Fabrizio Romano has all-but-confirmed that Everton are set to miss out on managerial target Lucien Favre.
The Italian transfer expert took to Twitter to confirm the widely reported news that fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace are set to appoint the Swiss tactician.
The Athletic claim the manager, whose last spell in a dugout was with Borussia Dortmund seven months ago, will sign a three-year deal with the south London side.
The move for the 63-year-old is virtually complete, though the club is awaiting the outcome of a decision on an application for a work permit.
According to the Daily Mail, the final touches to the deal are expected to be a formality – including the work permit issue.
Everton’s reported interest in Favre was minor, though The Guardian described how the Toffees ‘expressed an interest’ in the Swiss coach.
However, a separate article from The Athletic details how it was Favre’s representative that approached Palace, before constructive talks over Zoom whilst Favre was holidaying in Greece.
That then led to face-to-face discussions in the Cote d’Azur that have materialised in what is virtually a done deal.
Sharing an update from Guardian journalist Ed Aarons, Fabrizio Romano claimed that Favre is ‘one step away’ from occupying the Selhurst Park dugout.
Twitter: Lucien Favre is one step away from joining Crystal Palace as new manager, three years contract confirmed as… https://t.co/ccVFJueodV (@FabrizioRomano)
Twitter: Lucien Favre is set to sign until June 2024 as new Crystal Palace manager. Work permit process already started in o… https://t.co/Z5cXyUlHw3 (@FabrizioRomano)
Read Everton Verdict
Boasting experience in transforming clubs’ fortunes, his nickname is ‘the Brain’ precisely for his meticulous attention to details and his strategic, analytical mind.
With a penchant for bringing in youth players and playing quick-transitioning counter-attacking football, Palace have pulled off a coup.
Conversely, many of those attributes fit the desires of Everton – youngsters continue to sign new deals at Goodison Park as the club looks to regularly challenge for top positions and the club surely would have benefitted from Favre’s approach.
The fact that Favre seems to have had little interest in picking Goodison Park over Selhurst Park is troubling news for the club.
