Everton still watching previous manager target

Everton had been strongly linked with two manager candidates before Sam Allardyce was appointed to save the club from the horror the 2017-18 season was turning into. The first of those was Watford FC’ s Marco Silva, with the Blues apparently making four attempts at getting the manager over. The Hornets season eventually fell into disarray and Silva was sacked last month.

The second name on that list was Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca. A number of sources had claimed that the Blues were very close to signing the 44-year-old Portuguese national when they ended up getting Big Sam.

Now the Mail are saying that Everton have maintained a close eye on Fonseca, who is in the last year of his two-year contract with the Ukrainian side, who sit in first place in their domestic league and are through to the knockout rounds of the Champions League to face Italian side AS Roma in ten days.

The article goes on to say that Director of Football Steve Walsh could be let go of at the end of the season as well, with the Blues likely lining up PSV Eindhoven Marcel Brands for that position.

Photo credit should read STANISLAS VEDMID/AFP/Getty Images

Fonseca recently caused a stir during the post-match press conference after Shakhtar beat Manchester City in the last group stage game to qualify for the knockout rounds and Fonseca appeared dressed as masked vigilante Zorro.

He went on to say that it was part of a promise he had made if he was able to steer his side into the Round of 16 of the Champions League, which they did deposing Serie A leaders Napoli.

According to other sources in Portugal, Fonseca was among the candidates Everton considered to replace Roberto Martinez in 2016 before appointing Ronald Koeman, which explains the Toffees’ familiarity with him.