Ronald Koeman's Everton reign is over.

The Dutch boss has paid the price for a disastrous start to the new season – despite spending more than £150m on summer signings – with the sack.

A 5-2 thrashing at home to Arsenal was the final straw, and the Everton board are currently meeting to thrash out details.

The board showed their trust in Koeman by allowing him to bring in several big names including Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney and Michael Keane.

But the Blues have only won two of their last ten games and are in the bottom three after the humiliating defeat.

Ronald Koeman leaves Everton after being sacked (
Image:
CHRIS NEILL/MAVERICK PHOTOGRAPHY)

A club statement read: "Chairman Bill Kenwright, the board of directors and majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri would all like to express their gratitude to Ronald for the service he has given to the club over the past 16 months and for guiding the club to seventh place in last season's Premier League campaign."

Koeman had started the season on fire winning his opening four games, but saw his side suffer a major dip in form which resulted in four consecutive defeats against Chelsea, Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester United.

Koeman only arrived at the Merseyside club back in June 2016, but failed to help the club challenge in the top six and has now paid the price for another disappointing start to the campaign.

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After the defeat to Arsenal, Koeman said: "I mentioned that before, it is normal, the team is under-performing, the team is in a difficult situation, mentally, confidence, we are struggling and it’s what we need to change.

"This position in the table is not good enough for Everton.

"I understand that, I have been managing for a long time. But I don't think it is too late."

Leon Osman, who played for Everton from 2000 to 2016, believes Koeman's fate had become inescapable given the unsuccessful restructure of the playing squad.

Ronald Koeman failed to get the best out of his players (
Image:
PA Wire)

"It's not just results, performances of late have been really below par, really worrying and I think it was pretty inevitable this was going to happen," he told Sky Sports News.

"Everton aren't a club to react too quickly. I'm pretty sure the chairman and Mr Moshiri will have been thinking on this for a while and made the inevitable decision.

"Having someone like Lukaku up front last season and losing him...it sort of changed Ronald Koeman's style of play. Players need to be brought in slowly, this season he's had 10 new players and it's showed on the pitch."

David Unsworth is set to be placed in caretaker charge (
Image:
Getty)

Osman played the majority of his career under David Moyes' guidance and believes a return for the Scot is possible, with under-23 boss David Unsworth his long-range tip.

On Moyes, who has struggled at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland since his 11 years on Merseyside, Osman said: "I think he would be able to do a good job, he knows the club inside and out.

"(But) are they looking for someone to get immediate results, someone who has got a real pedigree of winning trophies or are they looking to bring someone like David Unsworth from the academy, who really knows the club, can bring through the young lads and really inspire an Everton core."

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