Everton's prospective owners 777 Partners are reportedly planning to sack manager Sean Dyche if and when their takeover of the club is completed.
The Miami-based group agreed a deal to purchase Farhad Moshiri's 94.1% majority stake in the Toffees in September last year, but they are still waiting for approval from the Premier League.
Last month, the Premier League sent a letter to 777 Partners saying that they are "minded to approve" their takeover of the Merseyside club.
However, they still want assurances about their sources of funding, as well as their ability to both back the club financially and provide proof of funding for their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
Amid concerns over these matters, the American firm released a statement earlier this month insisting that they are "confident in its ability to fund both the transaction and the club's three-year business plan" having already passed over the relevant details to the Premier League.
Everton plotting managerial change?
Should 777 Partners eventually complete their takeover of Everton, wholesale changes are set to be made to improve performances both on and off the pitch at the club, and Football Insider reports that there could be movement in the dugout.
The report claims that 777 Partners have plans to sack 'firefighter' manager Dyche and appoint an 'exciting' replacement.
Dyche succeeded Frank Lampard as Toffees boss in January 2023 and successfully steered the club away from the relegation zone, beating Bournemouth 1-0 on the final day of last season to finish 17th and two points above the bottom three.
The 52-year-old currently boasts a win percentage of just 32.1% as Everton manager across all competitions, and his side have particularly struggled to score goals in the Premier League this season; only basement club Sheffield United (30) have netted fewer than the Toffees (32), who have scored the fewest goals from open play (16) of any team in the division.
Dyche has been forced to work with one hand tied behind his back for the majority of his reign at Goodison Park, though, amid the club's financial predicament and two separate points deductions by the Premier League.
Everton were initially docked 10 points in November last year for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules, before seeing their penalty reduced to six on appeal.
The Toffees where then hit with a further two-point deduction for the same offence during a different timeframe, but they have since confirmed their intention to appeal the decision.
Dyche has been in charge of 56 games as Everton boss and celebrated his 18th victory when the Toffees claimed a much-needed 1-0 home victory over relegation rivals Burnley last weekend.
With seven matches left to play, Everton sit 16th in the top-flight standings, just two points above the relegation zone but with a game in hand on 18th-placed Luton Town. body check tags ::