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UPDATE: 9pm BST
More drama. About an hour ago the Daily Mail were still saying that Ancelotti is not a done deal yet.
Everton and Carlo Ancelotti: it is not done, he is not on Merseyside. Talks would not take place in Liverpool, as board based in London.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 16, 2019
However... Ancelotti is due in London and face-to-face talks are planned with Farhad Moshiri.
Moshiri has previously held talks with Moyes
However, a little after that, Sky Sport (who are affiliated with Sky Bets, remember) reported that a deal has been done ‘in principle’.
BREAKING: Carlo Ancelotti has agreed a deal in principle to become the next Everton manager, Sky Sports News understands
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 16, 2019
So.. clear as mud, got it.
UPDATE: 6:15pm BST
Looks like we’re playing where’s Waldo today with Carlo Ancelotti. The usually reliable Alan Myers was just on Sky Sports telling us that the Italian manager is on Merseyside for talks with the Everton Board.
Meanwhile, a couple of other reliable football journalists are saying otherwise.
Ancelotti is in Rome right now...
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) December 16, 2019
Carlo Ancelotti is in Rome today, to my knowledge, and planning to go to Naples tomorrow and then off on his jollies to Vancouver on Thursday.... #efc
— Adam Crafton (@AdamCrafton_) December 16, 2019
Like we’ve said so many times before, it’s never cut and dried with Everton is it?
Carlo Ancelotti has arrived on Merseyside to hold talks with Everton over the vacant manager’s job at Goodison Park, according to Sky Sports.
The Italian has emerged as the frontrunner for the job following his sacking as Napoli boss last week, with Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright now making him their number one target.
An earlier report on the Sky Sports website - since deleted - claimed the Ancelotti was interested in the Everton job.
Sky Sports also report that Duncan Ferguson will remain on the coaching staff should Ancelotti be appointed.
It has already been confirmed that Ferguson will remain in charge for the Carabao Cup tie against Leicester on Wednesday.
If talks progress swiftly then Ancelotti could be in the stands for the Leicester game before taking charge for the clash with Arsenal - another side he has been linked with - at Goodison Park on Saturday.
If Everton do seal the deal then they would be appointing one of the most illustrious managers in the game.
He is one of only three managers to win three European Cups/Champions Leagues, winning the trophy twice with AC Milan and one with Real Madrid. He has also league titles with Milan, Chelsea, Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich.
The 60-year-old won the double in his first season in charge at Chelsea in 2009-10 but was sacked in the corridors of Goodison Park on the final day of the following season after a failure to secure a major trophy that campaign.
Meanwhile, a rousing cup victory and place in a semi-final would be the ideal way for Ferguson to sign off, and Everton will be encouraged by the news that he is set to remain part of the coaching team. He remains a key link between the fans and the management team while the players are clearly responding to his methods.
Watch this space.