Big Sam meets Everton owner

SAM ALLARDYCE is the favourite to become Everton manager after face-to-face talks with owner Farhad Moshiri.

The former England boss has said several times in the last week that he is attracted to taking over at Goodison Park and that prospect edged closer yesterday.

Moshiri’s representatives contacted Allardyce’s advisors at the beginning of last week to sound him out about replacing the sacked Ronald Koeman.

After being encouraged by what he heard back, Moshiri contacted Allardyce and the pair met in London.

There has also been contact between Everton’s director of football Steve Walsh and Allardyce’s representatives to discuss who he would want on his staff.

If majority shareholder Moshiri settles on Allardyce for the job, the 63-year- old will ask Craig Shakespeare to be his assistant and Martyn Margetson to be goalkeeping coach. It is by no means certain Everton will turn to Allardyce, but he is now in pole position.

Everton’s board are scheduled to meet this week to identify their top target, with Burnley’s Sean Dyche, Watford’s Marco Silva and caretaker manager David Unsworth also in the frame.

Everton beat Watford 3-2 on Sunday without Morgan Schneiderlin and Kevin Mirallas, who were dropped from the squad after walking off the training pitch following a clash with coach Duncan Ferguson.