Sam Allardyce is the leading contender for the Everton manager’s job.
The Premier League club’s search for a new boss has taken on fresh urgency after Sunday’s 4-1 loss at Southampton.
Allardyce, 63, was an early candidate to succeed Ronald Koeman, who was sacked on 23 October, but withdrew after Everton delayed making an offer.
The Toffees, whose pursuit of Watford manager Marco Silva has reached a dead end, have lost five of the seven games they have played since Koeman left.
Allardyce has been out of football since leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.
He saved Palace from relegation, having left the England job in September 2016 after just one match in charge.
Dutchman Koeman was sacked by Everton after the club slipped to 18th in the Premier League following a 5-2 home defeat by Arsenal.
David Unsworth – the club’s under-23s manager, who had two spells at Goodison Park as a defender – has been in caretaker charge.
He has lifted Everton to 16th, collecting four points from his four league matches.
The need for major shareholder Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright to appoint a manager has become more desperate after a 5-1 home defeat by Atalanta in the Europa League on Thursday and Sunday’s thrashing at St Mary’s.
Everton spent more than £140m in the summer but failed to replace top scorer Romelu Lukaku after his move to Manchester United.
They are two points above the relegation places and third-from-bottom West Ham United, who they face at Goodison Park on Wednesday.
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