Everton are, according to Sky Sports, set to offer the managerial vacancy to Vitor Pereira and hope to have the Portuguese installed as new boss in time for the Manchester United game this weekend.
He is set to be handed a three-year deal and take over from his compatriot Marco Silva.
It would mean the end of rumours suggesting Everton could appoint Unai Emery as their new boss. The recently sacked ex-Arsenal manager was, according to The Telegraph, was contacted about the job and Sky’s Spanish football expert Guillem Balague suggested he was interested in the job.
But it seems Pereira is the man Everton want and that might disappoint one Everton player, according to a report in the boot room.
Alex Iwobi may have been sold by Arsenal under Emery’s watch, but the pair had a great working relationship before his reported £35m switch.
The Nigeria international has arguably his best season in an Arsenal shirt last term and Emery was key, as the player himself explained to The Guardian last season:
“ The manager has just given me the confidence to express myself and to believe in my ability, which I have been trying to show. In training, too, he is always letting me try new things – be positive, be direct and prove it in the games. It is working for me so I just have to keep it going.
“Do I feel like a better player than a year ago? I’d just say I am more confident. I feel that even if I make a mistake, I am able to go again. I think that is the difference between me last year and this year.”
Emery himself was clearly a fan of Iwobi. After the winger had agreed on his Goodison Park switch, the Spaniard penned an open letter thanking him for his hard work with the Gunners.
“Alex has made a big contribution here at Arsenal.
“He worked hard in the academy where he was an example to many young players and has been an important part of our squad.”
“Unfortunately for Iwobi, however, it does not appear that he will get the chance to work with his old Arsenal boss given the latest developments regarding Everton’s manager hunt.
Which is a shame, as Emery might have been able to unleash the best version of the 23-year-old.
