Exclusive: France-based 49-yr-old is new leading Everton manager contender
Bordeaux manager Paulo Sousa has emerged as a leading contender to become the new Everton manager, Football Insider has learned.
The Portugese, 49, has three more years remaining on his deal at the French club, where he took over eight months and has transformed their fortunes.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that Sousa now figures prominently on an increasingly long shortlist of the club hierarchy.
The club hierarchy are also considering ex-boss David Moyes, Shanghai SIPG manager Vitor Pereira and Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti as well as Getafe’s Jose Bordalas.
Moyes’ return is being championed by longstanding chairman Bill Kenwright, but owner Farhad Moshiri has his doubts about the Scot’s capabilities to mould an attractive and successful side.
The Merseysiders are in the market for a new manager after they sacked Marco Silva last night following a wretched start to the season.
Everton are looking to make a swift appointment rather than leave the team in the hands of caretaker Duncan Ferguson for a lengthy period, as they did with Under-23s manager David Unsworth two years ago following Ronald Koeman’s sacking.
Sousa is on their radar as a serious candidate after making a big impact in France following managerial spells in China, Italy, Switzerland, Israel and Hungary.
He also began his managerial career in England at QPR and has also managed Swansea City and Leicester City.
Sousa has steered Bordeaux to third in Ligue 1 this season after taking over in March before the last campaign ended with them 14th in the league.
That was the French club’s worst finish in 14 years and came at the end of a season in which Guy Poyet and, then, Ricardo Gomes were sacked.
In other Everton news, it can be REVEALED how senior players were left sniggering behind the back of senior club official.