Silva has been out of work since being sacked by Watford in January

Marco Silva could be confirmed as Everton's new head coach next week and the club want him at the helm for a long time to come, Sky Sports News understands.

While several candidates remain under consideration, Silva is understood to remain their first choice to replace Sam Allardyce and owner Farhad Moshiri hopes he will still be in charge in at least five years' time.

Moshiri hopes Silva will take the club into its new £500m, 55,500-seater stadium at Bramley Moore Dock in the 2022-23 season, and the Portuguese is set to sign a long-term contract with that in mind.

1:19 The question over Sam Allardyce's future other whether he would stay at Everton never really left people's minds The question over Sam Allardyce's future other whether he would stay at Everton never really left people's minds

Silva has consensus across the Everton boardroom, with newly appointed director of football Marcel Brands a known admirer of his work.

He impressed while narrowly failing to keep Hull City in the Premier League last season, and was rewarded with an immediate return to the top flight with the manager's job at Watford.

3:27 An Everton club statement thanked Sam Allardyce for his seven month spell at the club but said they will appoint a new manager as part of their longer-term plan An Everton club statement thanked Sam Allardyce for his seven month spell at the club but said they will appoint a new manager as part of their longer-term plan

Having made a strong start to the season with the Hornets, Silva emerged as a candidate for Everton after Ronald Koeman was sacked, but after Watford accused Everton of 'tapping him up', the Toffees backed off and eventually settled for Allardyce.

With manager and squad seemingly distracted by the saga, Watford's form dipped and Silva was sacked in January.

Meanwhile, Allardyce managed to guide Everton to eighth in the Premier League, but with supporters and the boardroom unhappy about the team's style of play, the former England manager was let go at the end of the season.

The two clubs remain at loggerheads with Watford still chasing compensation, but Everton are confident they will win any case against them and that the appointment will not be delayed by the dispute.