David Moyes Everton’s top target to replace Sean Dyche as manager

As reported by David Ornstein of The Athletic, David Moyes has emerged as The Friedkin Group’s top target to replace Sean Dyche as Everton manager.

Everton’s owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), who took over the Merseyside outfit just last month, are reportedly keen to quickly replace Dyche having relieved him of his duties on Thursday afternoon, only three hours prior to their home FA Cup tie with Peterborough.

Talks are ongoing between Moyes and TFG, although no agreement is currently in place for the 61-year-old to return to The Toffees.

Moyes spent over 11 years at Everton from 2002 before leaving to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, providing stability to The Blues with consistent top-half finishes, whilst reaching the 2005 Champions League qualifying rounds 2009 FA Cup Final. He also earned the League Managers Association (LMA) manager of the year award three times in the 2002/03, 2004/05, and 2008/09 Premier League seasons respectively.

Having left Everton in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, Moyes lasted just one season at Old Trafford, before moving onto stints with La Liga’s Real Sociedad, Sunderland, and two spells at West Ham United in the 2017-18 campaign, and again in 2019.

The Scot has remained without a club since departing The Hammers at the end of last season, following a ninth place league finish and a run to the Europa League quarter-finals. In the prior campaign, Moyes led West Ham their first ever European trophy, defeating Italian side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

Whilst negotiations take place with Moyes and TFG, former Everton defender Leighton Baines and current club captain Seamus Coleman will take charge at Goodison Park on an interim basis.

After tonight’s fixture against Peterborough, Everton will return to league action as they host Aston Villa on Wednesday 15th January, as they look to break their five-game winless run and increase their one-point gap from the relegation zone in 16th place.

Travis Levison | Get Football