David Moyes returning to Everton after Marco Silva’s sacking might be the “step back that is required” for the club, says ex-captain Leon Osman.
Moyes, who spent 11 years at Everton before joining Manchester United, is among the favourites to replace Silva.
Silva, 42, was sacked with Everton sitting 18th in the Premier League after three successive losses.
“People say David Moyes is a step back – I’d argue a step back is good for Everton at the moment,” Osman said.
“The steps forward Everton have made in the last three or four years haven’t got them anywhere.”
Everton sacked Portuguese manager Silva on Thursday, less than 24 hours after their Merseyside derby humiliation in a 5-2 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield.
Silva, who took charge in May 2018, won 24 and lost 24 of his 60 games.
Former Toffees striker Duncan Ferguson has been put in temporary charge and will manage the side against Chelsea on Saturday.
Everton said they aim to appoint a new manager “as swiftly as possible”.
Moyes is a name under serious consideration by Everton’s board, with some bookmakers offering evens odds of the 56-year-old Scot being installed as the next permanent manager.
More ambitious suggestions of contenders include former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone, while former Everton skipper Mikel Arteta – now working under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City – and Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe
are also thought to be on the radar.
Another name already linked is Shanghai SIPG manager Vitor Pereira, who led Porto to back-to-back Portuguese titles in 2012 and 2013.
“The only obvious candidate at the moment is David Moyes,” Osman said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Maybe a step back is what is required.
“Are you going to get a manager in a job? That can take time and be very expensive.
“They tried the panic mode – as Evertonians called it – by bringing in Sam Allardyce to keep Everton up. It wasn’t a success on all counts, it kept Everton in the Premier League but a lot of fans weren’t happy.
“Some fans are suggesting to go and get Mauricio Pochettino because he is out of a job but Everton have fallen so far down the league that even with all the money available it is no longer a glitzy opportunity.
“You’ve got a serious job on your hands over the next two years before Everton can be re-established as a top club again. We’ve now become a project again where we were three or four years ago when the money first came in.”
