Former Everton manager Ronald Koeman has revealed that he received offers from two Premier League clubs following his departure from Merseyside in October.
Koeman was sacked by the Toffees following their 5-2 defeat to Arsenal, which left the club languishing near the relegation zone.
The Dutchman, who has also managed Southampton in the Premier League, confirmed that he was the subject of top-flight offers, but did not disclose the clubs in question.
"My job at Everton was over from one day to the next," Koeman told The Sun. "I had only just begun with them, and wanted to see things through. I was very disappointed, but I had to be realistic.
"If the team's performances are below standard you have to expect something like this might happen. But my dismissal was still unexpected. It felt like a bruise, and for that reason I didn't react to other offers.
"They came in after I left Everton. Two were from clubs in the Premier League, and there were other possibilities elsewhere in Europe. But I want to take a step back, to see what went well and what went wrong among other reasons."
Everton were under the management of David Unsworth following Koeman's sacking, before the club appointed Sam Allardyce in November.