Club president Jokin Aperribay has confirmed that La Liga side Real Sociedad has been in contact with both David Moyes and Pepe Mel about their vacant managerial position.
Aperribay responded to reports that the former Manchester United boss was in contention for their open position by saying, “It’s true about [Pepe] Mel, it’s true about Moyes, but we’re also talking with more managers and maybe there will be more than that.”
With Sociedad mired in 19th position in the La Liga table, Jagoba Arrasate was sacked on Sunday and the club has already drawn up a shortlist to replace the 36-year-old, who was promoted from within but could only last a year in charge.
Aperribay told reporters there were currently four candidates being spoken with, without naming the other two.
Sociedad has fallen hard recently, coming down from an appearance in the 2013/14 Champions League all the way to the bottom of the table, with just one win all season - a 4-2 home victory over Real Madrid - in their opening 10 matches. A hook-up with Moyes could be a perfect synergystic relationship with both parties looking to repair reputations.
There are also reports that Moyes would want to bring Phil Neville with him to Spain, but that so far he is unconvinced of the move due to family reasons as well as his duties on air in the UK. Neville was a longtime Everton player under Moyes, and worked under the 51-year-old Scotsman on the coaching staff at both Everton and Manchester United.
Pepe Mel was briefly in charge of West Bromwich Albion last year but the Spaniard had to wait seven matches for his first win and parted ways with the club a day after the regular season was completed. He has the advantage of having coached in Spain before, with previous stints of four years at Rayo Vallecano in the second division and three at Real Betis, where he earned promotion and subsequently a Europa League berth. He was eventually sacked at both those clubs.