:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65921382/1192658716.jpg.0.jpg)
Carlo Ancelotti is closing in on the Everton job, with multiple sources now reporting that the former Chelsea boss will be appointed by Thursday or Friday this week.
Interestingly, it has also been claimed that a meeting with Alisher Usmanov was instrumental in persuading Ancelotti to make the move to Goodison Park.
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to be confirmed as Everton’s new permanent manager later this week.
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 17, 2019
It was reported late on Monday that the 60-year-old was on Merseyside for talks, though this was quickly dismissed given Farhad Moshiri and Bill Kenwright are based in London.
Several sources were insistent that discussions were still talking place however, with Italian journalist Nicolo Schira claiming a two-and-a-half year deal had been agreed worth around €4.5M (£3.75M) a year.
Everton then released a curious statement insisting that no contract had been offered to any prospective manager and that no candidate had “withdrawn from the process”, a not so subtle response to Sky Sports News’ earlier reports as well as Vitor Pereira’s public withdrawal from the race last week.
Carlo Ancelotti | Usmanov ‘decisive meeting’ as Everton reach manager agreement – Pushed to front of business. https://t.co/km9ryG6RDx #efc #coyb
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) December 17, 2019
Done deal! Carlo #Ancelotti is completing his staff for #Everton. There’ll be his son Davide as an assistent. Francesco Mauri and Manuel Morabito will be the athletic trainers. Simone Montanaro the match analyst, Luca Guerra (GPS) and Beniamino Fulco (supervisor). #transfers #EFC
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) December 17, 2019
That has not stopped the rumours though, and Sky Sports reported early on Tuesday that a deal had been agreed and was set to be confirmed by the end of the week.
Schira also stated that Ancelotti’s son Davide would join him as assistant, Francesco Mauri and Manuel Morabito will be coaches, Simone Montanaro and Luca Guerra analysts, and Beniamino Fulco as sports scientist. It has previously been rumoured that current caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson would remain on the coaching staff.
Ancelotti now in London. He wanted to be away from football till summer, but the #Everton project (4 year deal, one of top 3 paid managers in world) ambitious and long term. He’d ONLY accept if he could build a good team in the next few years. He doesn’t want to drag the decision
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) December 17, 2019
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, previously skeptical of the Ancelotti deal, now claims the deal is on, but the contract is in fact for four years and would make the Italian one of the most highly-paid managers in the world.
There was also an intriguing report by Gazzetta dello Sport via Sport Witness, claiming that a ‘decisive meeting’ took place in London with Usmanov.
The Uzbek-born Russian business magnate has long been linked with an investment in the Toffees, though his involvement is currently limited to sponsorship deals involving his company USM.
But news of this meeting does raise suggestions that Usmanov is either a) involved more than we know or b) is planning on increasing his day-to-day involvement in the club.