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Report: Arsenal, Everton eager to speak with Ancelotti after Napoli exit

Marc Atkins / Getty Images Sport / Getty

There's no shortage of interest from Premier League clubs if Carlo Ancelotti chooses to return to England.

The former Chelsea coach is already being linked with both Arsenal and Everton less than a day after he was sacked by Napoli, according to James Olley of the Evening Standard.

It's understood that the two Premier League clubs are keen to meet with the 60-year-old about the possibility of becoming their next permanent manager.

Ancelotti was dismissed by Napoli on Tuesday shortly after the Serie A club beat Genk 4-0 to secure its place in the Champions League knockout stage.

Arsenal was previously linked with Ancelotti in January 2018 when it became clear that Arsene Wenger's tenure in north London was coming to an end. But Ancelotti ultimately joined Napoli and Arsenal hired Emery, who oversaw the Gunners until being relieved of his duties last month following a string of poor results.

Arsenal officials are now in search of a long-term solution on the touchline, but they're also reportedly willing to give interim manager Freddie Ljungberg a chance solidify himself as a legitimate contender for the role.

A report Tuesday linked the Gunners with a move for former Valencia and Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral. The 54-year-old allegedly met with Arsenal officials in London to interview for the vacancy. However, he's said to be pessimistic over his chances of landing the job based on his Spanish background considering that Emery, who is also from Spain, reportedly struggled to communicate with his squad before being sacked.

Former players such as Patrick Vieira and Mikel Arteta have also been linked with the Arsenal job, while reports have suggested the club may be interested in former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri and ex-Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Meanwhile, Everton are also in search of a new manager following the firing of Marco Silva last week. But convincing Ancelotti to move to Liverpool could be a difficult task given that the Italian reportedly prefers to work in London, according to Olley.

Ancelotti has established himself as one of the top managers in the world following successful spells with some of the biggest clubs in Europe. Though he didn't win any silverware with Napoli, his trophy cabinet is loaded with some of the game's most coveted prizes from his stints at Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.

In Milan, Ancelotti won the league and a pair of Champions League titles before helping Chelsea claim the Premier League and a League Cup during his two years at Stamford Bridge. He was also in charge of Real Madrid when the club ended its long wait for a 10th European title in 2014.

If they don't hire Ancelotti, Everton could turn to a familiar face for their opening, as former manager David Moyes is considered a strong contender to replace Silva, according to Phil McNulty of BBC Sport.

The Merseyside club also spoke with Emery in the days after he was sacked by Arsenal, David Ornstein of The Athletic reported. Everton majority investor Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright then met with the 48-year-old in London and it's believed that Emery is interested in a move to Goodison Park.

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