EVERTON takeover bidder John Textor wants to bring in top coach Abel Ferreira if he wins control of the club.
American Textor is a huge fan of the Portuguese maestro, who took Palmeiras to the Brazilian title last season.
Textor has seen Ferreira’s work at close range — he owns Botafogo in Rio as part of his Eagle Football Holdings empire — and is keen to work with him.
Ferreira is under contract until the end of next year and would cost compensation but that will not put off Textor.
The American is trying to finalise a takeover deal and also dispose of his Crystal Palace shares, with fellow Americans Josh Harris and David Blitzer among those in the market for them.
Textor is dead set on landing Everton and that would put huge pressure on boss Sean Dyche, who kept the club up under difficult circumstances last season but has got off to a poor start this time.
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Highly rated Paulo Fonseca, another Portuguese coach, is fancied by Textor but would be difficult to attract from AC Milan.
Textor seems a good judge of a manager and was the driving force behind the appointment of Oliver Glasner at Palace.
The Austrian replaced Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park in February and went on to win seven out of 13 matches to secure a top half finish.
Meanwhile, Everton have made a sluggish start to the new season, conceding 10 goals in three matches, all of which have ended in defeat.
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Thrashings by Brighton and Tottenham were followed by a dramatic collapse against Bournemouth before the international break.
The Toffees lead 2-0 in the 87th minute only to concede three times in nine minutes to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Dyche and Textor’s records
Sean Dyche’s managerial record:
- 2011-12 – Watford – 49 matches, 17 wins, 35 per cent win rate
- 2012-22 – Burnley – 425 matches, 152 wins, 36 per cent win rate
- 2023-Present – Everton – 66 matches, 23 wins, 35 per cent win rate
- Trophies – Championship
John Textor’s ownership record:
- 2021-Present – Crystal Palace
- 2022-Present – RWD Molenbeek
- 2022-Present – Botafogo
- 2022-Present – Lyon
- Trophies – Belgian Challenger Pro League
As a result, Dyche’s side sit bottom of the Premier League behind Southampton on goal difference.
His only win this term came against League Two Doncaster in the Carabao Cup, which has set up a round three clash with the Saints this month.
Meanwhile, Everton return to league action at Aston Villa on Saturday in a fixture which they lost 4-0 last season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
