Everton closing in on Leicester assistant Walsh

Everton are set to appoint Leicester’s Steve Walsh as the club’s new director of football, despite an initial approach reportedly being rejected.

Sky Sports News HQ is reporting that Leicester have rejected Everton’s request to talk to Walsh and remain desperate to keep him at the King Power Stadium.

However, the Leicester Mercury reports that Walsh is keen to move to Everton as it would both mean a promotion and allow him to move closer to his family.

New Everton majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is keen to implement a continental coaching structure at Goodison Park that includes a director of football working above the manager Ronald Koeman.

After failing in a bid to lure Monchi from Sevilla, Everton have now turned their attentions to Walsh.

Walsh is widely credited with bringing Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante to Leicester and with it the cornerstones of their dramatic title win last season.

With Walsh seemingly keen to move to Goodison Park the main issue will now be compensation, with Walsh just six weeks into a new two-year contract.

That is unlikely to deter Everton though given Moshiri’s considerable financial backing, meaning Walsh could arrive at Goodison Park by the end of the week.