If David Moyes Doesn't Go to Man United, Where Could He Go Post-Everton?

Well, this article has already assumed two things. One, that Everton manager David Moyes is leaving Everton and two, when he does he will take the short trip down the M62 to Manchester United.

These are two big assumptions, but Moyes' refusal to discuss his expiring contract until after the January transfer window, a deadline which has been moved to the summer, means that managerial rumours surrounding the Scot will be rife.

Why Moyes couldn't just bluff his way through an "extended negotiations" or something similarly benign is beyond me. 

Moyes has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for years, and it seems like the only thing holding Moyes back is the continued success of United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

So, if Sir Alex decides he wants another year or two at Old Trafford and Moyes wants to move when his current contract runs out this summer, what other clubs offer Moyes a managerial step-up his time at Everton deserves?

Manchester City

If David Moyes doesn't end up on the red side of Manchester, why not on the blue one?

With Roberto Mancini hailing himself as the best manager in England, Moyes would have big shoes to fill at the Etihad Stadium, but the Scot could thrive with a big money backer.

City and their owners would have to follow the English rhetoric that our clubs and country are best led by our countrymen, and Moyes is the best British manager available.

All this depends on Mancini and whether he can weather the storm at City following a less than expected Premier League and Champions League campaign.

Moyes isn't the big name that the splashy Manchester City owners would chose, but he offers the stability and Premier League experience that the club richly needs.

Schalke

German side Schalke offer the best alternative to the Manchester United job for David Moyes.

Schalke are a Champions League side that currently lie in 9th place in the Bundesliga—some 27 points behind soon-to-be champions Bayern Munich.

Having sacked manger Huub Stevens (pictured) in December 2012, Schalke have appointed youth team coach Jens Keller as manager on an interim basis.

David Moyes has been quoted as an admirer of the German league, naming the Bundesliga as his most likely managerial destination outside of the United Kingdom, and Schalke seems like a perfect destination.

The job opens up this summer, the side is already of a Champions League calibre and the German league is about to come under the spotlight when Pep Guardiola takes over as Bayern Munich boss in the summer.

Schalke seem just as enamoured with Moyes, as they have reportedly placed the Scot on a five man wish-list for the vacant managerial post.

Watch this space.

Chelsea

David Moyes offers the Chelsea the intangible that they have lacked since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003: stability.

Moyes has been at Everton for 11 years, in that time Chelsea have had ten managers (it is easy to lose count).

With interim boss Rafael Benitez facing the wrath of Chelsea supporters it seems ever likely that the Spaniard will be out of the club in the summer.

Abramovich had been desperate to persuade (read: pay lots of money for) Pep Guardiola to take over at the club but the ex-Barcelona boss made the sensible choice of Bayern Munich instead.

If Moyes were to choose Chelsea he would be ridiculed. The job is the least safe in football, three bad results and you're nearly out of the door and with his lack of European experience, Moyes may not even be in the Chelsea frame.

That hasn't stopped the speculation however, as Abramovich is running out of managers to choose from, and with the likely departure of Benitez the door stands open for Moyes.

Werder Bremen

Werder Bremen manager Thomas Schaaf is the longest serving manager in the Bundesliga, having managed Bremen since 1999.

Things haven't gone too well for Schaaf recently as the club currently sit 11th in the league, and the side haven't played in the Champions League since 2010.

Schaaf has enjoyed a fantastic run with Bremen, 2008/9 and the runners-up medal in the UEFA Cup as the highlight, but the club need a change if they are to keep up with the best sides in Germany.

Similar to Schalke, Moyes has said he'd relish a move to Germany, and Moyes has been linked to both jobs as his high-tempo passing style of football would suit the German league well.

Schalke will remain the German favourites to grab Moyes if he is to leave Everton thanks to their own managerial merry-go-round, but Werder Bremen could snap up the Scot if Schalke don't.

Arsenal

After nearly 17 years in charge of Arsenal, time looks like it is finally running out on manager Arsene Wenger.

Arsenal have been a disappointment for several seasons now as Wenger hasn't won a trophy for eight years, following the 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League fans have called for Moyes to replace Wenger at the club.

Moyes, in the midst of his own decade-long trophy drought, would be a solid choice to take over from Wenger if the French manager is to leave in the summer.

Everton have played an attacking, passing style of play for the past two or three seasons now but they don't play the quintessential Arsenal way.

Wenger is popular with the current crop of Arsenal stars, and it remains to be seen if the Arsenal board will stick by the embattled manger.

If Wenger is to leave, Moyes would be one of the favourites to take over at the Emirates Stadium, but Arsenal may have so called "bigger names" on their watch list.

Whenever a long-term manager leaves a club, it comes as somewhat of a shock. The second longest serving Premier League manager being replaced by the third would have reverberations felt across English football.

Real Madrid

An even bigger shock would be David Moyes following Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu.

How do you follow the special one? Well, that's a question Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is still trying to answer, and Real Madrid's shopping list will be long as they try to stay relevant next to the greatest club side in the history of football.

There is no doubt of Moyes managerial calibre, but could Real Madrid make a run at the Everton man?

The short answer is probably not. If Arsene Wenger does leave Arsenal he could finally be approached by long-term pursuers Madrid. Moyes probably isn't on the Madrid radar.

Having said that, Moyes has been linked with the biggest job in England for the best part of five years so he is obviously well thought of. His side play an attacking style of passing football, he has continually pushed Everton above their means and Real wouldn't have to shift heaven and earth to get their man.

Moyes is definitely a rank outsider for this job; it would be a huge, landscape-shifting shock to world football if Moyes is even mooted as Madrid boss but never say never.