Ex-Chelsea manager tipped for stunning Premier League return as talks continue ahead of January move

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri has reportedly been approached to become the next Everton manager and is targeting a return to work in January. Sarri has been without a job since March, but the new Everton owners want to bring him back to the Premier League.

Sarri spent three years at Lazio, where he led them to the Champions League round of sixteen before leaving. During his time at Chelsea, he impressed by winning the Europa League and securing a 3rd-place finish in the Premier League.

The veteran manager is said to be a target for the Friedkin Group, who are looking to take Everton to the next level. The prospective owners, who are awaiting regulatory approval, also own Lazio’s rivals, AS Roma.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sarri is open to the move but prefers to return at the start of the new year. This would give the new owners time to settle in, allow Sean Dyche enough time to turn things around, and give Sarri a platform to take the club to the next level.

Current manager Dyche took over at Goodison Park in January 2023 when the team was sitting 19th in the Premier League. He led Everton to survival, securing a 15th-place finish last season despite the team being deducted eight points due to breaches of profit and sustainability rules.

However, Everton has had a tough start to this season, having surrendered two-goal leads twice and managing only one point from their first five games.

There is a feeling within the board that, given the work Dyche did last season, he deserves time to fight for his job.