Everton reportedly hold talks with candidate to replace Ronald Koeman

Everton fans across the globe are calling for Ronald Koeman to lose his job on the heels of a Europa League draw against Apollon and Premier League loss to Burnley. Indeed, SkyBet has the Dutchman installed as a ¹⁄₃ favorite to be the first manager fired in the top flight this season.

Of course, recent results aren’t the only problem. Yes, Everton have played four of the league’s title contenders early on, and lost. The most worrisome part of those losses is that the Blues look completely out of ideas. Players are being utilized poorly, and it seems at times as if Koeman has simply rolled the ball onto the pitch and prayed.

Up to now, we’ve not heard much in the way of managerial rumors, other than majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri insisting that Koeman was still his man:

These are early days and Koeman has my total support.

If La Gazzetta Dello Sport are to be believed, that may be changing. It’s being reported that Everton have contacted ex-Watford manager Walter Mazzarri, and that a potential meeting could take place next week in Liverpool.

Mazzarri, 56, is currently unemployed after last leading Watford to an underwhelming 12-7-22 record in 2016. The Italian does have a little positive history as coach of Napoli, where he won the Coppa Italia in 2011 and finished runner-up in Serie A during 2012.

Given that Mazzarri is still under contract with Watford, Everton would likely have to receive permission from the Hornets to negotiate any potential deal.

Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images

At any rate, this report should be met with a healthy dose of skepticism. Beyond Moshiri’s Koeman-backing comments, it’s not at all clear that Walter Mazzarri would be an upgrade on what the Blues currently have.

In fact, if recent results are an indication, it’s not at all clear that Walter Mazzarri should be coaching in the Premier League period. Mazzarri’s departure from Watford was rather unceremonious in nature. On the one hand, the Italian was accused of poor training methods and a failure to learn English. On the other, Mazzarri hit back at the Hornets for not having a winning mentality.

Furthermore, La Gazzetta Dello Sport are a notoriously spotty outlet. It’s feasible that the Everton brass are sounding out potential replacements for Ronald Koeman, but Mazzarri isn’t even on bookmakers’ lists of options. For now, let’s file this one in the highly doubtful folder.