Big Sam to be replaced? Zorro linked with Everton move

Joe Williams

Everton are eyeing up Shakhtar Donetsk manager Paulo Fonseca as a possible replacement for Sam Allardyce in the summer, according to reports.

The Toffees won only their second match in 10 as they beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on Saturday and Allardyce’s initial boost in results has faltered recently.

And the Daily Mail claims that Everton will look to change their management structure in the summer with PSV Eindhoven sporting director Marcel Brands in line to replace Steve Walsh, who is the current under-pressure head of recruitment.

Everton splashed out in the summer transfer window with big-money moves for the likes of Gylfi Sigurdsson, Wayne Rooney and Jordan Pickford but their transfer outlay has yet to match their performances in the league.

Allardyce took over from Ronald Koeman when the club were nestled in the relegation zone but ‘Big Sam’ turned their fortunes around with a seven-match unbeaten streak.

However, results have recently taken a turn for the worse as the club have now lost five out of their last seven matches but luckily still find themselves in ninth position.

Farhad Moshiri has allowed £239m to be spent under Koeman and Allardyce combined during his tenure and the Everton owner is now looking for a better return for his money.

And the report continues by claiming that Moshiri could look to Fonseca – whose contract at Shakhtar expires in the summer – to make a difference.

Fonseca – who once turned up to a press conference dressed as Zorro – has managed Porto and Braga among other Portuguese clubs before he took charge of the Ukrainian side in 2016.