Many in the media are speculating that Southampton boss Ronald Koeman is now Everton’s first choice to replace Roberto Martinez at Goodison Park.

That has left plenty asking ‘Why would the Dutchman leave sixth placed Southampton to join the team that finished in eleventh spot in the Premier League?’

Now I’d imagine that he’ll get a bumper wage rise if he did choose to join the Toffees but I think their would be more to it than that.

Firstly the Toffees have a rich history and tradition. They were one of the biggest English clubs in eighties, at the same time Koeman was starting his playing career.

Everton are a club that could be on the brink of a new exciting era.

New major shareholder Farhad Moshiri has came in with a promise to back a new manager with some hard cash. Supposedly the Toffees summer transfer budget could be as high as £100m, that could swell by £65m if they offload top-scorer Romelu Lukaku.

Most managers would love a £165m transfer kitty to remould a squad. The funds would show any incoming gaffer that the club is extremely ambitious.

Koeman may look at his Southampton predecessor Mauricio Pochettino and the job he’s done at Tottenham. Like Everton, Spurs were extremely ambitious, had a decent squad and were willing to back their boss with cash. Pochettino has since managed to get his players playing to a style that’s vibrant and exciting, the Argentine coach and the Spurs board were rewarded with a third place finish this season. Ronald Koeman would think he could do the same at Everton.

Now it has been claimed that Koeman is frustrated at St Mary’s due to the fact that he always has to sell the club’s top stars. When he arrived in England, they had just sold five key first team players. Then last summer they sold off Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin. 

As we head into this summer’s transfer window speculation has already started surrounding the futures of Fraser Forster, Victor Wanyama and Sadio Mané. Although it shouldn’t be forgotten that the Southampton board rejected advances for Wanyama and Mané last summer.

Obviously players will be linked with moves away, it shows that the club have progressed well. But it can show managers that the club may not match his own ambition.

Would it be different at Everton? 

Well as I’ve already stated Lukaku seems destined to start next season away from Goodison. But the Belgian hitman has spent three seasons at Everton. It’s important that you remember that Lukaku’s agent is Mino Raiola and he likes to get his players big money moves whenever he can.

But can the Merseyside club hold onto English stars Ross Barkley and John Stones?

This will be an interesting one when discussing the differences between the Saints and Toffees. Everton kept Stones last summer despite a long drawn transfer saga with Chelsea making numerous multi-million pound offers for the defender. Stones still has a three year deal and now with Moshiri’s cash they could decide to hold him to it. While Barkley still has two years left and is supposedly discussing a new one.

It would be up to Koeman to persuade the players that he wants to keep at Goodison that he wants to win things and break into the top four. If he can do that then he has a chance of keeping them.

Ultimately I think Ronald Koeman will view Everton as a club that could see him manage at a slightly higher level with more funds and more say in keeping players. Has he reached a point that he thinks he cannot improve Southampton without more backing? He has seen Man United, Chelsea and Man City all changing managers in recent times without his name being linked with any of those posts.

So as I say he might see Everton as the ideal club at the right time to break into the top four in future seasons.

It will be interesting to see if he gets the job and if he can turn things around.

As for Southampton? Well I think they’ll survive pretty well without Koeman, they have a great squad, good transfer policy and a board that do things that are best for the club.

 

Posted on June 3rd, 2016 by scott
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