The independent inquiry into Everton’s alleged tapping-up of Marco Silva when he was Watford head coach remains ongoing.

The Premier League asked a law firm to investigate whether the Toffees made an illegal approach for their current manager when he was at the Hornets' helm last season.

Everton wanted the Portuguese to replace Ronald Koeman after he was sacked in 2017, but Watford rejected the Toffees’ advances including turning down an offer of compensation.

The Goodison Park club eventually got their man in the summer after he was sacked by Watford in January 2018, with the Hornets citing Everton’s approach for causing Silva to lose focus and leading to a downturn in results.

The Premier League’s attempts to seek a resolution to the dispute between the two clubs through mediation proved was not successful, leading to the investigation being launched in September. We have been told that investigation continues.

Watford claimed their initial complaint was made out of principle over Everton’s approach.

“The complaint to the Premier League makes clear the seriousness of the allegation and what the club believes is overwhelming evidence of a clear breach of Premier League rules,” a club statement in July read.

“At the request of the Premier League we entered into mediation with Everton in a process that involved club officials and their respective legal teams, with no conclusion being reached.

“Therefore the disciplinary process continues. In pursuing its disciplinary claim, the club has known from the outset it forfeited any right to compensation as a consequence of not following a proposed arbitration process.

“We believe the situation is not about a compensation figure but the principle of making a stand when the actions of one Premier League club completely undermine and cause intrinsic damage to a fellow member club.”

Silva is set to return to Vicarage Road on Saturday when Watford face Everton in the Premier League, but first the Toffees take on champions Manchester City at Goodison Park tonight.