Everton want Carlo Ancelotti to replace Ronald Koeman as manager… but Italian wants Swansea boss Paul Clement as his No 2
Former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss wants his trusted assistant if he is to take on Goodison Park job
EVERTON want Carlo Ancelotti to come back to the Premier League and be their new boss.
And in a shock twist Ancelotti is keen to have his old sidekick Paul Clement - manager of Swansea City - as his right hand man.
The Italian coach is seen as the man to replace Ronald Koeman, who was sacked after a 5-2 thrashing at Arsenal, with his ability and personality ideal to turn round the Toffees who are stuck in the bottom three.
Ancelotti's name was the one being discussed by Everton's heirarchy BEFORE Koeman was officially sacked less than 24 hours after a horrible home defeat by Arsenal.
Everton owner Farhan Moshiri is still ambitious and Ancelotti has the kind of name and background that he fancies.
He has been in charge at AC Milan, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain and was most recently at Bayern Munich until he was axed.
DREAM TEAM: Ancelotti and Clement
Chelsea (2009-11) Premier League, FA Cup
Paris Saint-Germain (2012-12) Ligue 1
Real Madrid (2013-15) Copa del Rey, Club World Cup, Champions League
Bayern Munich (2016) N/A
Ancelotti, who was sacked by Chelsea at Goodison Park after a defeat there in 2011, has said he is taking time off but he may answer the call, especially if former clubs Bayern, Chelsea and PSG come along.
Clement has struck out as a No 1 in his own right after working so long with Ancelotti, but so far that has been with mixed success.
RON GONE Ronald Koeman SACKED as Everton boss after their disastrous start to the 2017-18 season
Latest Odds
- Sean Dyche 1/3
- David Unsworth 5/1
- Sam Allardyce 6/1
- David Moyes 8/1
- Roberto Mancini 10/1
- Marco Silva 12/1
- Eddie Howe 13/1
- Carlo Ancelotti 14/1
- Brendan Rodgers 20/1
Swansea are also in trouble at the wrong end and it might be a good time for this split to happen, with the Welsh club anxious about their own position.
Clement would come with a compensation package due to Swansea, but that is a small sum for a management team when Ancelotti is a free agent.
Other names in the frame include Burnley's Sean Dyche and in-demand Marco Silva at Watford.
However the Portuguese coach has told friends he will not move just now.
Former Everton boss David Moyes has also been touted for a return, but he was teed up and then overlooked when Koeman was named. And old ally Bill Kenwright is not as central to the decision-making as before.
Ancelotti has been in London in recent weeks.
He was spotted at Stamford Bridge for the Champions League game against former club Roma on Wednesday.
The 58-year-old was also at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to watch Spurs thrash Liverpool 4-1.
Then on Monday, Ancelotti was spotted with former AC Milan team-mate Ruud Gullit.
The pair were at The May Fair Hotel to speak at the Fifa Legends Think Tank Meeting.