Sean Dyche could be facing an uncertain future at Everton, with Abel Ferreira being lined up as a potential replacement should John Textor complete his takeover of the club, according to Alan Nixon.
The journalist reported via his Patreon page on 8 September that Textor, who is aiming to buy Everton from current owner Farhad Moshiri, plans to dismiss Dyche and appoint Ferreira as the new head coach.
Ferreira, a Portuguese manager, recently won the Brazilian Serie A with Palmeiras, and Textor, who owns their rivals Botafogo, is keen to collaborate with him.
Textor’s buyout remains unresolved, largely due to his ongoing involvement with Crystal Palace, where he holds a 45% stake [Sky News, 27 August].
However, should he eventually secure control at Goodison Park, Dyche’s position as manager could be seriously under threat.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Dyche, who is already under pressure following Everton’s dreadful start to the Premier League season. His side sits rock-bottom of the table, having lost their first three league matches.
“If Dyche wasn’t already sweating over his job security, the news that Textor could be keen to replace him as soon as he’s through the doors at Goodison Park will only ramp up the pressure on the Toffees boss,” Nixon wrote.
Everton’s current plight is a far cry from the stability Dyche managed to bring last season when he guided the club to Premier League safety despite a points deduction. For many, this has earned him enough goodwill to warrant patience, especially as the new season is still in its infancy.
But results speak louder than past performances, and with Everton yet to register a single point this season, the pressure is beginning to mount.
Dyche’s future is now the subject of speculation, and whether he can turn things around before Textor’s potential arrival remains to be seen.
With no clear timeframe on when Textor’s takeover will be finalised [Matt Slater, 4 September], Dyche may still have an opportunity to shift momentum in his favour.
A string of good results could quieten talk of Ferreira and help Dyche reassert his authority at Goodison. For now, his fate lies in the balance, with his position increasingly precarious amid uncertainty off the pitch.