Sources: Everton in advanced talks to appoint Steve Hitchen as director of football
Everton are in advanced talks with Steve Hitchin over becoming the club's director of football, Football Insider understands.
This site revealed on 10 February that the Merseysiders had offered the job to the 45-year-old despite an "unimpressive" interview.
An Everton source has told Football Insider that a deal is now being thrashed out and Hitchen is close to reaching an agreement.
The club are looking to bring in a new man to head up their recruitment department following the departures of Marcel Brands, Gretar Steinsson and Dan Purdy in early December.
Hitchin left his role at Spurs earlier this month and is keen on taking up the role of director of football at Goodison Park.
The Merseysiders want a new executive in place as soon as possible so that they can start planning for the summer transfer window and provide support for the new set-up alongside manager Frank Lampard.
The Toffees have been looking for a new director of football since Brands' exit.
As revealed by Football Insider (1 December), the Dutchman was involved in a power struggle with former manager Rafael Benitez.
The board backed the Spaniard at the time but ended up sacking him as well in mid-January.
Now owner Farhad Moshiri has given the green light for Hitchen to take over the vacant post.
The 45-year-old had two spells at Tottenham before his departure this year.
He initially joined the club as a scout between 2005 and 2010, before taking on a senior role in 2017.
However, he found his duties diluted by the arrival of Fabio Paratici last summer.