Former Watford boss Walter Mazzarri narrowly missed out on the role of Everton manager when Ronald Koeman took the job last summer - and now looks a strong candidate to replace the man that beat him to the role.

Mazzarri was interviewed along with then Southampton boss Koeman in May 2016, with the latter appointed the following month. By that point, the Italian had already missed out on the Goodison Park hotseat and taken over as head coach at Watford.

But following a run of only two wins in 10 games, despite spending more than £100 million on new players in the summer, Koeman's job is coming under increasing pressure, and Mazzarri has been touted with taking over on Merseyside.

The 56-year-old's stock has clearly fallen since he was last considered for the role, on the back of a 17th-placed finish with Watford last season, but his reputation with Napoli, where he led them to the last 16 of the Champions league in 2012, still precedes him.

Mazzarri would, it is understood, be open to any move to the North West, but it remains to be seen how genuine owner Farhad Moshiri's "full support" for current boss Koeman will prove in the mean time.