Everton

Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has accepted a Football Association charge of improper conduct and a fine of £8,000, but he will not be banned for the team's upcoming clash with former club Chelsea in the Premier League.

Ancelotti was issued with a red card at the end of Everton's previous clash with Manchester United as he remonstrated with referee Chris Kavanagh. The Toffees had a goal controversially ruled out after a VAR review, meaning the match finished 1-1.

Per Adam Jones of the Liverpool Echo, Ancelotti decided against appealing the improper conduct charge he was hit with following the dismissal, and that means he will be on the sidelines for his return to Chelsea.

Everton relayed the FA's statement on the incident on their own Twitter account:

📝 | The FA's statement on Carlo Ancelotti. #EFC pic.twitter.com/hyWtQLxate

— Everton (@Everton) March 5, 2020

Sky Sports Premier League shared the moment Ancelotti was sent off at the end of a feisty encounter at Goodison Park: 

Ancelotti sees red! 😡

The Everton boss was given his marching orders at full-time following his reaction to the VAR controversy! 😳 pic.twitter.com/jrKi834GKP

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 1, 2020

The Italian coach was clearly unhappy with the decision to rule out what would have been a dramatic late winner for Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

The VAR review deemed that the striker's deflected shot shouldn't have counted because of the fact Gylfi Sigurdsson was in an offside position. The midfielder had seen his shot saved by David De Gea and was felled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka after getting his effort off, and he remained on the floor when Calvert-Lewin struck. It was enough to prompt an impassioned reaction from the usually composed coach. 

Ancelotti has enjoyed a strong start to life at Everton, helping push the team out of a relegation battle into a fight for a European position. 

Under his guidance, the Toffees have moved up to 11th in the Premier League table, and they are just five points behind United in fifth.

Sean Lunt of Sport Witness shared some figures that illustrate the positive impact Ancelotti has had in his short spell at Goodison Park: 

Impressive stats under Ancelotti these. Interesting the number of headed chances and set piece goals. pic.twitter.com/bhADaKzuVv

— Sean Lunt (@Sean_Lunt) March 5, 2020

It was deemed a major coup for Everton to secure the Italian, who has previously managed the likes of Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.

Ancelotti also enjoyed a prosperous couple of seasons at Chelsea, and it's anticipated he will get a fine reception at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. In his first season with the Blues, the coach steered the team to their first-ever double success, sampling glory in the Premier League and FA Cup.

Chelsea, who are managed by Ancelotti's former player Frank Lampard, go into Sunday's match on the back of an excellent 2-0 win over Liverpool in the FA Cup on Tuesday and with an eight-point advantage over Everton.

Carlo Ancelotti was linked with the Arsenal job back in December, but the Italian is convinced joining Everton was the best move ahead of facing the Gunners in the Premier League on Sunday.

Ancelotti took charge of his first game as Everton boss on December 26, the same day former Toffees midfielder Mikel Arteta assumed control at Arsenal. Both men initially enjoyed a watching brief when the two teams drew 0-0 at Goodison Park five days earlier.

They have each made progress with their respective clubs since, leaving Ancelotti content with his decision, per the Liverpool Echo's Sam Carroll: "I am happy to be here! I did the right choice. I feel good here. I found a good atmosphere, I like the place, so everything is OK until now."

Ancelotti is right to take comfort from his work so far. The 60-year-old has helped Everton rise above the threat of relegation into ninth place, just two points shy of the European places.

Everton's run has included five wins, two draws and just a single defeat in eight league games. It's been good enough to move the Toffees two points above Arsenal.

Even so, Ancelotti still respects Arteta's efforts, saying "Arsenal have improved a lot in the last period and are playing better."

The Gunners haven't won as consistently as Everton, but Arteta has succeeded in making the north London side tougher to beat. He's lost just once in 11 games in all competitions but has drawn five of eight in England's top flight.

Finding the winning edge has proved difficult, but Arsenal have become stronger defensively. The Gunners have kept five clean sheets, including in each of their last three games following Thursday's 1-0 win over Olympiacos in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League last 32:

Three clean sheets in a row for #AFC. Arteta: "We tell them they have to enjoy defending as well. And, like tonight, if you give simple balls away you better run back and get that ball back as quickly as possible.”

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) February 20, 2020

Aside from reviving the form of mistake-prone centre-backs David Luiz and Shkodran Mustafi, Arteta has also helped converted winger Bukayo Saka thrive at left-back:

Bukayo Saka has more assists than any other Arsenal player this season.

He's 18 years old ✨ pic.twitter.com/pdKzL7BirM

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 20, 2020

Revitalised Everton will provide the sternest test to date of Arsenal's new-found solidity. Ancelotti has gotten key attackers such as Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin to click.

Calvert-Lewin has scored six league goals on the Italian's watch, while Richarlison has chipped in with three goals and an assist.

The Brazilian was the dominant force behind the 3-1 win over Crystal Palace last time out:

Richarlison's game by numbers for Everton against Crystal Palace:

45 touches
15 total duels
5 shots (most)
4 recoveries
3 shots on target (most)
2 take-ons completed
1 clearance
1 tackle
1 goal

Another electric display. ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/sKrhVUdl3n

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 8, 2020

The prolific forwards have Ancelotti believing he can guide Everton into a European tournament at the first time of asking. He said his players "have to be thinking about Europe," despite a run of fixtures that will see the Toffees face Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool after Sunday's trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Fourth-place Chelsea are only five points above Ancelotti's men, a testament to how the confidence the three-time UEFA Champions League winner has brought to the blue half of Merseyside has translated into results.

Ancelotti might have been restoring belief among the Gunners had planned talks gone ahead following his sacking from Napoli in December—despite guiding the Serie A outfit into the knockout phase of the Champions League.

Arsenal eventually moved for Arteta, who was briefly linked with a return to Everton. Tabbing the one-time Manchester City assistant to replace another ex-player, Freddie Ljungberg, looked like a risk for an Arsenal squad in disarray following Unai Emery's dismissal in November.

The decision appeared riskier still in the context of the links to Ancelotti. Unlike Arteta, he has a proven track record of winning at the top level, adding league titles with AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich to the European hardware captured with Real Madrid and the Rossoneri.

🇮🇹 Carlo Ancelotti has been announced as the new @Everton manager.

👤 His managerial record:

🏟 1,103 Games
✅ 645 Wins
🤝 256 Draws
❌ 202 Defeats
🏆 20 Trophies

✅ Won the Premier League, Champions League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Serie A.

👊 Statement appointment. pic.twitter.com/oTWK9AyEvR

— SPORF (@Sporf) December 21, 2019

Ancelotti seemed the perfect candidate to restore credibility and stability to a club adrift even before legendary former boss Arsene Wenger stepped down in 2018. Joining Everton looked like a backward step for man with such an impressive resume, while Arteta's inexperience made the Arsenal job appear too big for him.

Both men have been proving these preconceptions wrong and steadily winning over the doubters. Sunday's game will not only impact each team's chances of being in Europe next season, it will provide onlookers with a tangible glimpse of what might have been.  

Carlo Ancelotti has eradicated Everton's relegation worries, and now the Italian has set the Toffees a target of qualifying for next season's UEFA Europa League.

Ancelotti was in bullish mood after overseeing Everton's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday, per Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo: "The work everyone has done was really good, players, club, staff everyone and now our table is good and we can dream to fight for the Europa League in the next games."

Participating in Europe is suddenly a realistic target thanks to the scale of the turnaround under Ancelotti.

Beating Palace was the Toffees' fifth win in eight league games since Ancelotti took charge, good enough to move the Merseyside club up to seventh. Everton were 15th and just four points above the relegation zone after a 0-0 draw with Arsenal on December 21, the last game with interim boss Duncan Ferguson in charge.

Since then, the Toffees have lost once in the league, with only leaders Liverpool outperforming Ancelotti's men during the same time.

The reversal in Everton's fortunes owes everything to how Ancelotti has revived the form of key players in attack. Specifically, Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have both been finding the net for fun.

Richarlison's spectacular 70-yard run and finish cancelled out Christian Benteke's equaliser and put Everton in front to stay against Palace. The Brazilian has recovered from a midseason slump to become the Toffees most consistent contributor in the final third.

Calvert-Lewin has followed Richarlison's lead by playing himself into consideration for an England cap with a prolific run he continued by netting the clincher against the Eagles.

Getting Everton's frontmen on song speaks to the keen man-management skills Ancelotti has displayed throughout his career. The 60-year-old is a players coach whose experience and pedigree is widely respected thanks to his illustrious trophy haul, which includes winning the UEFA Champions League three times and capturing league titles in four different countries.

In other words, Ancelotti is a proven winner who has seen it all at the top level. He's the ideal choice to lend greater credibility to a club struggling to make the step up from mediocrity in recent seasons.  

Everton and Brazil forward Richarlison has opened up about his adoration of fellow countryman Ronaldo and said he "just froze" the first time he met the two-time FIFA World Cup-winner.

The 22-year-old has become a household name after two seasons in the Premier League, but it wasn't long ago that he was awestruck after a run-in with "El Fenomeno."

Richarlison told the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman he was lost for words after meeting Ronaldo at a sponsor event two years ago:

"I didn't know what to do at the time. I just froze. My friend had to tell me to have a photo with him. I have it in my house now. You have your role model and he is suddenly right in front of you. You have idolised him as a child and then there he is. It was a crazy moment. I still watch the videos every day but I also watch some of my goals too."

Ronaldo was only 17 when he left Cruzeiro for PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 1994, going on to represent Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan before he returned to Brazil near the end of his career.

Richarlison had just turned 20 when he left Fluminense to join Watford in August 2017, earning a move to Goodison Park two years later for a fee that could rise to £50 million.

He's gone on to score six times in 19 senior caps for Brazil and has earned the attention of Europe's giants. Sky Sports reported late in the January transfer window that Everton had rejected an £85 million bid for their player from Barcelona (though the seriousness of that offer has raised doubts).

Richarlison is following in his idol's footsteps as far as his importance to Everton is concerned, and the attacker celebrated a last-gasp 3-2 winner away at former club Watford on February 1.

The versatile asset has scored 24 times and recorded six assists in 66 appearances for the Toffees, who have been particularly glad to see him hit the mark amid a series of other less successful transfers. 

Everton spent considerable sums to acquire the likes of Moise Kean, Alex Iwobi and Jean-Philippe Gbamin last summer, but Richarlison is the club's greatest transfer success among their higher-profile signings of late.

OptaJoe highlighted Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe (45) and Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho (23) as the only players aged 22 or younger to beat his 21 non-penalty goals since the start of 2018-19 (in Europe's top five leagues).

Richarlison has impressed when given his chance in the Selecao squad under Tite, though his involvement may come into question when PSG ace Neymar is back available for full selection.

That being said, the Merseyside-based star has time on his hands to replicate Ronaldo's success at the top, and he has another chance to dazzle when Everton play host to Crystal Palace on Saturday.  

Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he attempted to sign Toffees striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin while he was manager at Napoli.

Calvert-Lewin, 22, has already set new personal bests for Premier League goals (eight) and goals in a single campaign (10) this season, and he's enjoying the most prolific spell of his budding career.

He scored twice to lead Everton to a 2-1 win at Newcastle United on Saturday, after which Ancelotti said he'd been tracking the Sheffield native for some time in Naples, per Phil Kirkbride of the Liverpool Echo: "He was a player we followed as a young striker, he was one of the players we followed but there was no possibility (to sign him). There are a lot of people who have eyes on him."

Ancelotti's comments hint he knows of clubs hoping to acquire the former England under-21 international, who slotted home his third brace of the season in all competitions at St James' Park (UK viewers only):

Calvert-Lewin has now played the full 90 minutes in each of Everton's last five Premier League games, which is positive for his development. Moise Kean's £29 million move from Juventus this past summer suggested Calvert-Lewin's game time may be limited, but he has led the line with confidence over the festive period.

Kean and Calvert-Lewin showed promise starting alongside one another for the first time in the league at Newcastle:

Thank you for all your messages of support this week 😁 Together we are stronger! Everyone have a great New Years 🥂 UTT 💙 pic.twitter.com/5XXYiHsKV2

— Dominic Calvert-Lewin (@CalvertLewin14) December 29, 2019

Ancelotti is unbeaten after two games in the Everton dugout, though that record will undergo a major test when they visit defending Premier League champions Manchester City on Wednesday. 

Everton assistant manager Duncan Ferguson appeared to improve the team during his short stint as caretaker manager following Marco Silva's dismissal at the beginning of December.

It's since Silva's departure that Calvert-Lewin has received a real run in the starting lineup, and Squawka noted he seems to be enjoying his football under Ancelotti in particular:

Everton have now scored three Premier League goals under Carlo Ancelotti:

⚽️ Dominic Calvert-Lewin
⚽️ Dominic Calvert-Lewin
⚽️ Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Now that's a No.9. pic.twitter.com/Xi38tzQFrw

— Squawka (@Squawka) December 28, 2019

Men In Blazers host Roger Bennett lauded the forward's surge into scoring form, not to mention the rising confidence that's been more evident in his play:

Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s emergence has been humanly gratifying to witness. Not just the 5 goals in 5 games. But the tenacity to keep believing in himself when so many doubted him. Just 22-years old, he remains a work in progress, but now takes the field with confidence surging 🙌 pic.twitter.com/P5KdK1V2Ik

— roger bennett (@rogbennett) December 28, 2019

Moving to a club like Napoli might have appealed to Calvert-Lewin more so in the summer, but his recent streak of scoring form will have reinvigorated his self-belief to become a Premier League hit.

He leads Everton's scorer charts this season and only appears to be improving under Ancelotti, who hopes his recent heroics in front of goal continue at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.  

New Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti has ruled out signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but he might give him a call and see if he wants to visit the city. 

The Italian had his introductory press conference on Monday and was asked whether there was the possibility the veteran forward would join, per Greg O'Keeffe of The Athletic:

Ancelotti: “Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a good friend of mine and I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of good players. I don’t know his plans but I’ll have to call him and see if he wants to come to Liverpool..but not to play!” #zlatan #efc #Ancelotti

— Greg O'Keeffe (@GregOK) December 23, 2019

The 38-year-old is available on a free transfer after announcing his departure from L.A. Galaxy at the end of the MLS season. He's been linked with a host of clubs since, dropping periodic hints along the way.

He told GQ Italia (h/t Corriere della Sera, via Football Italia) he will return to Italy, but his agent Mino Raiola walked back those comments in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t AS) just days later.

La Reppublica (h/t AS' Jonathan Meaney) has linked him to the likes of AC Milan, Napoli and Tottenham Hotspur. Ancelotti said the Partenopei were "waiting" for the Swede while he was still in charge of the club.

ESPN FC discussed whether a reunion at Goodison Park would make sense:

The two worked together at Paris Saint-Germain, where the former Sweden international played arguably the best football of his career. The Toffees could use another ace striker to help salvage their season, having scored just 20 Premier League goals so far.

Richarlison (six) and Dominic Calvert-Lewin (five) lead the way for Everton, while Bernard (two) is the only other player who has found the net more than once. Those are dreadful numbers and part of the reason the Toffees find themselves just four points above the relegation zone.

Ancelotti has his eye on compatriot Moise Kean as a possible solution, however, and revealed he tried to sign him while at Napoli, per Patrick Boyland of The Athletic:

CA on Kean: Moise Kean did really well last year. I tried to sign him for Napoli. He is a really good player, with fantastic talent. He is 19 years old and there is an adaptation period. We will work with him to improve."

— Patrick Boyland (@Paddy_Boyland) December 23, 2019

The 19-year-old arrived amid much fanfare in the summer after a promising spell with Juventus but has failed to catch on in the Premier League so far. He has made just two starts in the league and has yet to score for his new club.

Ancelotti appears to be a fan of the Italian, however, and new opportunities may be about to open up. Kean scored six goals in 13 total appearances in Serie A last season, and he also scored on his two first starts for the national team, against Finland and Liechtenstein.

The new manager also confirmed that former interim boss, Duncan Ferguson, will be staying on with the team after he led Everton to a win and two draws in his three Premier League matches in charge. 

Carlo Ancelotti wants to make Everton a UEFA Champions League club. The Italian has lifted the famous trophy three times during his illustrious managerial career, and he's already outlined his desire to take the Toffees to a similar level.

Ancelotti told Evertontv (h/t FourFourTwo): "The goal is there to reach the Champions League or Europa League. Winning honours has to be the dream for this club and for the supporters. I am here to try to do this. Our goal is to be competitive in the Premier League, to be towards the top of the table, to be competitive in Europe."

While Ancelotti urged caution about how long it will take to realise his aim, getting Everton into Europe is still a lofty ambition. The scale of the job in front of him is summed up by the Merseyside club sitting 15th in the Premier League and just four points above the bottom three.

Ancelotti got a first-hand look at how much work needs to be done when he sat in the stands for Saturday's 0-0 draw with Arsenal at Goodison Park. The 60-year-old had only been officially appointed mere hours before kick-off:

🔵 | Introducing the new manager of Everton Football Club, @MrAncelotti! #WelcomeMrAncelotti pic.twitter.com/zNNoix8H5R

— Everton (@Everton) December 21, 2019

Securing Ancelotti's services on a four-and-a-half-year contract is more than a coup for Everton. It's a statement of intent from majority stakeholder Farhad Moshiri about his determination to get the club back up to heights not experienced since the 1980s.

Ancelotti's track record shows he's the right man for the job. Aside from winning a hat-trick of Champions League trophies during spells with AC Milan and Real Madrid, he also won a league and FA Cup double with Chelsea in 2010.

League crowns with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also part of a CV most managers can only dream of boasting, despite his dismissal from Napoli earlier this month:

Everton got themselves a serial winner 🏆👏 pic.twitter.com/0wDRrPyHt5

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) December 21, 2019

One doubt about how Ancelotti will transfer his skills to Everton concerns his ability to build a winning team. He's often had the luxury of inheriting elite-level players, including Andrea Pirlo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben, during his career.

However, Ancelotti has also shown a shrewd eye for hidden talent and how to deploy it. He changed Pirlo's role from an attacking midfielder to a deep-lying playmaker with the Rossoneri and also acquired a young Marco Verratti for PSG.

There is quality to work with in the Everton ranks, particularly in the form of creators Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Bernard. How Ancelotti can fit them into the same formation will be key to his success.

He'll also need to get more from misfiring striker Moise Kean, a disappointment since his arrival for an initial £29 million from Juventus this summer.

Moise Kean averaged a goal every 89 minutes in Serie A last season.

His Everton career should really begin under Ancelotti. 🤞 pic.twitter.com/P3BP9tNYhs

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 21, 2019

If Ancelotti can motivate key players to consistently perform, Everton will soon become a threat to the European places. The process needs to begin quickly, with a daunting run of fixtures facing the new Toffees boss:

Mikel Arteta's first 5 games in charge of Arsenal:

Bournemouth (A)
Chelsea (H)
Man Utd (H)
Leeds (H)
Crystal Palace (A)

Carlo Ancelotti's first 5 games in charge of Everton:

Burnley (H)
Newcastle (A)
Man City (A)
Liverpool (A)
Brighton (H) pic.twitter.com/Hg4gmZU1iQ

— WhoScored (@WhoScored) December 21, 2019

Games against Manchester City and local rivals, league leaders and Champions League holders Liverpool will show Ancelotti the standards he needs to meet. Meanwhile, success in the FA Cup also represents a path to Europe for a man with a rich pedigree in tournament football.

Ancelotti's history gives Everton fans reason to believe the club may soon return to the Champions League for the first time since 2005.

Everton appointed Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager on Saturday on a deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until 2024.

The three-time UEFA Champions League-winning manager was confirmed as Marco Silva's permanent successor before the Toffees' meeting with Arsenal:

🔵 | Introducing the new manager of Everton Football Club, @MrAncelotti! #WelcomeMrAncelotti pic.twitter.com/zNNoix8H5R

— Everton (@Everton) December 21, 2019

Excited to share the news that I am joining Everton FC. I am delighted to be back in the Premier League and to be part of this historic club. Thank you for your trust in me. #WelcomeMrAncelotti #EFC #COYB pic.twitter.com/13yhM5iHnK

— Carlo Ancelotti (@MrAncelotti) December 21, 2019

He told the club's official website he will keep caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson among his coaching staff: 

"This is a great club with a rich history and a very passionate fanbase. There is a clear vision from the owner and the board to deliver success and trophies. That is something that appeals to me as a manager and I am thrilled at the prospect of being able to work with everybody at the club to help make that vision a reality.

"I have seen from the performances in the last two weeks that the players are capable of so much. The work Duncan has done is a great credit to him. Strong organisation, strong discipline and the right motivation are some of the key ingredients in football and I'm pleased that he will be part of my backroom team moving forward."

Ferguson had been caretaker since Silva was sacked in early December, and he oversaw a win against Chelsea and a draw with Manchester United. The Toffees were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday by Leicester City in a penalty shootout. 

Ancelotti was relieved of his duties as Napoli manager on December 10 after a poor start to the 2019-20 Serie A season, although he did guide the Partenopei through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

The Athletic's Simon Hughes and football journalist Chris Williams hailed his appointment:

Incredible appointment by Everton. Automatically lifts the status of the club. Can understand questions around whether he’s exactly what they need but in the absence of outstanding young managers who really fit the bill, you can’t fault them for getting one of the best there is.

— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) December 21, 2019

https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/1208352198465347585

The 60-year-old has one of the most impressive CVs in football.

As well as Napoli, he has managed Juventus, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, winning league titles in Italy, England, France and Germany.

The Italian's most impressive achievement as a coach, though, is his record of three Champions League triumphs. Only two other managers, Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane, have achieved the same feat.

At Everton, however, Ancelotti has a different kind of task on his hands:

https://twitter.com/RichJolly/status/1206897668003422208

Rather than contending for titles, he will need to guide the Toffees away from the relegation battle—they sit 16th, just three points clear of the drop zone—and into the top half of the table.

Despite Everton's poor start to the season, the congestion in the Premier League's mid-table means the Merseysiders are not out of the running for the European spots.

If Ancelotti can oversee a run of wins at Goodison Park, he could yet make a success of the 2019-20 campaign.

He'll be in the stands for Everton's clash with Arsenal on Saturday. As will former Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta, who took charge of the Gunners on Friday. Ancelotti's first game in charge will be at home to Burnley on Boxing Day.

Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly agreed to become the next manager of Everton, and could soon be confirmed as Marco Silva's replacement.

The Toffees are currently under interim manager Duncan Ferguson, with the Scot recently taking charge of the Premier League games against Chelsea and Manchester United.

Sky Sports News reported on Monday Ancelotti has "an agreement in principle" to take over on Merseyside.

However, the Daily Mail's Dominic King tweeted further talks are expected before an announcement.

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.
However... Ancelotti is due in London and face-to-face talks are planned with Farhad Moshiri.
Moshiri has previously held talks with Moyes

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 16, 2019

Ancelotti was sacked on Tuesday as Napoli coach after a disappointing run of seven Serie A matches without a win.

The Italian has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus and AC Milan.

Ancelotti also has Premier League experience as Chelsea manager, winning the title and FA Cup during his two-year spell at Stamford Bridge.

Everton have seen an upturn in performance since Silva's exit, and the 3-1 win at home to Chelsea underlined their potential. The Toffees then drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday. 

Ancelotti's potential arrival would provide the club with a world-class operator as they seek to climb the table.

The capture of the 60-year-old would be a major coup for the Merseyside club as they attempt to live up to expectations after a disappointing campaign so far. Everton currently lie 16th in the league, just three points above the relegation zone.

Vitor Pereira has said he will not be taking the reins at Everton, with the former Porto coach withdrawing as a potential candidate.

The 51-year-old is currently in charge of Chinese Super League side Shanghai SIPG and has confirmed his desire to stay with the team, telling Sky Sports:

"It's always an honour, and I am utterly grateful to be considered on a list by a club that I have so much respect for.

"At this point, I am still the coach of SIPG, a club close to my heart in a country that is growing immensely in football.

"Currently, I am not in a position to make any other commitments. I cannot decide now. I need time to think and plan my future by looking at all the options I have.

"It's a league I love, and yes, for sure, I would love to consider an opportunity in the future."

According to Sky Sports, Everton reportedly wanted to announce Pereira as their new coach before Sunday's Premier League visit to Manchester United. However, the Shanghai club are believed to have offered the former Olympiacos and Fenerbahce coach a £25 million-per-year deal to stay in China.

Duncan Ferguson was installed as caretaker boss after the sacking of Marco Silva on Friday. Everton lost Silva's last league game 5-2 at Liverpool, but the Toffees recovered to beat Chelsea 3-1 on Saturday under former striker Ferguson.

The Scot could now be given more time on Merseyside to guide a club where he's an established hero. Ferguson spent two successful spells at Everton as a player and remains hugely popular with the Goodison faithful.

According to The Athletic (h/t Adam Powers of the Daily Express), Everton's board are at loggerheads as to who to appoint as Silva's successor. Majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri reportedly wants to install a big-name international coach, but chairman Bill Kenwright prefers to hire a homegrown British manager.

Ferguson could fit the profile, and his immediate success against Chelsea will have turned heads behind the scenes.