John Textor, a potential buyer for Everton, reportedly has set his sights on bringing in top coach Abel Ferreira if his takeover bid is successful.
Textor, an American businessman, is said to admire the Portuguese coach - who guided Palmeiras to the Brazilian league title last season.
According to The Sun, Ferreira caught Textor's attention after the 58-year-old watched his coaching methods firsthand through his ownership of Botafogo in Rio, which is part of his Eagle Football Holdings group.
However, Ferreira's contract runs until the end of next year and would require compensation. It is understood this will not deter Textor from his pursuit.
As Textor works to secure the Everton deal, he is also in the process of selling his shares in Crystal Palace, with fellow American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer showing interest in acquiring them.
His determination to acquire Everton would likely increase the pressure on current manager Sean Dyche, who, despite keeping the club afloat last season under challenging circumstances, has started this season poorly.
The Sun claims Textor also has his eye on Paulo Fonseca, another highly-regarded Portuguese coach.
However, signing the 51-year-old manager from AC Milan could prove difficult.
Textor has demonstrated a sharp eye for managerial talent, having played a key role in appointing Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace.
Glasner, who succeeded Roy Hodgson in February, helped the team achieve seven wins in 13 matches, resulting in a top-half Premier League finish.
Everton, however, have endured a difficult start to the 2024-2025 season - having conceded 10 goals across three consecutive losses.
Heavy defeats to Brighton and Tottenham were followed by a dramatic collapse against Bournemouth, where Everton squandered a 2-0 lead in the final minutes to lose 3-2.
The poor form has left Everton languishing at the bottom of the table, and while Dyche's past achievements earned him some goodwill, time is running out for him to turn things around.
So far, Dyche's only win this season has come in the Carabao Cup against League Two side Doncaster, securing a third-round tie against Southampton later this month.
With a tough run of fixtures ahead, including a visit to Aston Villa, where they suffered a 4-0 defeat last season, Dyche faces a critical period that could determine his future at Goodison Park.
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