Everton have sacked manager Sean Dyche ahead of their FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at who could be in line to take over at Goodison Park as new Everton owners The Friedkin Group look for a change of direction.
Jose Mourinho
With Graham Potter having taken over at West Ham, former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho is the early favourite to succeed Dyche.
Currently in charge of Fenerbahce, Mourinho has made no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League.
Following a draw against former club United in the Europa League earlier this season during October, the Portuguese coach said: “The best thing I have to do is when I leave Fener is that I go to a club that doesn’t play in UEFA competition – so a club at the bottom in England who needs a coach in two years, I’m ready to go.”
One fly in the ointment, though, could be that TFG owner Dan Friedkin has already sacked Mourinho once in his role as owner and president of Roma.
David Moyes
West Ham United can confirm David Moyes will leave the Club by mutual consent at the end of the 2023/24 season, when his contract expires.
— West Ham United (@WestHam) May 6, 2024
Experienced Scottish coach Moyes is looking for a return to management after the curtain came down on his second spell as West Ham boss at the end of last season.
Moyes led the Irons to Europa Conference League glory in 2022-23 and has vast experience at the top level – including a successful spell with Everton from 2002 to 2013 before leaving to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
Having departed Old Trafford after less than a year in charge during April 2014, former Preston boss Moyes looked to rebuild his stock with a stint at Real Sociedad before taking over from Sam Allardyce at Sunderland in July 2016, but could not keep them up and left following a first relegation of his career.
Thomas Frank
❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/AFIAdjkZA8
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) January 5, 2025
Brentford boss Frank has impressed since guiding them into the Premier League after winning the 2021 Championship play-off final – taking the west London club back into the top flight for the first time since 1947 and then staying there.
The Danish coach has organised a well-drilled team which continues to punch above their collective weight, even after the sale of star frontman Ivan Toney.
Whether Frank, though, would be tempted swap the relative stability of the Gtech Community Stadium for the current uncertainty on the blue half of Merseyside remains up for debate.
Leighton Baines
“I think that's what's pleasing; when you see individuals getting closer to being ready to take the next step and keep moving and progressing forward. Because, ultimately, that is what we're here for."
Leighton Baines discusses balancing results and development with #EFCU18. 🔵
— Everton Academy (@EvertonAcademy) December 31, 2024
Everton under-18s head coach Leighton Baines has been put in charge of first-team affairs on an interim basis, alongside club captain Seamus Coleman.
The 40-year-old former England defender certainly knows the Toffees inside out, having made more than 300 first-team appearances between 2007 and 2020.
While Baines would certainly represent a safe pair of hands, until the end of the season at least, he might not be the stellar name TFG have in mind for the long term.
