Everton are reportedly set to re-appoint David Moyes as the club's manager following the dismissal of Sean Dyche.
Dyche was relieved of his duties on Thursday afternoon, just hours before the Toffees' FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough United, with Under-18s head coach Leighton Baines and club captain Seamus Coleman placed in interim charge.
Baines revealed before kickoff that Dyche had selected the starting lineup for the Merseysiders, who secured a much-needed 2-0 victory at Goodison Park courtesy of goals from Beto and Iliman Ndiaye.
Dyche's exit was confirmed less than a month after the Friedkin Group completed their much-anticipated takeover of Everton, bringing an end to the reign of former owner Farhard Moshiri.
The 53-year-old successfully kept the Toffees in the Premier League for back-to-back seasons, overcoming two lots of points deductions last term before finishing 14 points above the drop zone.
However, he ultimately paid the price for Everton's run of just one victory in their last 11 Premier League matches, leaving them 16th in the table and just one point above the relegation zone.
© Imago
Moyes set to sign two-year Everton contract ahead of imminent return
According to Sky Sports News, Moyes is meeting with Everton officials today (Friday) to agree a deal to return to Goodison Park, 12 years on from his first spell at the club.
It is claimed that the 61-year-old is set to sign a contract running at least two years and the Friedkin Group hope to announce the appointment before this weekend, ahead of next Wednesday's Premier League match at home against Aston Villa.
The Friedkin Group - also owners of Italian side Roma - have recent history with nostalgic appointments, as they named club legend Danielle De Rossi as head coach of the Serie A giants in January last year, but his tenure lasted just eight months as he was sacked in September.
In December, Moyes suggested that he was not looking to return to management at a club who were fighting to avoid relegation, telling Sky Sports: "I don't want to be taking jobs where I have to scrap all the time and be round the bottom of the league.
"Most of the time I was at Everton, we were competing for European positions. The last four years at West Ham, three of them have been in Europe.
"I like to think I can do a job at a level rather than just avoiding relegation. I will wait on the right opportunity and if it doesn't come, I'll be happy where I am at the moment."
© Imago
Moyes set for emotional Everton return
Although Everton find themselves in danger of the drop this season, a return to Goodison Park seems too good to turn down for Moyes, who was was in charge of the Toffees between 2002 and 2013 and won 42% of his 518 games at the helm.
The Scotsman, who guided Everton to the qualifying rounds of the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup final in 2009, ended his 11-year association with the club to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, where he was sacked after just 10 months.
Moyes was most recently in charge of West Ham United, who won the Europa Conference League under his tutelage in 2023, but he left the club at the end of last season upon the expiration of his contract.
Following the dismissal of Dyche, three-time Premier League winner Jose Mourinho, currently in charge of Fenerbahce, was linked with the Everton vacancy, but it is understood that the Portuguese boss has not been contacted by the Merseysiders.
The likes of Lee Carsley, Sir Gareth Southgate, Michael Carrick, Steve Cooper and Gary O'Neil were also listed by the bookmakers as potential candidates for the Everton vacancy, but Moyes has now emerged as the clear frontrunner to replace Dyche.
Oliver Thomas
