By George Overhill

21st Mar, 2023 | 6:40pm

Everton: Ange Postecoglou links scorned by Liverpool and Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish amid 'stupid' verdict

Kenny Dalglish has scoffed at links between Everton and Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, although he did admit they’d be “stupid” not to have approached him.

Prior to appointing Sean Dyche on 30 January the Australian was on the Toffees’ shortlist, with the Daily Mail reporting on 24 January that they had sounded out his interest in taking over from Frank Lampard.

Links to the 57-year-old surfaced as far back as 13 November via Alan Nixon on Patreon, while the former manager was under major pressure heading into the World Cup, but Celtic and Liverpool hero Dalglish has dismissed the idea that Postecoglou would have ever left his current situation for a relegation battle in England.

The former Anfield striker and manager said, as per the Daily Record: “They’d be stupid not to ask him, but as someone said, it’s manners to wait until you’re asked. Even if he was asked, I don’t know if he would go.

“Are you trying to say that Celtic isn’t as big an adventure as some of the clubs that were allegedly interested in him? Why would he go down to the Premier League to get relegated, or to one of the teams threatened with relegation?

“He’d rather be at Celtic looking to win trophies. But it always comes up, when you’re doing well, there’s always someone else interested. And so they should be.”

Water under the bridge

Dalglish is probably right considering Postecoglou is still in place at the top of the SPFL now and it is Dyche who is leading the turnaround at Goodison Park, but ultimately it doesn’t matter now.

The reigning Scottish champion is nine-points clear in his bid to defend that title, and is chasing a domestic treble with the League Cup already secured and a semi-final against Rangers in the Scottish Cup still to come.

Compared to that the threat of relegation to the English Championship may seem unappealing, but Everton have now got the man they needed in Dyche.

The ex-Burnley boss has picked up 11 points in his time in charge, and has the Toffees in 15th place over the international break.

There is still only two points between the club and the bottom three, but the direction of travel was decidedly one-way in the final weeks of Lampard’s reign.

Few would have taken up the challenge of a relegation-threatened side that was in the process of weakening further in the January transfer window, but Dyche took it on.

Despite the ongoing turmoil that Farhad Moshiri’s ownership brings the manager has the revival well and truly up and running, so right now there will be few Everton supporters worrying about missing out on Postecoglou despite his track record.