Jorge Jesus has emerged as a possible candidate should Everton decide to sack Marco Silva. Jesus is coach of Brazilian club Flamengo and led them to last weekend’s dramatic Copa Libertadores – the South American equivalent of the Champions League – triumph against River Plate.

Winning the trophy means Flamengo have qualified for the Club World Cup in Qatar next month where they would be expected to meet Liverpool in the final. Flamengo’s involvement in that competition would delay Jesus’s availability, it would seem, should Everton decide to make a change. It is understood, though, that no decision has been made on the future of Silva, who took training as normal at Everton’s Finch Farm complex on Tuesday and is carrying on in his role.

Silva is under serious pressure but is expected to be given more time to turn things around at Everton starting with Sunday’s Premier League visit to Leicester City. Three days later Everton face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby at Anfield and he will remain for that game also, it seems.

The fixtures remain difficult for Everton, who are 16th in the table, with games against Chelsea, Manchester United, Leicester in the quarter-final of the Carabao Cup and Arsenal before Christmas.