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Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has questioned whether Jose Mourinho would be an upgrade on Sean Dyche, as the latter was sacked by Everton.
The “Special One” has been strongly linked with a role at Goodison Park, given he previously worked for the club’s owners – the Friedkin Group – as Roma coach. Although that association came to an abrupt end when Mourinho was dismissed, he is thought to welcome the opportunity of a return to the Premier League.
The 61-year-old is currently managing Fenerbahce in the Turkish Super Lig but has made his displeasure about the standard of refereeing known on a number of occasions, even to a point of questioning the legitimacy of some officials and those who run the league.
But former Arsenal midfielder Merson, on record as a huge admirer of Mourinho’s talents, has queried how the Portuguese coach can improve Everton’s fortunes given the pool of talent at Goodison.
“I’m a big fan of Jose Mourinho. He’s been an amazing manager over the years, one of the all-time greats, but I don’t see how this Everton job ticks the box,” said Merson before Dyche was sacked on Thursday (9 January).
“Everton are in a massive, massive relegation fight. I think it’s out of them and Ipswich to go down. Mourinho needs to be higher up the league than hanging around fifth bottom.
“I just don’t see how Mourinho does any differently to Sean Dyche. I don’t see any difference in that. He’s a massive name in football but I’d be careful with that one.
“They’re not scoring a lot of goals, but it’s not like Mourinho is going to come in and they’re going to be free-flowing. He had the best Chelsea team of all time and they weren’t free-flowing. Winning 1-0, 2-0 every week, never letting in a goal, but Dyche doesn’t let in too many goals either.
“It’s a strange one for me. I think it’s the owners wanting a massive football name. If Dyche got the sack tomorrow morning, and any job came up in the bottom three or four in the league, he would get it – because if anybody’s going to get you out of trouble, Dyche is.
“If you’re going to bring someone in to take Dyche’s place, you have to bring in someone who has thick skin, like Mourinho. You have to bring in someone who’s going to do it his way, but there aren’t many of them around.”
Everton are 16th in the Premier League, one point off the relegation zone and without a win since 4 December.
