David Moyes is the top target to succeed Sean Dyche as Everton manager.
Everton’s new owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), are keen for a swift appointment and have identified Moyes as their preferred option after relieving Dyche of his duties earlier on Thursday.
There is no agreement in place yet for the Scot to return to Goodison Park but talks between Moyes and TFG are ongoing.
Moyes, 61, has been out of work since departing West Ham United at the end of last season.
He spent more than 11 years at the club in his first spell, guiding them to the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup final in 2009. He was a three-time League Managers Association (LMA) manager of the year during his time at Everton before he left in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Former defender Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman were placed in charge on an interim basis and are set to take charge of the side for the FA Cup third-round tie with Peterborough United on Thursday night.
Dyche left the club earlier on Thursday with the club 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone, having been appointed in January 2023 to replace Frank Lampard. Everton finished 17th that season and Dyche guided them to 15th place last term.
Saturday’s defeat by Bournemouth, though, extended Everton’s winless run to five matches and meant they had failed to score in eight of their last 10 league games.
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Moyes’ exit from West Ham last year was the second time he had left the club. He was previously in charge for six months in the 2017-18 season before taking the job again the following year.
He guided West Ham to the Conference League title in 2022-23 during his second stint, defeating Fiorentina in the final to win the club’s first-ever piece of European silverware and their first major trophy for 43 years.
In the previous season, Moyes’ side had reached the semi-finals of the Europa League where they lost to eventual winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Last season, Moyes guided West Ham to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League and the Europa League quarter-finals.
He previously managed Preston North End, Sunderland and Real Sociedad.
(Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
