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.

It is expected that Everton will continue to hope that Silva can revive their fortunes and it is understood that the club’s hierarchy are extremely reluctant to make a change and want to back him.

A meeting of directors – chairman Bill Kenwright, co-owner Farhad Moshiri, chief executive Denise Barrett-Baxendale and director of football Marcel Brands – was held after last Saturday’s disappointing 2-0 home defeat by Norwich City during which Silva’s future was discussed.

Jorge Jesus was made an honorary citizen of Rio de Janeiro after winning the Libertadores with Flamengo at the weekend credit: ELIANE CARVALHO/GOVERNMENT OF RIO DE JANEIRO HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/REX

Silva was also spoken to and the decision was made to back him in the hope that he can lift Everton out of their current plight. However that backing will only go so far should results deteriorate and the club's former manager David Moyes is still hoping he might be brought back should Silva be sacked. That possibility has not been well-received by Everton fans leading to intermediaries to put forward possible alternatives should a dismissal take place. Reports emerged in Portugal on Tuesday evening that Jesus could be a candidate and Telegraph Sport understands that his name has been put forward as a possibility.

Jesus, who is Portuguese, made the bold decision to move to Brazil and coach Flamengo in June and has made a huge impact with his team unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions. Their Libertadores win was the first time they had won the trophy since 1981 which was vindication for a manager whose appointment was not popular.

Jesus is 65 and has coached a host of Portuguese clubs including Benfica and Sporting. He has won the league three times in his home country, and was most recently in charge of the Saudi champions Al-Hilal before moving to Brazil. He also led Benfica to the Europa League final in 2013 where they lost to Chelsea and has expressed an interest in coaching in the Premier League in the past.