NEW Everton owner Dan Friedkin has reportedly made ex-Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri his top managerial target.
The American businessman finally bought the Toffees this week after seeing an £800million move collapse two months ago.
Friedkin has taken over Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake in the club.
And Everton are just the latest team in his impressive portfolio, with Friedkin also the owner of Roma.
The Merseyside club have endured a sticky start to the season under Sean Dyche, who is yet to win while losing four of his five opening matches.
Everton lie 19th in the table with just one point to their name and a negative goal difference of 9 after blowing a series of matchwinning leads.
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And Dyche is now said to be under real pressure, with reports claiming ex-England boss Gareth Southgate is in the frame to take charge.
However Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport state that Serie A title winner Sarri is actually top of Friedkin’s shortlist.
The chain-smoking tactician is best known by Premier League fans for his single season at Chelsea in the 2018/19 campaign.
Sarri’s decision to implement a new possession-based style received a mixed reception, especially after a 6-0 defeat to Manchester City.
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He was also embroiled in an infamous clash with Kepa Arrizabalaga during the Carabao Cup final.
Sarri was left screaming on the sideline when his world-record £71million goalie refused to come off ahead of the penalty shootout against City, which Chelsea went on to narrowly lose.
But the Italian ended his Stamford Bridge spell on a high as the Blues dominated Arsenal 4-1 in the Europa League final – while also recording a third-place finish back home.
And Friedkin reckons Sarri is the right man to take Everton forward after considering him for the Roma job.
Friedkin ruthlessly sacked club legend Daniele De Rossi earlier this month just four games into the season.
But he ended up moving for Ivan Juric due to Sarri’s links with fierce rivals Lazio.
The gaffer managed Roma’s enemies for almost three years before quitting in March.
Maurizio Sarri’s major career stats
Sarri’s top-flight record as a boss:
- Empoli, 2012-2015: P132 W52 D45 L35
- Napoli, 2015-2018: P148 W98 D25 L25
- Chelsea, 2018-2019: P63 W39 D13 L11
- Juventus, 2019-2020: P52 W34 D9 L9
- Lazio, 2021-2024: P139 W67 D30 L42
Trophies
- Europa League (Chelsea)
- Serie A (Juventus)
They’re not the only Serie A side Sarri has managed either, having received great acclaim as Napoli boss between 2015 and 2018.
He won major praise for his dynamic attacking style while setting a record for most consecutive wins on two separate occasions.
But Napoli’s thin squad just felt short of ending Juventus’ title run, finishing second by four points in his final season.
After Chelsea, Sarri ended up at Juventus where he paired Cristiano Ronaldo in attack with old favourite Gonzalo Higuain.
He led the Turin giants to their ninth consecutive title.
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But defeat in the Italian Cup final, as well as an early Champions League exit, saw him sacked after just 15 months.
And Sarri is yet to manage since leaving Lazio earlier this year, where he managed a second-place Serie A finish in 2023.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk