Everton ‘make move for Flores as Martinez replacement’

Quique Sanchez Flores: Tipped to replace Roberto Martinez

Quique Sanchez Flores: Tipped to replace Roberto Martinez

Everton are reported to have made Quique Sanchez Flores their top target to replace Roberto Martinez this summer after ‘making contact about his interest in the job’.

Several of the morning papers claim the Hornets boss, who looks set to be shown the door at Vicarage Road this summer, is high on the Toffees’ wish list as they seek a successor to Martinez.

Roberto Martinez’s tenure is expected to come to an end after next weekend’s final fixture against Norwich as his relationship with the club’s supporters has disintegrated.

Reports last month suggested Manuel Pellegrini, Ronald Koeman and Frank de Boer were being shortlisted for the job, while Rafael Benitez has also been talked about as a candidate.

But sources in Spain claim the club’s new majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri has already made contact with the agency that represents Flores to gauge his interest in the position.

The former Atletico Madrid boss enjoyed an excellent start to his first campaign in England as Watford but the Hornets’ form has tailed off during the second half of the season and the club’s owners, the Pozzo family, decided to make a change.

Watford, meanwhile, are reportedly considering a move for Rayo Vallecano coach Paco Jemez as a replacement for Flores.

Jemez, who has decided to leave Madrid-based Rayo at the end of the season when his contract expires, is weighing up the Watford vacancy or look at another offer from Valencia.