Eddie Howe is favourite to land the Everton job less than a week after snubbing Celtic following Carlo Ancelotti’s shock link with a return to Real Madrid.
Howe was odds-on to become the new Parkhead boss after a months-long Hoops chase with Celtic now turning to former Australia boss Ange Postecoglou.
Former Bournemouth gaffer Howe is now being linked with the Goodison Park gig if Italian Ancelotti heads to the Santiago Bernabeu where he led them to their famous 10th European Cup win during two years in charge.
Bookies have suspended betting on that happening which would see Ancelotti end his 18-month spell on Merseyside.
Reports in Spain claim Everton have already started the search for a replacement for the 61-year-old and Howe is the clear favourite.
And the fact he grew up a fan of the Liverpool club has sent speculation into overdrive that a deal could be on the cards.
The 43-year-old has been out of work since the start of last season and has been linked with a string of clubs but was expected to take the Celtic job.
After backing out of that, with reports he couldn’t bring the backroom team he wanted north of the border, he is heavily linked with the Everton job.
Howe grew up as a fan of the Toffee Men after watching Everton win the FA Cup final against local team Watford and said previously: “I was a passionate Everton fan as a kid.
"I remember my first football being one of those plastic ones which had all the names of the Division One teams in it.
“You would spot them all and I was an Everton fan growing up, so I would always look for them when I picked up the ball.
“I lived near Watford – born in Amersham, raised in Chesham – so I used to watch Watford.
“Watford were playing in the 1984 Cup final, so I turned it on being a Watford fan, and then watched the game and there was just something that said I have to support the blue team.
“It was the kit, the name... and that was it. I was hooked. That inspired my following of them and I followed them ever since.
"When I moved to Bournemouth, when I was 10, I went to watch them being my local team. Watford, Everton, Bournemouth – they were the teams.”
