TalkSPORT host Alan Brazil has claimed that Everton owner Farhad Moshiri made an approach for Watford manager Marco Silva in the immediate wake of the Premier League clash between the teams last weekend.
But the majority shareholder was given an immediate hands-off warning by his counterparts at the Vicarage Road club, who are owned by the Pozzo family.
Brazil told his Breakfast Show, which was broadcast on TalkSPORT on Thursday morning, that he was told Moshiri made his move after Everton came from two goals down to secure a memorable 3-2 win at Goodison Park.
“I’ve heard that Moshiri went over to the Watford owners after the game and asked if he could speak to their manager… [they said] ‘no, go away’,” Brazil said.
Everton are searching for a replacement for Ronald Koeman, who was sacked 16 days ago.
Silva is believed to be on their wishlist along with current caretaker boss David Unsworth, experienced Premier League managers Sam Allardyce and Sean Dyche, and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone.
OPINION
Brazil is a well connected and experienced broadcaster, who has top guests on his programme and his ear to the ground. His Silva revelation is a shock, partly because he is still unproven in the Premier League but also that Everton made an informal approach after the Portugese’s side had let slip a two-goal lead to condemn them to their third consecutive defeat. The 4o-year-old has made a good early impression at Watford, steering them to ninth in the table after overcoming a massive injury list. But he could not prevent Hull going down last season and does not have the body of work of Dyche, whose Burnley side are four points higher in the table. Moshiri appears to regard Silva as the next Mauricio Pochettino. Others may see that as wildly premature.