EVERTON have approached David Moyes to be their new manager as they prepare to sack Marco Silva.
The club tumbled into the bottom three of the Premier League after their 5-2 drubbing in the Merseyside derby last night, leaving Silva facing the chop as he arrived at Finch Farm this morning.
The club have sounded out Moyes over returning as boss, who has made it clear he would be up for the challenge of reviving the fortunes of the Toffees.
Now it is a case of the Everton board deciding when the time is right to dispense with Silva, who has lost his way on the back of three straight league defeats.
Moyes has been preparing things behind the scenes to start work immediately should the call finally come.
But they will only be able to persuade him to return to Goodison Park if they are prepared to offer him a deal beyond the end of the season.
Everton owner Farhad Moshiri is in two minds whether the best approach would be to bring in a boss on a short-term deal until the end of the season just to ensure the club is not relegated.
But Moyes, 56, believes he can only come into the role and make a difference if he is given the backing to embark on a long-term project to improve the squad.
Having had his fingers burned by agreeing to a stop-gap deal at West Ham where he was axed despite saving the club from the drop the Scot wants more assurances over his future.
And with the Hammers also showing interest in re-appointing him if results under Manuel Pellegrini do not improve soon, Everton could find their hand forced if they want to get their man.
Everton face Chelsea this weekend before games against Manchester United and Arsenal and the club are desperate to avoid being in the bottom three at Christmas.
