David Moyes is set to be appointed as Everton boss for the second time, with talks progressing towards a deal being concluded imminently.
The Scot was identified by the club’s new owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), as its primary target to succeed Sean Dyche after his exit on Thursday.
Negotiations between TFG and Moyes advanced rapidly and an announcement of his return to Goodison Park is expected in the next 24 hours.
Moyes is viewed by TFG as the ideal manager to secure Everton’s Premier League status, which is the immediate priority before moving stadium to a state-of-the-art arena at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The hierarchy also want the 61-year-old to lay the foundations for their longer-term ambitions, which will be reflected in his contract length.
The Athletic previously reported that Moyes was the Merseyside club’s top target to replace Dyche, who left the club after two years in charge.
Dyche’s departure was announced hours before Everton’s FA Cup third-round tie against Peterborough and came off the back of a run of five Premier League games without a win to leave the club one point above the relegation zone in 16th.
Moyes has been out of work since leaving West Ham United at the end of last season following the expiration of his contract.
Moyes will take the reins for his second spell at Goodison Park having taken charge of the club between 2002 to 2013.
He oversaw nine top-10 finishes during his first stint at the club, guiding them to the qualifying stages of the Champions League in 2005 and an FA Cup final appearance in 2009.
He left in 2013 to replace Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, where he spent 10 months at the helm before being sacked.
Last season, Moyes guided West Ham to the quarter-finals of the Europa League having previously ended the club’s 43-year wait for major silverware with victory in the Europa Conference League the year before.
GO DEEPER
David Moyes’ Everton exit signalled the end of stability – his return might be a necessity
(Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
