David Moyes has reportedly emerged as the top target to replace Sean Dyche as Everton manager.
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 has come 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.
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Moyes in talks with Everton owners over emotional return
According to The Athletic, Everton have now identified former manager Moyes as their top target to succeed Dyche.
A separate report from Sky Sports News claims that the 61-year-old has already held discussions with Everton's owners and could make a return to the club as early as this weekend.
It is understood that the Friedkin Group hope to announce the appointment of a new manager before 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.
Moyes, who left West Ham United at the end of last season, was in charge of Everton between 2002 and 2013 and won 42% of his 518 games at the helm.
The Scotsman, who guided the Toffees 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.
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Would Moyes be open to Everton return?
Speaking to Sky Sports News in December about his future in management, Moyes said: "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."
Three-time Premier League winner Jose Mourinho, currently in charge of Fenerbahce, has also been linked with the Everton vacancy, but it is understood that the Portuguese boss is yet to be contacted by the Merseysiders.
The likes of Lee Carsley, Sir Gareth Southgate, Michael Carrick, Steve Cooper and Gary O'Neil have also been listed by the bookmakers as potential candidates for the Everton vacancy since the dismissal of Dyche.
Oliver Thomas
