Fabrizio Romano: Roberto Martinez remains Everton dream manager
Everton parted ways with Rafa Benitez on Sunday (16 January) and have since put Duncan Ferguson in charge on an interim basis as they search for a permanent boss.
Fabrizio Romano has told Que Golazo that Belgium manager Roberto Martinez is the Toffees’ dream signing, but agreeing a deal is proving very difficult.
The Catalan was linked with succeeding Carlo Ancelotti last summer before Benitez took over, and he apparently still has supporters at board level at the club despite getting fired from the job last time out.
The Sky Sports Italia transfer expert said (At 5min30sec): “Now it’s time to look for a new manager. They’re dreaming of Roberto Martinez. I think ‘dreaming’ because it’s not so easy to have Roberto Martinez immediately as new Everton manager.
“They’re trying, but with Belgium, it’s not easy because they want him to be the manager at the World Cup. And also for Roberto Martinez, it’s a big opportunity to be the manager of Belgium at the World Cup, so this is why it’s not an easy one.
“But they are pushing, they want him. The dream manager is Roberto Martinez and the comeback of Roberto Martinez, as he was already Everton manager a few years ago.”
Impossible?
The former Swansea City boss, 48, will have to sacrifice his current job to return to Goodison Park after leaving in 2016 from the look of things, and it does not appear that is on his mind.
Belgium’s current golden generation have a chance to win the World Cup this year, with most of them in their peak, and the country will want him to fully concentrate on the job ahead, and it is why they will not be keen on having him combine roles.
At the moment, Everton will have to look elsewhere for a new permanent manager, but they are not likely to stop trying for Martinez.
Given the circumstances that led to his departure from Merseyside, it is unknown whether the same fans that called for his head will be open to his return.
Everton have not improved since then, though, and while the Spaniard has proven himself with Belgium, club football is quite different and he would not have access to the calibre of talents currently at his disposal should he move to Goodison.
Ferguson will be dreaming of getting the job permanently, and should he manage to turn around their fortunes on the pitch in the coming weeks, just anything is possible.
In other Everton news, the Toffees are plotting January loan-to-buy bid for centre-mid hailed by Jack Grealish last month.
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