Everton eye Koeman after Martinez departure: De Boer and Pellegrini under consideration

EVERTON want Ronald Koeman to succeed Roberto Martinez and will try to convince him to quit Southampton with the promise of the biggest transfer kitty in the club's history.

Posted Friday, May 13, 2016 by Express.co.uk

Everton eye Koeman after Martinez departure: De Boer and Pellegrini under consideration
Ronald Koeman took over the Southampton role when Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham

Goodison Park officials are aware they face a battle to prise Koeman away from St Mary's, but he could be handed as much as £100m to spend this summer depending on the departure of players.

Another Dutchman, Frank de Boer, pushed his credentials again to fill the vacancy after leaving Ajax today. They are represented by the same agent, Guido Albers.

Koeman has won admirers after leading Southampton to the brink of a place in Europe next season and would have to be sure his ambitions can be realised on Merseyside.

The search for Everton's next manager will be led by new major shareholder Farhad Moshiri after Martinez was sacked following a downturn in results that have condemned the club to a second successive season in the bottom half of the Premier League.

Joe Royle and David Unsworth are set to take charge for Everton's final home game of the season against Norwich on Sunday.

Martinez had three years left to run on a lucrative contract handed to him in reward for his first season in charge in 2013-14 when he guided Everton to their highest-ever Premier League point's tally. He will receive a compensation package.

However, the momentum from that campaign has stalled and Moshiri, and chairman Bill Kenwright, reluctantly dismissed him yesterday in the wake of Wednesday's insipid 3-0 defeat to Sunderland.

"The Chairman and the Board of Directors would like to place on record their thanks for the dedication and commitment Roberto has shown during his three seasons with the Club," said a statement. "Roberto has been a great ambassador for the Club, conducting himself, at all times, with the utmost integrity and dignity."

Everton had been hoping to reach the end of the season without making a change, but supporter unrest has intensified in recent weeks while performance levels have dipped.

After announcing Martinez's dismissal, Everton postponed their annual awards evening which had been scheduled to take place at St George's Hall in Liverpool tonight. The onus now falls on Moshiri, who bought a 49.9 per cent stake in Everton in February, to usher in a new dawn and try to deliver Koeman.

The likes of Manuel Pellegrini, who will leave Manchester City after Sunday, Stoke's Mark Hughes, Quique Flores of Watford and Sevilla's Unai Emery will come under focus in a thorough process.

Meanwhile, De Boer, who won four league titles in six seasons at Ajax, has said a year out of management could be an option for him.

But twin brother Ronald said : "Frank is interested in the Everton job, but it's not up to him to make the move. That's up to the club. In my eyes he's the right man for that job.

"He thought he was going to fulfil his ambition of managing in the Premier League, but talks with Tottenham collapsed at the last minute.

"When you see what [Ronald] Koeman has done at Southampton I would argue that Frank is at least as good as him when you see what he has achieved at Ajax.

"Everton would be a good fit for Frank. It's the sort of club where he'd be given the chance to show his qualities and do something special.

"He made up his mind to leave Ajax two months ago because he needed a change."