Everton in advanced talks with Nuno over replacing Ancelotti as manager

Everton will hold further talks with Nuno Espírito Santo this weekend that could conclude with the former Wolves manager being appointed as Carlo Ancelotti’s replacement.

Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s majority shareholder, and the director of football, Marcel Brands, have assessed several candidates following Ancelotti’s surprise return to Real Madrid 10 days ago and are believed to be close to an agreement with the Portuguese coach

Negotiations remain to be concluded on issues such as the size of Nuno’s coaching staff – part of the reason Crystal Palace withdrew their interest in the 47-year-old this week – but providing talks run smoothly Moshiri could appoint the former Valencia and Porto coach next week. The influence of Nuno’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is another potential complication for a club whose transfers are handled mainly by Brands.

Nuno’s availability having left Wolves at the end of last season made him an attractive proposition for Everton as soon as Ancelotti exited, and he was sounded out shortly afterwards. The former Everton manager David Moyes was another candidate who interested the club’s hierarchy but he has agreed a new three-year contract with West Ham.

Nuno returned to the top of Moshiri’s wish-list after the breakdown of his proposed move to Palace, and with Moyes committed to West Ham. He would be Everton’s sixth permanent manager in the past five years.