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Watford have issued a hands-off warning to Everton after the Merseysiders made an approach for manager Marco Silva.

The Toffees made contact with their Premier League rivals on Monday morning — and were given short shrift.

Sources at Vicarage Road insist owner Gino Pozzo has “absolutely no interest whatsoever” in entertaining any approach for 40-year-old Silva – and no further enquiry would be welcome.

There is no release clause in Silva’s two-year contract, meaning Everton would have to offer a vast compensation package to tempt the Hornets to part company with their fiercely-ambitious Portuguese coach.

(Image: PA Wire)

Silva has been in charge for just 12 games after leaving relegated Hull at the end of last season and despite going into the international break on the back of three consecutive defeats, he has made a big impression.

Ironically, the last of those setbacks was a 3-2 defeat at Everton — after which Silva refused point-blank to discuss reports linking him with the Goodison vacancy.

(Image: Reuters)

David Unsworth has been in caretaker charge since £6 million-a-year Ronald Koeman was sacked last month, but chairman Bill Kenwright and chief investor Farhad Moshiri are not on the same page about turning his appointment from Under-23s boss into a permanent move.

Kenwright favours a sentimental, home-grown option, while Silva has been Moshiri’s prime target from the time Koeman walked the plank.