Is Carlo Ancelotti set for a return to the Premier League?

On Tuesday night, Napoli sacked managerial icon Carlo Ancelotti, despite his team beating Genk 4-0 to progress to the last-16 of the Champions League. Now Sky Sports are claiming that the Italian’s representatives are set for talks with Everton. However, this is the same Sky Sports who claimed that Vitor Pereira was set to take over on Merseyside, so it is hard to know what to believe.

Ancelotti is a serial winner

If the story has any truth to it at all, then Everton will be pulling off a major coup by bringing in Ancelotti. The Toffees have for so long brought in bosses who have done relatively well at smaller clubs. These bosses have always been gambles, as they were bosses with potential rather than records of winning.

Ancelotti has a trophy collection that would make most bosses blush. The 60-year-old has won major trophies in Italy, Germany, England and France, not to mention winning the Champions League three times, twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid.

Quite simply, he has been there and bought the t-shirt in the managerial game. Only a few modern coaches could beat his silverware collection.

Arsenal also linked

It is hard to see a manager with the CV of Ancelotti heading to Everton, especially with Arsenal interested. The move to the Gunners would make sense for the Italian. He has expressed his wish to return to the English top-flight in the past and knows the English capital well.

However, the current structure of Arsenal could well mean that he heads elsewhere. The current Arsenal hierarchy has proven in the past that they do not back bosses in the transfer market. Ancelotti would need the reassurance of a decent transfer kitty to revive Arsenal.

Ironically, Everton may well be able to offer the Italian a better budget. Although the Merseyside club does not have unlimited funds available, the club’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has not shied away from spending during his time with the Merseysider’s.

In fact, Everton has spent nearly £500million since Moshiri’s arrival. That is gross of course, as they have also recovered a lot of money in that time through player sales.

Whether Moshiri is still prepared to heavily back the next boss will likely decide if Ancelotti emerges as a viable candidate for the job. He may well be open to listening to what the Toffees have to say.

High in the betting to be next Everton boss

As we know bookmakers’ odds seem to be a terrible guide of who goes world in the world of management. Since Everton fired Marco Silva just over a week ago there have been about ten favourites to take the job. Former boss David Moyes is favourite for the job.

However, Ancelotti is now second-favourite for the Everton job at 9/4. Whether that will mean anything over the coming week or so nobody knows.

The Everton managerial search seems to be a forlorn one, as there is not a perfect candidate. If Ancelotti is interested in the job then that may change. However, unfortunately, it is difficult to see the Italian taking a step down from a club in the Champions League.

Stranger things have happened than Ancelotti to Everton. Not many though! If he is going to return then Arsenal may be a more likely destination, even if the seem to be looking for a younger coach for their team.

Is Carlo Ancelotti set for a return to the Premier League?