Carlo Ancelotti has agreed a deal to take over as Everton’s manager and may forgo money he is owed by Napoli under the terms of his dismissal in order to speed his appointment at Goodison Park.

Ancelotti was sacked by Napoli last week but remains under contract until June 2021. He will hold talks with the Serie A club and decide the best course of action to sever his ties and succeed Marco Silva at Everton.

The 60-year-old, who was in London on Tuesday morning, has made it clear that he is only interested in a long-term deal with the club and has sought reassurances that there will be money to spend in the summer.

The Italian has spent most of his career coaching teams in the Champions League but is attracted to the challenge of revitalising Everton, who are in a relegation battle but have beaten Chelsea and drawn with Manchester United in their past two matches under the caretaker Duncan Ferguson.

Ancelotti has won the Champions League three times as a manager, twice with Milan and most recently with Real Madrid. He has been keen to return to the Premier League, having managed Chelsea and secured the Double with them in 2010.

Ferguson will stay in charge for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup quarter-final at home to Leicester. “After the Chelsea result and that atmosphere at the ground, which was incredible, I’m sure they’ll want to go again on Wednesday and for us all to pull together again,” Ferguson told Everton’s website.

“We need them to deliver. Leicester are a great team, very strong in the transition, and they’re going to be a really tough test.

“But we’re at Goodison, we’re at the fortress, and we need to make it a bear pit.”