Australian Ange Postecoglou reportedly ‘tops’ the list of candidates to replace Frank Lampard as Everton manager should the England legend be sacked.
Lampard only took over the Toffees in January, but the 44-year-old’s side narrowly escaped relegation last season and is now mired in another relegation battle.
The Toffees lost to Bournemouth 4-1 in a midweek cup tie, before a 3-0 loss this weekend saw Everton slump to 17th in the table and just one point above the drop zone as the Premier League takes a six-week interval for the World Cup.
After a positive run of six league games without defeat, Everton have now lost five of their last seven – culminating in angry scenes on the weekend as fans raged at the second three-goal loss in four days.
Alex Iwobi gifted his shirt to fans after full-time, only to have it thrown back onto the field by furious supporters.
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“I don’t mind those emotions,” Lampard said. “I would never sit here and say, ‘Why are they getting on the players?’ after that performance. It wasn’t good enough. I didn’t expect this season to be a lovely ride after what happened last season. Richarlison leaves, we make some changes and we bring in players. It was always going to be another testing season, which means periods like now.”
The Everton boss added: “The fans have a right to be disappointed because they’ve come down here twice this week and seen poor performances and before that we’ve been going OK. And then they see that there are performances that they don’t like.”
Lampard is now the odds-on favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked – with five already having lost their jobs this season.
And reporter Alan Nixon wrote in his Patreon that Postecoglou now “tops” Everton’s list of potential replacements, and is favoured due to being “straight-talking” and playing “fast and attractive football”.
Nixon added that “Lampard is in danger” as the team struggles once more. Remarkably, Everton and Celtic meet this Sunday in Sydney in a mid-season friendly – where a Celtic win would heap more pressure on Lampard. And in another coincidence, both managers share the same agency.
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It’s not the first time Postecoglou has been linked to a Premier League role, with Brighton reportedly keen on the Australian after Graham Potter departed that club to Chelsea.
But Postecoglou has repeatedly shut down talk of leaving Celtic, where he won the Scottish Premiership last season in his maiden campaign.
He recently told fosports.com.au: “It (PL interest) doesn’t come on my radar. Right at the moment, I’m really focused. I’ve got a massive job. And as I said, we’re just building a side here. And I’ve never looked too far ahead.”
Postecoglou was on Saturday inducted into Football Australia’s Hall of Fame.
Speaking to Celtic TV, he said: “It absolutely is an honour. I think it is a bit premature as I still have things to do, but it is a proud day for not just myself but my parents, wife, family and kids.
“When these things come along, it is great to be acknowledged.”
