Fresh reports linking Paulo Fonseca with a move to Everton

With Sam Allardyce’s tenure at Everton looking increasingly perilous, there’s more and more reports linking prospective replacements with the top job at Goodison Park.

Shakhtar boss Paulo Fonseca appears to be the top of most Evertonians’ wish list. The 45-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has regularly been linked with a move to Merseyside.

Now sports reporter Graeme Bailey claims Fonseca is definitely moving to England, with Everton the favourites to land the Portuguese.

Bailey cites “sources close to” Fonseca that believe he will leave Shakhtar at the end of his contract to fulfil his ambition of managing in the Premier League.

The claims are certainly tenuous, but it isn’t the first time the former defender has been linked with a move to Goodison Park.

Everton were linked with Fonseca during the autumn when they were looking to replace Ronald Koeman. However, Shakhtar were reluctant to let their manager go mid-season.

With his contract up in the next few weeks, Fonseca is free to move on and so will cost nothing to appoint.

Former Watford boss Marco Silva is also reportedly still in contention, after the club failed to prize him away from Vicarage Road in November despite being willing to pay £15m for his services.

The rising tide of antagonism against Allardyce means he is almost certain to leave the club, perhaps even before the end of the season.

Fonseca and Silva look the likely frontrunners. And given what we have endured this season, I doubt too many Evertonians would grumble with either.