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Everton are closing in on the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as the club's new manager but Duncan Ferguson is expected to be in charge for the game against Arsenal.

Talks with the Italian have been ongoing since Tuesday and the Blues hope to finalise his arrival ahead of the weekend's game with the Gunners at Goodison.

But the lack of preparation time means Ferguson is expecting to be in the dugout for the 12:30pm kick-off although Ancelotti may be in the stands to watch on.

A deal to make Ancelotti the fourth permanent boss of the Farhad Moshiri -era has not been completed but it is understood that the club are confident it can be rubber-stamped in the next 48 hours.

In the meantime, Ferguson believes he will continue to take charge of the team, saying: "I don’t know 100 percent.

"I have talked to the owners and the directors. I would think I would be in for Saturday."

Ferguson inspired a remarkable fightback from 2-0 down at home to Leicester City in tonight's Carabao Cup tie at Goodison, to take the tie to penalties.

However, the Blues would lose 4-2 in the shoot-out and an emotional Big Dunc said some players were crying after the loss.

"They are gutted in there," he said.

"There are a lot of tears. I am gutted for Seamus Coleman , Leighton Baines , guys like that, a big chance for us to get to the semi-final. But it was understandable considering it was virtually the same team."