Talk of an Everton move for the Burnley manager has died down in recent days.
Ray Parlour has told Talksport Michael O’Neill would be perfect for Burnley if Sean Dyche leaves them for Everton.
Everton have failed with a move for Watford’s Marco Silva this week, while Sam Allardyce has ruled himself out of contention and the Toffees’ attention could revert to Dyche, according to Parlour.
And if that were to happen, the former England midfielder has championed Northern Ireland boss O’Neill as the man to take the reins at Turf Moor.
“The candidates are getting thinner for Everton,” said Parlour. “If they do go for Sean Dyche I think he could be perfect for Burnley, Michael O’Neill. He would be the man who could go in, very similar to Northern Ireland, the players – no superstars in Burnley.
“But he’d get a good team spirit, he knows exactly how to win games with an average bunch. I’m not disrespecting the Northern Ireland guys, but compared to other nations they have got an average team. And he’s got wonders out of them. I think Burnley could be quite similar.”
O’Neill has been linked with a string of jobs – notably Scotland, Sunderland and Rangers – in the aftermath of Northern Ireland’s World Cup play-off defeat against Switzerland, but remains under contract until 2020.
Dyche was initially among the favourites for the Everton job, but unlike Silva or Allardyce the Burnley boss is not reported to have had contact from the Toffees.
The 46-year-old has twice led the Clarets to promotion to the Premier League, and has them in seventh this season after keeping them up last term.
Could Dyche leave for Everton? And if so who should replace him at Burnley?
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