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Everton are set to appoint former Porto boss Vitor Pereira as their new manager, according to reports in Portugal.
Everton have been without a permanent manager after sacking former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez following a 2-1 defeat to Norwich earlier this month.
The Goodison Park club have held talks with a number of potential candidates and are now ready to appoint Pereira, according to Portuguese journalist Pedro Sepulveda.
Pereira, 53, is expected to travel to Merseyside on Monday to complete the deal.
The Daily Mail claim Pereira has impressed the Everton hierarchy, with owner Farhad Moshiri viewing him as 'forward-thinking' appointment.
Pereira was previously assistant to Andres Villas-Boas at Porto and would go on to lead them to the league title during his two seasons in charge in 2012 and 2013.
He was previously linked with the Everton job following David Moyes’ departure from the club in 2013 but would instead join Saudi side Al-Ahli after Roberto Martinez was appointed at Goodison Park.
Pereira would later join Olympiacos in 2015, leading them to the Greek league and cup double in his only season at the club, before moving on to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
He was sacked a year later and would join German second division side 1860 Munich in 2017, but was dismissed from his role later that year after the club was relegated to the third tier.
Pereira would go on to have a three-year spell in charge of Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG, before returning to Fenerbahce in 2021.
He rejoined the Turkish side on a two-year deal in July but was sacked in December after a disappointing start to the season.
He is now set to join struggling Everton, who are 16th in the Premier League – just four points above the relegation zone.
Pereira is expected to be in place for their next match after the winter break – an FA Cup fourth round clash with Brentford on February 5.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Everton, Football, Premier League
Rory O'Callaghan