Jose Mourinho has been installed as the bookies’ favorite to take over at Everton should he decide to sack Sean Dyche, but there are a number of reasons why the Portuguese’s move to Merseyside looks a non-starter.

Dyche is under pressure following a disappointing run of form that has seen the Toffees slip to 16th in the Premier League, within a point of the relegation places.

Everton have won just one of their last 10 league games – an impressive 4-0 win against Wolves on 4 December. But in their other nine matches throughout the period, they drew five and lost four, conceding just one goal in the process.

It is a sequence the new owners, the Friedkin Group, are unlikely to view favorably, especially as Premier League survival this season is more important than ever with the club due to move to their new Bramley Dock stadium in 2025-26.

What do the bookies say?

Mourinho is 4/5 favorite with BetVictor while Unibet, LiveScoreBet and BetMGM all have him at 3/4.

UK director at BetMGM, Sam Behar, said: “Is the Premier League more ready for Jose Mourinho? Well, our bet suggests that ‘The Special One’ could be set for another stint in England with Everton.

“He is 3/4 to replace the under-pressure Sean Dyche at Goodison Park ahead of former Toffees boss David Moyes.

“There are a whole host of other names but it is Mourinho who is the clear favorite in what will be a real coup for the Merseyside club.”

BetMGM have Moyes at 4/1, David Wagner at 9/1 and Steve Cooper and Russell Martin both priced at 14s.

Can it happen?

last time @EmiratesFACup Third round tie at Goodison Park. COYB!⏳ pic.twitter.com/d0kUSdHtMn

— Everton (@Everton) January 9, 2025

Well, first and foremost, Dyche is still in place, albeit with growing restlessness from fans who have been remarkably patient despite several years of uninspiring football.

Everton take on Peterborough United in the third round of the FA Cup tonight. The guessing game progresses. Defeat is unlikely but the next two Premier League games, home clashes with Aston Villa and Tottenham, could decide Dyche’s fate.

Mourinho took charge of Turkish side Fenerbahce in June and has done a solid job. Fenerbahçe are second in the Super Lig but are unlikely to win the title due to the superiority of rivals Galatasaray, who are eight points clear at the top.

Stumbled upon

It is not certain that Mourinho would prefer to swap Istanbul for Merseyside. Fenerbahce is a club with a huge fan base and is almost guaranteed European football every season.

Barring an unlikely FA Cup run that culminates in Wembley success, Everton won’t be playing continental football anytime soon.

Indeed, more years of toil and struggle look more likely and Mourinho has previously spoken of not having the appetite for a relegation battle.

He told Sky Sports in October: “Honestly, that has to be the hardest thing, harder than playing for the title. It is very difficult emotionally because it is something that changes life. You know, whether you stay in the Premier League or you’re out, it changes life, changes a lot of things. Brave people who do it. “

Mourinho is also previously with the Friedkin Group.

As Roma’s owners, they sacked the two-time Champions League winner because they believed he was not getting value for money from an expensively assembled squad.

At the time of his sacking last January, the Giallorossi were ninth in Serie A and struggling to reach the Champions League places.

Mourinho later claimed he had been “removed by someone who didn’t understand football,” quoting Dan Friedkin.

It looks like he will go that route again.