£2m manager is Everton’s top target, approach already made – and he wants to join

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Belgium boss Roberto Martinez is emerging as the favourite to become the new Everton manager, more than five years since leaving the club.

Everton parted ways with boss Rafael Benitez on Sunday afternoon having been beaten 2-1 at lowly Norwich City on Saturday.

Benitez’s dismal time in charge of Everton is finally over, ending the way many expected; dour football and an angry fanbase.

So where do Everton go now? It seems they could go back to a bygone era in search of success now and moving forward.

The Telegraph report that Everton want to bring in Belgium boss Martinez as their next manager despite sacking him back in 2016.

It’s stated that Everton have made their approach for Martinez and he wants to come back to Goodison Park.

It’s even suggested that Martinez may be willing to manage both Everton and Belgium. Splitting duties between international and club football is something we haven’t seen for quite a while at the top level.

The Mirror add that the release clause in Martinez’s contract stands at just £2million, meaning it wouldn’t break the bank to bring him back.

Martinez, 48, became Everton boss back in 2013, replacing David Moyes at Goodison Park.

Martinez pushed Arsenal hard for a top four finish in his first season, losing just eight games – but it went downhill from there.

Everton finished 11th in their next two seasons and Martinez was gone when Farhad Moshiri took over in 2016.

Martinez’s Everton record stood at 61 wins, 39 draws and 43 defeats, a win rate of 42.7%.

Now in charge of Belgium, Martinez has lost just seven of his 68 games in charge but hasn’t won silverware with a talented squad.

A third place finish at the 2018 World Cup was decent, but Martinez’s reign has mostly been dominating qualification.

The fear will be that Martinez’s Everton is exactly the same as it was the first time around; exciting going forward and playing attractive football, but so open at the back and unable to grind out results.

It would be a huge change from the Benitez era, but it’s unlikely that this move would get Everton fans back on side.