Everton are reportedly in the process of drawing up a list of candidates to replace Roberto Martinez.
Martinez could well face the axe at the end of this season amid growing fan discontent at the Blues perceived underachievement on the pitch this campaign and reports suggest that Goodison Park officials have already started the search for his successor.
According to the Daily Star, a number of high-profile candidates have been drawn up on the shortlist by new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
Among them are said to be the outgoing Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, Ajax coach Frank de Boer and Southampton manager Ronald Koeman.
Pellegrini will be replaced as City manager by Pep Guardiola at the end of the season and is reputedly interested in staying in the Premier League, while Koeman has enhanced his burgeoning reputation following a profitable spell on the South coast as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor.
Former Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa, AFC Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe and Manchester United target Jose Mourinho have also been linked with a move to Merseyside in recent days, although it is understood that former boss David Moyes – the current bookies favourite for the job – is not being considered at this moment in time.