Former Everton player Kevin Ratcliffe has urged the club to go for Mauricio Pochettino before Arsenal or Manchester United make a move.
Yesterday's defeat to Leicester left the Blues two points above the relegation zone as the pressure mounts on Marco Silva.
Before the trip to the King Power, Everton had been linked with former manager David Moyes and Bournemouth's Eddie Howe but Ratcliffe believes the Blues should set their sights higher.
"As far as I know, Pochettino has never been mentioned in the boardroom. Why? You have got to at least ask the question – what would it take to entice that calibre of manager," he told the Sunday Mirror.
"I know we haven’t got European football and that’s a big negative. Is that why we are looking at the likes of Moyes?"
Ratcliffe believes Everton should make their move for the Argentine before Arsenal, who sacked Unai Emery last week, or Manchester United who have been linked with the manager in the past.
Read all the latest Everton news and transfers HERE
"If Everton don’t do anything over Pochettino then before you know it Arsenal will have snapped him up, or in a few months time maybe Manchester United," he said.
Pochettino was sacked by Spurs last month and replaced by Jose Mourinho after leading the club to the Champions League final last year.
Whether he would be willing to return to management so soon after leaving Spurs is another issue Everton would face.
His former club Newell's Old Boys in Argentina welcomed him back for a visit last week.
