Marcelo Bielsa has told Everton that the team is too slow to play the way he wants and they must prioritise pace before the transfer window closes, if he is to replace Frank Lampard as manager.
The Argentine has already spoken to the club and we understand he has provided a break-down of the squad. His chief concern is said to be a lack of pace, especially in defensive areas.
Bielsa has let it be known he is interested in taking the job but has reservations over the current squad being able to implement the high energy style of play that is his trademark.
Marcelo Bielsa has told Everton that the team is too slow to play the way he wants
Bielsa’s chief concern is said to be a lack of pace in the squad, especially in defensive areas
Conor Coady (right) and James Tarkowski are both regulars for Everton in their backline
If guarantees are not given over a plan to address his concerns, sources say there is a chance Bielsa will walk away from talks.
The 67-year-old, as he proved at Leeds, does not shift from his footballing philosophy and would be unlikely to take a role where he feels those beliefs would be compromised.
It remains to be seen whether the Merseyside club try to persuade Bielsa or move onto other targets.
Key figures within the Everton hierarchy remain admirers of their previous manager Sam Allardyce, who has held initial talks with the club over replacing Lampard.
Toffees majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri (left) has already held talks with the 67-year-old
The former Leeds United boss has significant doubts about taking the Goodison Park hotseat
There is a feeling at Goodison that Allardyce’s experience in guiding relegation threatened teams to safety offers the club with a strong chance of avoiding the drop.
Sean Dyche is out of work, but there is a reluctance from the Everton board to move for the ex-Burnley boss.
Allardyce spent just six months with Everton in 2017-2018 after being appointed by Farhad Moshiri to replace Ronald Koeman – with the club in danger of being relegated – and ended up guiding the Toffees to an eighth place finish.
But despite being handed an 18-month contract, he was sacked at the end of the season, with fans not won over by his defensive style of play. Since leaving Everton Allardyce had a brief stint in charge of West Brom in 2020-21, but has not managed a team since.
Everton will need another manager who can help them reach safety after finding themselves 19th in the table after…