Everton are reportedly now closing in on the appointment of Steve Hitchen to be their new Director of Football (DoF).

The Lowdown: Pole position

As first reported by The Athletic journalist Jack Pitt-Brooke, Hitchen is in ‘pole position’ to land the DoF job at Goodison Park after his resignation from Tottenham Hotspur.

Following the departures of both Marcel Brands and Rafa Benitez midway through the season, the Merseyside club are in desperate need of some structure at the top, and a new DoF would help do just that.

The Latest: Closing in

Writing in his latest piece for The Daily Mail, reliable journalist Sami Mokbel has revealed that the board are now closing in on the appointment of a new DoF, and that Hitchen is their first choice to take over the role.

He is understood to have impressed Toffees chiefs with his vision for the club, and has significant support from inside the boardroom.

However, former Wolves sporting director Kevin Thelwell also has admirers at the Blues and is a contender as well, although Farhad Moshiri is thought to be personally backing Hitchen's appointment.

The Verdict: Needed

The mess that EFC have found themselves in at board level has ultimately translated onto the pitch, now in a serious relegation battle after yet another loss in the Premier League, this time at the hands of Newcastle United.

Dubbed a ‘shrewd operator‘ by Pitt-Brooke, Hitchen should help stabilise things at the top, and if they can stay up this campaign, ultimately help them attack the summer transfer window with a proper strategy in place.

The club have been heavily criticised for their recruitment policy in recent years, and Hitchen, hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Mauricio Pochettino at Spurs, could well be the man to sort that out.

In other news, find out which Evertonian Frank McAvennie claims is 'not fit enough' here!