Jose Mourinho, who has previously managed three different clubs over four spells in England, was reportedly approached regarding a potential return to the Premier League.
Following the sacking of Rafael Benitez, Everton's hierarchy approached Mourinho to take over at Goodison Park, but the two-time UEFA Champions League winner immediately declined the opportunity, according to The Telegraph.
Saturday's 2-1 loss to bottom-of-the-Premier-League-table side Norwich City was seemingly the last straw for owner Farhad Moshiri and club chairman Bill Kenwright as it marked the Blues' ninth league defeat in their past 12 matches, leaving them only six points off the relegation zone.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid coach Benitez had his contract terminated just six months into what was supposed to be a three-year reign, and Everton are now looking for their sixth manager in six years.
Click through the mini-gallery below to see some other managers who have lost their jobs this season:
According to the report, Mourinho's reason for refusing the Toffees' proposal is that he has only just started his job as AS Roma manager this season.
Of the potential replacements being mentioned, Paulo Fonseca, who was once Roma coach himself, is being seriously considered. He is still out of a job after his would-be Tottenham Hotspur appointment fell through in August last year.
Former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac is also a candidate, according to Football Italia, while other managers on the club's reported shortlist have coached Everton before, with the likes of Roberto Martinez, Duncan Ferguson and Marco Silva having also been brought up as potential successors to Benitez.
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As per an official statement from the Merseyside club, an update on a permanent replacement will be provided in due course.
