Sources: Benitez and Brands in line for Everton sack after major development
Everton could sack Rafael Benitez or Marcel Brands by the end of the week in what would be a sensational development, Football Insider can exclusively reveal.
The futures of the two most senior football figures could depend on the outcome of tonight's Merseyside derby (2 December) at Goodison Park.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that there is a power struggle behind the scenes of the club that has intensified during the team's recent woeful run.
It could end with either the manager or the director of football being dismissed within just days.
Benitez, 61, is his own man and wants to take further control of the club's recruitment going into the January window.
Brands, 59, believes he has the mandate to oversee transfers after signing a new three-year contract in April.
The Everton board could make their decision depending on how the crowd reacts to tonight's potentially explosive derby.
Club chiefs are well aware how the crowd started to turn against the team during last Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Brentford, with “Agent Rafa” and “BenítezOut” trending afterwards.
Should the atmosphere take a further poisonous turn at Goodison tonight, owner Farhad Moshiri and his board could spring into action.
It is not just Benitez under threat, but also Brands, who was appointed in June 2018 and has overseen some woeful signings during that time.
The former Liverpool manager was able to spend just £1.7m in his first transfer window as Everton navigated Premier League profit and sustainability rules.