Frank Lampard. Vitor Pereira. Or Duncan Ferguson?
It looks likely to be the former
Reports out of Everton on Thursday suggested Farhad Moshiri would hold a final round of talks with three candidates - all wildly ranging in popularity - before making a decision on a successor for Rafa Benitez.
And while a flurry of reports on Friday night would indicate Lampard is a strong contender, a glaring question must be asked.
How has Moshiri reached such an unthinkable situation?
And for those hoping to hear public answers after a week which heralded Goodison Park protests and a car-crash live television interview with Pereira, they are likely to be left disappointed.
Moshiri declared himself a 'private man' who 'does not speak publicly very often' after the sacking of Benitez but promised his 'determination to deliver for Everton will not waver'.
That may well be the case but his strategies leave a lot to be desired.
Benitez was on the brink at Everton for several weeks - arguably more - but his sacking showed Moshiri slow to react once more.
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Watford replaced Claudio Ranieri within a matter of hours. Aston Villa confirmed Steven Gerrard four days after Dean Smith was axed. Tottenham Hotspur took 24 hours to bring in Antonio Conte after Nuno Espirito Santo.
Even Manchester United, with their own off-field circus, managed to appoint Ralf Rangnick as interim in a shorter space of time than Everton will replace Benitez.
The word unthinkable can be applied again and again this month.
It is unthinkable Moshiri watched Everton sleepwalk towards the relegation zone under Benitez and did not draw up alternative options.
It is unthinkable it has taken, at this stage, almost two weeks to confirm a successor.
It is unthinkable Moshiri and his advisors have allowed such a public courting of candidates, confusing and inflaming an already restless fanbase.
And it is unthinkable Everton could miss out on transfer targets due to the glaring fact of not having a manager or director of football.
It is unthinkable and unacceptable.
"It is vital we appoint a manager who fits the structure we are putting in place," Moshiri told supporters after Benitez left.
"And so, whilst we are keen to make an appointment as quickly as possible, we will work together to ensure it is the right candidate to deliver the success we all crave."
In fairness to Moshiri, the right candidate might not be available at this stage.
But this is a fact he and his advisors should have been considering long before the curtain was brought down on Benitez.
The Iranian has mostly toed the line with managerial appointments - even Sam Allardyce was viewed a necessary evil by some while Carlo Ancelotti was a major coup - but the Benitez reign has united fans against his knee-jerk and reckless judgements.
Marcel Brands and Dan Donachie left the club - both positions remain vacant - while Lucas Digne was, bizarrely, allowed to exit to a Premier League rival after falling out with the manager.
Benitez followed him out the door days later.
And now the chickens have come home to roost for Moshiri.
He is left with three candidates who have managed less than 65 Premier League games between them - Lampard 57 of those alone - and a squad which, at this stage, looks ill-equipped for a relegation battle.
An unthinkable situation, hard to explain. Moshiri must get it right with his next move.
It should never have come to this.
