Ian Wright and Paul Merson disagree on Everton’s chances of landing Diego Simeone

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Ian Wright and Paul Merson could not decide whether Diego Simeone would be interested in taking the Everton job.

Ian Wright has told The Debate on Sky Sports (broadcast on 7th November 2017 from 10:00 pm) that he feels that Everton are aiming too high if they end up trying to lure Diego Simeone away from Atletico Madrid, but Paul Merson suggested that the Toffees do have a chance of landing the Argentinian.

Simeone has become the latest, and arguably one of the most surprising names in the frame for the Everton job, with Sky Sports reporting that he is one of the names on the club’s shortlist as they look for Ronald Koeman’s permanent successor at Goodison Park.

He would undoubtedly be an incredible appointment for Everton, having turned Atleti into heavyweights in La Liga. He has guided them to the league title, Europa League glory and the Champions League final on two occasions. And because of that, Wright has largely written off the Premier League side’s chances of being able to land the 47-year-old.

“I’m not sure about what’s earning at Atletico Madrid, but I think money’s going to have to play a massive part in attracting him to Everton,” he told The Debate on Sky Sports (broadcast on 7th November 2017 from 10:00 pm).

“I think they’re aiming a bit high there, because I would think that Everton, as good a club as they are and I know they’ve got massive ambitions to try and get themselves in and around the top four, but for them to try and go for that manager, I think that they’re really punching.”

While Wright may be pessimistic about Everton’s chances, Merson argued that if Simeone has ambitions to come to the Premier League, joining the Toffees would perhaps be the best job he could hope for right now.

“This is where he’s taking them now. People are going, ‘he might be a bit big for the club’. No, he’s been around a long time, Atletico Madrid are not the team they were, they’re falling behind a bit,” Merson said.

“And he’ll look at it and think, ‘I’m not going to be manager of Man City, I won’t be manager at Arsenal, maybe Chelsea, I’m not going to be manager of Liverpool.’ All of a sudden, Everton are the next best thing. Despite where they are, they’re the next biggest club.”

It would unquestionably be an incredible statement from Everton if they managed to get Simeone through the door, but it would not be a surprise if Toffees fans were largely writing off their chances of landing the Atletico boss for the time-being.