Next Everton manager: Ex-Man Utd boss now ruled out of running as 'talks begin' after Sean Dyche sacked

Everton are on the hunt for their next manager as they look to complete a swift recruitment process following the sacking of Sean Dyche on Thursday. The Toffees confirmed the decision just hours before a 2-0 win over Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup.

The Toffees have just five days until their next game as they travel to Aston Villa on Wednesday night. They then face Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester City and Crystal Palace before Manchester United visit Goodison Park on February 22. The Red Devils beat Everton 4-0 when the sides met at Old Trafford on December 1, with Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee both scoring twice in a comfortable 4-0 win.

Former United managers Jose Mourinho and David Moyes were tipped as the early contenders to replace Dyche. Everton were recently taken over by the The Friedkin Group with the new owners opting to go in a different direction with the Toffees 16th in the Premier League and just one point above the bottom three, although they do have a game in hand on the sides around them.

Mourinho not in running

Despite Mourinho’s early links to the role, he is reportedly not in contention. The ex-Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss has worked with The Friedkin Group previously, with the consortium the owners of Serie A side Roma. Back in October, the ex-United boss, who is currently in charge of Turkish club Fenerbahçe, said he was ready to return to England amid a rant about officiating in European competitions. He 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. I don’t want to speak anymore about it. I want to speak about the game."

Although the ex-Real Madrid and Inter Milan man has stated a desire to return to the Premier League, it will not be with Everton. The Athletic’s David Ornstein posted on X, via Liverpool World: “Jose Mourinho not in contention to take over as next Everton manager following departure of Sean Dyche today. Never a consideration for either 61yo Portuguese coach or new #EFC owners The Friedkin Group - having worked together at AS Roma.”

Moyes in talks

Moyes is the leading contender to take over at Goodison Park as he could make a return to the club almost 12 years after leaving. The ex-West Ham United boss left Merseyside for Old Trafford in the summer of 2013 as he was named as Sir Alex Ferguson’s successor. BBC Sport reports that Moyes is not the only man under consideration but he is front-runner. The potential stumbling block to a deal with Moyes is the length of his contract with talks taking place on Friday.

Addressing a potential return to management, Moyes said just last month: "I don't consider myself done yet, but I am certainly enjoying some time off. "The one thing I won't do is put any manager under pressure personally, because I don't believe in it. I have not liked it when I have been in that position myself. We are all getting a little bit older and I have to make sure I am doing the right thing for myself.

"Football is in my blood. It has been since I was a boy. I love watching football and I have enjoyed my career. If there is another part to it, so be it. But I would only want it to be a good part. I wouldn't want to be coming in and doing something which is very difficult. I don't want to be at the bottom of the league and fighting relegation, which I have had a few times, so we will see how things go."