Everton in talks with Marcelo Bielsa over next manager role

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By Martin Graham | 28th Jan 2023

Marcelo Bielsa is in London for talks with Everton to fill the vacant position left by Frank Lampard. Lampard received his marching orders after a string of poor results by the Toffees.

Everton find themselves in a deep mess and might not have the shoes for it. The Merseyside club took a punt on rookie manager Frank Lampard and is paying dearly for it.

Everton are languishing in the relegation zone and needs to find ways to pull itself out of the mess.

The first step taken was to sack Frank Lampard, who was relieved of his duties at Chelsea following a string of poor results. The Englishman has shown that being a great player does not equate to becoming a top manager. He left Everton in a position that might see them drop into the Championship.

The departure of Lampard has left a hole in its dugout. The Merseyside club are now on the hunt for a manager who can dig them out of the mess. Few managers would want to take the risk of leading a side threatened by relegation. The Toffees have penned down a few names to replace Lampard, with Marcelo Bielsa already in London to discuss with the Toffees about taking the job.

Marcelo Bielsa in London for Everton talks

Top of the bill is Marcelo Bielsa, with the Merseyside club also interested in Brentford manager Thomas Frank.

While the search for a replacement for Lampard continues, reports suggest the club is in the market for a new owner as well.

Bielsa, the favourite to fill the hole left behind by Lampard, is already in London for Everton talks. The former Leeds United manager is still unconvinced about taking the Everton job. He seems concerned about their slow defence, but the Toffees believe they can convince him to take the job.

After an initial approach for the Argentine, the Toffees believe the former Marseille manager could reject the offer. The 67-year-old is concerned about the lack of pace in the squad. Despite his concerns, Everton has not given up hope on signing the Argentine and wants to convince him that Goodison Park is the right place to be.

Bielsa – a coaching icon

If Bielsa and Everton reach an agreement, it will be his first managerial position since leaving Leeds in February.

Bielsa guided Leeds back to the Premier League and then to a ninth-place finish in their first year back in the top flight during his four-year tenure at Elland Road.

However, things went downhill in his final season, and he left Leeds in danger of relegation after losing five of his last six games in charge.

Jesse Marsch led them to victory on the final day of the previous season.

He’d be entering another relegation battle at Goodison Park, where Everton is currently 19th in the table, one point ahead of bottom-place Southampton on goal difference.

Bielsa would also have to deal with the club’s increasingly toxic atmosphere, with fans recently venting their rage at owner Farhad Moshiri and the rest of the board.

Following a string of poor results, supporters took to the streets and planned a sit-in protest after their most recent home game against Southampton.

Everton will host league leaders Arsenal on February 4, then face Liverpool nine days later.