Second candidate in the running as Everton chiefs deliver Silva warning

Everton are considering Flamengo boss Jorge Jesus as a possible candidate to replace Marco Silva if the Portuguese is sacked, according to a report.

Silva is under huge pressure after a 2-0 defeat to the Premier League’s then-bottom club Norwich at Goodison Park on Saturday left the Toffees in 16th, four points above the relegation zone.

Previous reports indicated that former boss David Moyes is under consideration and, according to the Daily Telegraph, that is still the case, with the Scot hoping to be brought back to Goodison Park if Silva leaves.

However, the newspaper offers a development on the situation, claiming that Jesus – who led his side their first Copa Libertadores title since 1981 on Saturday and made it 26 games unbeaten in all competitions for Flamengo – is another potential candidate.

The latest report adds that Jesus, 56, is expected to be unavailable for some time, what with Saturday’s result seeing Flamengo qualify for the Club World Cup in December.

However, that has not set the alarm bells ringing at Everton just yet, with the club said to be clear that they are backing Silva to turn things around and are reluctant to make an immediate change.

That stance comes after a meeting between chairman Bill Kenwright, director of football Farhad Moshiri and chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale after the defeat to Norwich, in which Silva’s future was discussed.

The Blues’ hierarchy are backing Silva amid a tough run of fixtures, which sees them face Leicester twice, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal in the coming weeks before travelling to Manchester City on New Years’ Day.

Should results not improve, however, the hierarchy have warned that they will only back the manager so far before the tide starts to turn.

As for Jesus’ managerial record, the Portuguese has coached both Benfica and Sporting in his home country, winning the top flight there three times and leading the former side to the Europa League final in 2013.

He has also expressed an interest in a Premier League role in the past.

Read more: Everton flop set for return to homeland after manager gives approval