
Pereira’s arrival is unlikely to quell growing on-the-ground opposition from concerned supporters at the direction Moshiri is continuing to steer the club.
Several ventured to the Royal Liver Building, home to Everton’s official headquarters, on Tuesday evening as part of an ongoing protest movement.
It followed banners being hung outside Goodison calling on Moshiri to engage with the fan base and criticised the influence of super-agent Kia Joorabchian.
Several hundred supporters staged a sit-in protest at the stadium after last weekend’s defeat to Aston Villa – Everton’s 10th loss out of their last 14.