Lille coach Paulo Fonseca is ‘respected’ by West Ham United as the Premier League outfit weigh up their options with David Moyes’ future uncertain beyond the current campaign
Via Graeme Bailey
HITC have been told, via sources close to the former Roma, Shakhtar Donetsk and FC Porto coach, that Paulo Fonseca is one of a number of options under consideration by The Hammers.
While majority owner David Sullivan is yet to come to a decision over David Moyes, the pressure is rising following Saturday’s dismal 5-2 defeat at Crystal Palace. A result the Scot admitted left him feeling ‘embarrassed‘, only a few days after West Ham’s European journey came to an end against Bayer Leverkusen.
The London-based outfit, we understand, are ‘inundated’ with potential replacements. There is interest in Wolves boss Gary O’Neil, Feyenoord’s Eredivisie-winning tactician Arne Slot, Fulham’s Marco Silva, and the soon-to-be unattached Thomas Tuchel.
West Ham like Paulo Fonseca as well as Ruben Amorim
We also reported on Monday that the much-admired Ruben Amorim had flown in to England for talks, alongside his representative. Amorim, who’s camp have also held discussions with Liverpool, is understood to be unlikely to end up at the London Stadium, however. Meaning West Ham – who did not make an official offer for the Sporting Lisbon tactician – could step up their interest in a number of other options in the coming weeks.
One of those, Fonseca, nearly took charge at both Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds in the recent past. And it has been relayed to HITC, via a statement from Fonseca’s representatives, that there is interest from West Ham, though the 51-year-old appears to be in no rush to make any firm decision over his future.
“Paulo is very respected by the leadership at West Ham, and an option to replace David Moyes if and when he leaves,” the statement reads.
“There has been no contact with him. Paulo is focused on Lille until the end of the season.”
Lille boss has won nine trophies
Fonseca has spent nearly 20 years in management, starting out with the Estrela Amadora youth side in 2005. Renowned for his exciting, easy-on-the-eye approach, the Mozambique-born manager has won no fewer than nine trophies in his coaching career, picking up silverware at Porto, Braga and in Ukraine with Shakhtar.
“What the coach is doing is extraordinary,“ Premier League legend Thierry Henry tells Amazon of Fonseca; the flexibility and complexity of his tactics catching the eye of the Arsenal icon.
“A four-man defence which turns into a three-man defence. They play, they press, they score.”
Fonseca’s Lille are fourth in Ligue 1, only three points behind Brest in second.
West Ham, HITC understands, have also been made aware of the availability of former Wolves coach Julen Lopetegui, out of work since leaving Molineux on the brink of the current campaign.