Jose Mourinho is the bookies' favorite to sign Everton if he decides to sack Sean Dyche, but there are a few reasons why the Portuguese is likely to move to Merseyside.
Dyche is under pressure as a poor run of form has seen the Toffees slip to 16th in the Premier League, one point off the relegation places.
Everton have won just one of their last 10 league games, including an emphatic 4-0 win over Wolves on December 4. However, in the other nine games, they have drawn five and scored just four goals.
With new owners, the Friedkin Group, moving to their Bramley Dock stadium in 2025-26, the club's Premier League survival is more important than ever, so this is unlikely to be viewed as satisfactory.
What do the bookies say?
Mourinho is 4/5 favorite with BetVictor and Unibet; LiveScoreBet and BetMGM all have 3/4.
Sam Behar, UK Director at BetMGM, said: “Is the Premier League ready for another Jose Mourinho? Well, our bets suggest 'The Special One' could be set for another leg in England against Everton.”
“He was to replace Sean Dyche at 3/4 under pressure at Goodison Park ahead of former Toffees boss David Moyes.
“There are many other names but the clear favorite for the real coup for the Merseyside club is Mourinho.”
BetMGM have Moyes at 4/1; David Wagner at 9/1 and Steve Cooper and Russell Martin priced at 14s.
Couldn't it happen?
Last-ever @EmiratesFACup Third round COYB at Goodison Park!⏳ pic.twitter.com/d0kUSdHtMn
– Everton (@Everton) January 9 2025
ok First and foremost, Despite years of uninspired football, growing restlessness from a long-suffering fan base, Dyche remains in place.
Everton face Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup tonight. Assuming the game is ahead.. Although unbeaten, the next two Premier League games between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur could decide Dyche's fate.
Mourinho took over at Turkish club Fenerbahce in June and has done a solid job. Fina are second in the Super League, but they are unlikely to win the title thanks to the performance of rivals Galatasaray, who are eight points off the top.
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It is not certain that Mourinho would be interested in swapping Istanbul for Merseyside. Fenerbahce is a team with a huge fan base and is almost guaranteed European football every season.
Everton won't be playing continental football any time soon, barring a decisive FA Cup run at Wembley.
In fact, Years of hard work and struggle are more likely and Mourinho has previously said he has no appetite for a relegation battle.
“Honestly, that was the hardest part,” he told Sky Sports in October. It's much more difficult than playing for trophies. It's something that changes lives, so it's very difficult to be emotional. You stay in the Premier League or get relegated; It changes lives; It changes a lot of things. Brave guys.”
Mourinho was also previously with the Friedkin Group.
The two-time Champions League champions were sacked after Roma's owners felt they were not getting value for money from the expensive club.
When he was sacked last January, the Giallorossi were ninth in Serie A and struggling to reach the Champions League places.
Mourinho then said, referring to Dan Fricke, “he was sacked by someone who doesn't understand football”.
It seemed impossible for him to go down this road again.