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Everton are targeting Mark Hughes as their next manager.

Roberto Martinez has been left a dead man walking at the Toffees, with the club ready to axe him at the end of what has been a hugely disappointing campaign.

Stoke boss Hughes is the shock name in the frame to take over and the 52-year-old Welshman has strong support within the corridors of power at Goodison Park.

Hughes has done a hugely impressive job at Stoke, rebuilding his reputation after a bad time in his previous job at Queens Park Rangers.

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It would represent another crack at a huge club after his spell in charge of Manchester City ended with him being axed in 2009 in favour of Roberto Mancini.

Everton’s new major shareholder Farhad Moshiri is taking a keen interest in the club’s affairs although chairman Bill Kenwright still rules the roost for now.

Moshiri already has strong links in the football world and Hughes is a name which had been put into him and is being seriously considered.

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The Goodison club will have money to spend, even though they face a battle to keep stars John Stones and Romelu Lukaku this summer.

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Stoke will be determined to keep Hughes, who has done brilliantly since being appointed three years ago.

He has delivered the Potters' highest-ever finish (ninth) and points total (54) of the Premier League era and brought in talents such as Bojan Krkic, Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri and Giannelli Imbula.

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Everton have also been looking at Bournemouth’s Eddie Howe, and Martinez's predecessor David Moyes has even been linked with a return.

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But Hughes has won admiring glances too and could now be in the frame, with Martinez appearing to be on borrowed time.