Prince Rupert's Tower
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Zlatan links and more debate in Everton boardroom

By Matt Townsend

CARSON, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy reacts after scoring a game during the second half of a game against the New England Revolution at Dignity Health Sports Park on June 02, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
CARSON, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 02: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy reacts after scoring a game during the second half of a game against the New England Revolution at Dignity Health Sports Park on June 02, 2019 in Carson, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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More reports indicate that a continuing struggle is going on in the corridors of power at Goodison Park over who should replace Marco Silva, and Everton are linked with a move for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in January.

The Daily Express are saying that all the key players in the Everton boardroom are engaged in an ongoing debate over the merits of those individuals who might come in as new Blues manager.

It’s claimed that owner Farhad Moshiri, Chairman Bill Kenwright, Chief Executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale and Director of Football Marcel Brands are all involved in making this decision.

This is a scenario that seemed plausible, given all the uncertainty and delay over first removing Silva and now in finding a replacement. It strikes you as a case of too many cooks spoiling the broth and doesn’t seem conducive to a clear decision-making process.

If Duncan Ferguson can maintain his midas touch over the next few weeks as caretaker manager, then the board don’t necessarily have to make a really quick choice and rush someone in.

However in my view there should only be one person with that responsibility and that is Brands. As Director of Football, the Dutchman should have the most important, ultimate say.

Moshiri, having gone to great lengths to bring him in, should give Brands the green light to do his job and then back him financially.

One bit of news that might complicate things is that Vitor Pereira has now ruled himself out of the Blues managerial role. It comes a day after the other coach in the Chinese Super League linked with the job, Rafa Benitez, also said he was not interested in returning to England.

So that has now narrowed the field quite considerably.

Leaving aside all this boardroom politics, the Express also claim the Toffees might make an audacious bid to sign former Manchester United striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in January.

Ibrahimovic has been playing in the US, and has certainly enjoyed a successful time in the MLS. However he is supposedly keen to return to Europe and is casting around for a possible destination come the new year.

At first glance this might seem another ludicrous example of over-hyped paper talk, but two things might make it not quite so absurd or impossible to believe…

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First of all, if the right man, (from Ibrahimovic’s perspective anyway), takes over at Everton he could be open to persuasion. That man would probably be Carlo Ancelotti for whom he has past respect.

The Italian, who is rumoured to be unhappy at Napoli, has been tentatively linked with the Blues job, although it still seems fairly unlikely he would leave Italy for a struggling Everton team.

Secondly though, Moshiri himself has a good relationship with Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, the so-called ‘super agent’. This might smooth the process, that and the sort of money the Toffees are being quoted to have offered the Swede!

Whether it makes much sense to bring in a 38-year-old striker, even if the Toffees could, who might struggle with the pace of the Premier League now, would be anyone’s guess. Although he still seems fit and full of goals and would presumably could offer some guidance and help to young Blues centre-forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

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