Carlo Ancelotti to Everton: What can he achieve as manager of the Toffees?
Carlo Ancelotti is expected to be confirmed as the new Everton manager before Saturday's game with Arsenal, but what can he achieve? Tom Carnduff examines his chances.
Reports suggest that the former Napoli boss will be at Goodison Park on Saturday to see Everton face Arsenal - who could by then have Mikel Arteta as their new permanent boss.
The 60-year-old, who could be unveiled on Monday, already has experience of success in this country after winning both the Premier League and FA Cup during a two-season spell at Chelsea between 2009 and 2011.
He'll replace Marco Silva, who was sacked following the Toffees' poor start to the season.
It will be a new challenge for Ancelotti following a career that has taken him across the top clubs in Europe. While he's usually battling at the top end of divisions, his immediate task will be keeping Everton in the Premier League.
"I’m surprised that Carlo Ancelotti would take the Everton job with the position that they are in in the league," former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports.
"For Everton to get a manager of the calibre of Ancelotti would be an unbelievable coup for them."
What should be expected of Ancelotti during his time in Merseyside? Tom Carnduff looks at the various factors around the appointment.
Ancelotti's achievements
- Champions League x3
- UEFA Super Cup x3
- Club World Cup x2
- Premier League x1
- Serie A x1
- Bundesliga x1
- Coppa Italia x1
- FA Cup x1
- Copa del Rey x1
Does Ancelotti suit the role?
As Carragher stated, there is little doubt that this is indeed a coup for Everton, but does Ancelotti suit the role at Goodison Park?
Ancelotti's career has been built around adding perfection to sides already near the top of their game, or those with a previous reputation of success.
His time at PSG started and ended with the French giants top of Ligue 1, while he ensured that trophies returned to both AC Milan and Real Madrid.
The impact was immediate during his time in Spain, while Real failed to secure the La Liga title, they did win the Champions League in Ancelotti's first full season in charge.
For Everton, while they have been a regular Premier League feature, their last trophy came in 1996 when they lifted the Community Shield after winning the FA Cup the season before.
They've failed to finish higher than fifth in any season since 2005 but have featured in European competition - that being the UEFA Cup/Europa League, with the round of 16 their furthest point.
Consistency is likely to be the target for Ancelotti with a hope that trophies will eventually follow. The Toffees need to return to the top-six battle that they found themselves in between 2006 and 2014, and become regulars in European football again.
Big money signings incoming?
It's no secret that Everton have significant financial backing - as indicated by some of the signings they've made in recent seasons.
Gylfi Sigurdsson, Richarlison and Alex Iwobi are just some of those who have commanded big transfer fees and it's unlikely to stop there if Ancelotti is at the helm.
The Italian spent over £150m on bringing Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez to Real Madrid, while he also oversaw Fernando Torres' £50m move to Chelsea and a near £100m spending spree on Corentin Tolisso, Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels for Bayern.
It'll come as no surprise to the Everton board that Ancelotti will be eyeing up big-name signings when the transfer window opens - and the appointment of a manager with such status suggests they are willing to match his ambitions.
Top of that wishlist is likely to be a striker. Ancelotti has had a theme of strikers with real presence throughout his managerial career and that could be a target area when the transfer window arrives.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Moise Kean are the current preferred options in that position. Edinson Cavani, who Ancelotti narrowly missed working with at PSG as they both switched clubs in the same summer, is out of contract in June and could be a name to watch.
The opposite flank to Richarlison is also an area needing improvement for Everton with the club rotating between Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Bernard. None of those have been able to hit the heights of their Brazilian team mate.
A chance for trophies early on?
Ancelotti arrives with the reputation of winning trophies and Everton will likely have to wait until next season before they can get their hands on anything.
The Toffees' best chance of success looks likely to be in either domestic cup which will come alongside their efforts to push further up the Premier League standings.
Everton find themselves drawn away at Liverpool in the third round of this season's FA Cup and that puts them as huge 20/1 outsiders to lift the trophy at Wembley in May.
They could draw inspiration from the fact that Ancelotti's Napoli proved to be Liverpool's 'Kryptonite' in the Champions League. The Reds only managed to win one of their previous four meetings, with Napoli successful in both games played in Italy.
With no European football next season, alongside the fact they will fall well short in any potential title race, the FA Cup or Carabao Cup will be Everton's target for silverware in the short-term.
The revival of Moise Kean?
Moise Kean made the switch to Everton for a £27m fee from Juventus in the summer but has failed to live up to the hype during his time on Merseyside.
His spell at the club was summed up during their recent 1-1 draw with Manchester United, where interim manager Duncan Ferguson substituted him off just 19 minutes after bringing him on.
"It wasn't because of Moise Kean's performance it was just because I needed to make a substitution to kill a bit of time," Ferguson told Sky Sports.
"I've got so many strikers on the bench, I just decided to make that change. It was nothing against Moise Kean really."
Despite the explanation, the move was condemned from various sectors of the football world. Ancelotti, though, could be the answer to that current problem.
While his tactical prowess often grabs the headlines, Ancelotti has repeatedly been praised for his approach to player management and his philosophy off-the-pitch.
"Ancelotti has won everything in Europe. He has given us a stronger mentality," Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly previously stated.
"This group has really improved, we have to continue like this."
The arrival of Ancelotti is likely to be a move welcomed by Kean, who will hope that he's the key to unlocking his full potential at the club.
Odds correct at 1220 GMT (17/12/19)