Koeman set for Everton job, swayed by transfer funds

Ian Watson
Ronald Koeman: Confirmed Charlie Austin will miss Stoke game

Ronald Koeman: Confirmed Charlie Austin will miss Stoke game

Southampton boss Ronald Koeman will be appointed as manager of Everton over the weekend, according to reports.

Koeman has been courted by Everton since the Toffees sacked Spanish manager Roberto Martinez in May, with the club finishing 11th in the Premier League for the second consecutive season.

Despite insisting he was happy at St Mary’s after leading Southampton to sixth place in the Premier League this campaign, Koeman has been persuaded to agree terms to take over at Everton, according to the Daily Mail.

Rob Draper reports that the Dutchman has been ‘swayed’ by the transfer budget offered by new Everton shareholder Farhad Moshiri, and that his appointment as manager will be announced over the weekend.

Koeman is said to be ‘reluctant’ to leave Southampton after continuing the excellent work of Mauricio Pochettino upon his arrival in summer 2014, leading the club to seventh and sixth in his first two seasons.

While the manager ‘understood the financial constraints’ he was placed under at the club, it is believed that the added ‘injection of funds’ offered by Everton and Moshiri has persuaded him.

Everton must pay the final year of Koeman’s Southampton contract, worth up to £3.5m, and with Koeman set to go on holiday next week, he wishes for his appointment to be made soon.