Everton are on the search for their new manager at Goodison Park after relieving Rafa Benitez of his duties on Sunday afternoon following a disappointing six months for the side this season so far.

Their form has been so bad that it's seen them fall to 16th in the Premier League, and now reports have suggested that the Toffees could have already made their choice of successor.

What's the word?

Journalist and Everton insider, Alan Myers, took to his Twitter account soon after the Spanish manager was sacked with immediate effect from Everton to reveal his stance on the board's number one choice.

Myers revealed: "I understand Roberto Martinez was the Boards No:1 choice before the ownership appointed Benitez and there is still strong support for the Belgium manager but we’re far from any final decisions being made for the next Everton manager."

Following these comments, The Athletic's David Ornstein tweeted this afternoon to give an update on Everton's interest in making Martinez the next manager at Goodison Park:

"Roberto Martinez understood to have been offered Everton job & is talking to Belgium FA. If move does happen, believed 48yo Spaniard would like to take Thierry Henry as assistant. #EFC preference interim but situation unresolved + ongoing."

Sky Sports have named a number of potential candidates to take Benitez's place including Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard, with Graham Potter reportedly ruling himself out of the job early on.

Fans will be furious

With rumours circulating that Martinez has been offered the job, fans will understandably be seething to see his return to Goodison Park.

After all, he was sacked by Farhad Moshiri in 2016 after a disappointing season following three campaigns in charge and fan protests against the Spanish manager.

Indeed, supporters have already taken to Twitter following Ornstein's update on Everton's approach for the Belgium national coach wth tweeting:

"You’ve got to wonder the level of stupidity and lack of self awareness in that board, trying to appoint Martinez. Just a national laughing stock now, this carries on we’ll 100% go down in the end."

Fans made their feelings clear back in the 2015/16 season about how they feel about Martinez, which further eludes to how out of touch with the Goodison Park faithful the owners are, and it could be a huge risk if he doesn't make an instant impact on the side by winning games and climbing the Premier League table into a better position by the end of the season.

The Belgium boss steered them to fifth in one term but were 12th at the time of his departure. Thus, he doesn't look like the manager who'd be able to finally steer them into the European places.

In other news: Myers names Christophe Galtier as his first choice manager