Roma owners the Friedkin Group are going through the approvals process after agreeing a deal to buy a majority stake in Everton - and may fancy their own gaffer in the dugout
Sean Dyche has twice helped Everton avoid the drop in difficult circumstances, but has just one point from five Premier League games so far this season(Image credit: Getty Images)
The Friedkin Group's proposed takeover of Everton could mean Sean Dyche is ousted from the Goodison Park dugout, according to reports from Italy.
The troubled club finally have a light at the end of the tunnel after agreeing terms with the Roma owners, led by American entrepreneur Dan Friedkin. Pending approval from the various powers that be, the takeover would offer hope that Everton can put their years of financial worries, points deductions and failed takeovers behind them.
However, things currently look very bleak on the pitch, with Dyche's side taking just one point from their first five games of the new season. That came as they drew against newly-promoted and also-winless Leicester at the weekend.
Prospective new Everton owners looking at Maurizio Sarri to replace Sean Dyche
Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport claim that the Friedkin Group are concerned about that run of form and are considering replacing Dyche with Maurizio Sarri once they take control as their 'first big move' at Goodison Park.
The former Chelsea and Juventus boss is well-known to the Roma higher-ups, who reportedly had Sarri all lined up as their first managerial appointment after taking over the Serie A club back in 2021, only to back out at the last minute after Jose Mourinho came into the frame.
Maurizio Sarri won trophies with Juventus and Chelsea (Image credit: Getty Images)
After a long career working his way up the lower leagues in Italy, Sarri came to prominence when he was appointed Napoli boss in 2015, with his three-year spell in charge seeing them consistently challenge for the Serie A title.
That attracted Chelsea's attention, but he spent just a year in charge, lifting the first major trophy of his career by winning the Europa League before departing to return to Italy with Juventus.
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Sarri led Juve to the 2019/20 Serie A title, but was sacked just a month later after his side were eliminated from the covid-delayed Champions League in the round of 16 by Lyon.
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In FourFourTwo's view, it is questionable whether Sarri - a manager who has spent the past few years playing at the top end of the table - would be up for a project like Everton. Doubts might also be cast around the 65-year-old's long-term viability, particularly after he ended his previous spell in England after just one year citing a desire to be closer to his family.
Dyche has meanwhile been in charge of Everton since replacing Frank Lampard in January 2023 with the club in the relegation zone.
Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
