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Duncan Ferguson is set to remain a vital part of Everton’s first-team coaching set-up - as the Blues edge closer to appointing Ronald Koeman.

The Goodison hero was promoted from the Academy to senior ranks by Roberto Martinez two years ago.

Everton sacked Martinez last month and instantly made Southampton boss Koeman their No1 target.

The 53-year-old is understood to be ready to swap the south coast for Goodison and spearhead the new era under billionaire investor Farhad Moshiri.

Koeman’s brother, and trusted No2, Erwin is in line to join him but Ferguson looks also set to be retained as part of the first-team structure.

Big Dunc is understood to have met with Moshiri this week and been reassured that he remains part of the plans at Everton.

The Blues will reportedly have to pay between £3.5-4m in compensation to free Koeman from the final 12 months of his contract at Southampton.

And in a major show of ambition, Everton are ready to hand the former Dutch international a £6m-a-year salary as well as the biggest transfer war chest in club history.

As the ECHO revealed last month, the Blues are also in the process of implementing a European-style structure which will see the appointment of a director of football.

Everton are trying to prise Sevilla’s revered sporting director Monchi from the La Liga club in the hope of teaming him up with Koeman.