Ronald Koeman edges closer to becoming Everton’s new manager
• Goodison Park club expect to be given permission to begin talks
• £5m compensation package is being discussed

Ronald Koeman is closer to becoming Everton’s new manager. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Southampton’s
Ronald Koeman is close to becoming Everton’s new manager after the two clubs discussed a £5m compensation package.
The 53-year-old has been the No1 choice of Goodison Park’s major shareholder Farhad Moshiri since
Roberto Martínez was sacked last month. Koeman would become one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League on a £6m-a-year deal and has been promised substantial transfer funds by Moshiri.
The former Barcelona defender had a season remaining on his three-year contract, but it now looks only a matter of time before he becomes Everton’s new manager.
Rob Jansen, who recently replaced Guido Albers as Koeman’s agent, told Voetbal International on Saturday that they had “reached an agreement with Everton” and “now it is up to the clubs”.
Everton have spoken with representatives of the Sevilla manager Unai Emery while Frank de Boer, Manuel Pellegrini and David Moyes were also under consideration.
However, Koeman became the clear frontrunner and, after guiding
Southamptonto their best Premier League finish in successive seasons, he now looks set to begin a fresh chapter on Merseyside.
One of his first jobs will be to persuade John Stones and Romelu Lukaku to stay on at Everton. The England defender has been targeted by Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City while the Belgium striker, who has been in fine form for his country in the Euro 2016 warm-up matches, said last month that he wanted to ”play in the Champions League from next season”.
United’s new manager José Mourinho is understood to retain an interest in Stones, who is valued at more than £40m, but Everton hope that the new investment and a fresh direction under Koeman will satisfy their high-profile players.