Rumours are swirling that Lina Souloukou, former chief executive at Roma, could be set for a move to Everton as part of The Friedkin Group’s impending takeover, according to Corriere dello Sport.
The Italian outlet reported on 18 October that the Greek executive is being considered for a key role on Merseyside, though they described the move as “curious” given her departure from Roma just weeks ago.
Souloukou stepped down from her position at the Stadio Olimpico amid backlash over the controversial dismissal of club legend Daniele De Rossi.
De Rossi was sacked just eight months into his managerial tenure and four games into a new three-year contract, a decision that led to widespread fan unrest [The Athletic, 22 September].
Moshiri Era Nearing Its End:
With Farhad Moshiri’s time as Everton’s majority shareholder drawing to a close, The Friedkin Group is expected to usher in sweeping changes.
Much of the club’s interim board is composed of Moshiri’s close associates, as reported by Ian Herbert in the Daily Mail on 12 October. Their exit alongside Moshiri appears likely, paving the way for new leadership under the Friedkin regime.
While Corriere dello Sport speculated that the Friedkins played a role in Souloukou’s departure from Roma, it’s believed her exit was more directly tied to the fallout from De Rossi’s dismissal.
This context makes her potential appointment at Everton less surprising, especially with the Friedkin Group expected to bring in fresh faces to guide the club through its next chapter.
Managerial Changes on the Horizon?
There is also speculation about an imminent change in management at Goodison Park. Sean Dyche, who has twice kept Everton in the Premier League, may be nearing the end of his tenure.
Dyche himself acknowledged the nature of his role when he told Sky Sports on 5 October that he was brought in to meet a specific challenge. The new ownership may be seeking a different managerial profile as part of their long-term vision for the club.
Whether Dyche will be allowed to see out his contract, which runs until the summer, remains uncertain.
However, with the Friedkin Group’s takeover expected to be finalised by the end of November [Alan Myers, 16 October], Everton fans won’t have to wait long to discover whether a managerial change is on the cards.
While the arrival of Souloukou, should it materialise, raises some eyebrows, the bigger question remains how the Friedkin Group will reshape Everton and steer them away from the instability that has defined the Moshiri era.