Watford are preparing to involve the Premier League if Everton continue their pursuit of manager Marco Silva, according to The Times.
The Hornets reportedly issued a cease and desist letter to the Toffees ordering them to halt their efforts to prise Silva away from Vicarage Road, and they are now preparing their next move should that be ignored.
Should Everton make a further move for Silva, who they have reportedly been chasing now for several weeks, it is claimed that Watford intend to report their advances to the Premier League.
Everton’s owner Farhad Moshiri is said to have previously offered to pay £8.5million and then £10million in compensation for Silva, and was prepared to part with more money to secure the Portuguese boss.
Watford are however determined to keep the 40-year-old in charge, and it is claimed that not even an offer of £25million would have made a difference.
The Hertfordshire club are well aware that staying in the Premier League is worth a minimum of £100million, and are seemingly not prepared to risk that for such a relatively small sum.
Silva is said to have been interested in a move to Goodison, but has now accepted his club’s position.
OPINION
Everton’s pursuit of Silva already seemed dead in the water after news came of the cease and desist letter, and this seems to have merely confirmed that. Moshiri’s will have to turn his attention elsewhere as he look to arrest Everton’s worrying slide since the departure of Ronald Koeman. It is easy to see why Silva was his preferred candidate. The Portuguese is young, hungry, and now relatively experienced in the Premier League. His sides play attractive football, as Watford’s 3-0 win over Newcastle at St. James’ Park on Saturday clearly showed. However, it would now seem as though that ship has well and truly sailed, and Moshiri is back to square one yet again.