Watford have rejected an approach from Everton for their Portuguese manager Marco Silva.
The 40-year-old arrived at Vicarage Road in the summer and has only been in charge of 11 Premier League games since leaving Hull City.
Everton had identified Silva as their preferred candidate to replace the sacked Ronald Koeman, but the Hornets are determined to keep their man.
David Unsworth is currently in caretaker charge and has only won one of his four games – a victory which came against Silva’s Hornets outfit.
Former England manager Sam Allardyce and Burnley boss Sean Dyche have also been linked with a move to Goodison Park.