Seasons2017-18Rumour Mill

Allardyce' time could be up at Everton

Everton could confirm recent speculation and part company with Sam Allardyce after Sunday's match with West Ham which will bring to a close a horrible 2017-18 season from the Blues' perspective.

The back page of The Mirror proclaims that the one-time ex-England boss is heading for the door and that Everton's hierarchy are already in talks with Paulo Fonseca and Marco Silva about replacing him.

Allardyce could have Farhad Moshiri's decision confirmed to him when he meets with the club's major shareholder again this coming week.

"We've got things to sort out, yes. At end of day, we are where we are," the 63-year-old said of his need to sit down with Moshiri in the coming days.

“I can't speculate or predict what Farhad is thinking or isn't thinking, I'll only find out when I see him. I've done all I can do. That's what I'll say to him. I can't do any more than that.

“There will be some meeting somewhere along the line next week.

Allardyce was hired last November on a compromise 18-month contract after an approach for Fonseca was rebuffed by Shakhtar Donetsk and concerted efforts to land Silva were stubbornly rejected by Watford.

The Hornets eventually sacked the former Hull City manager earlier this year citing Everton's interference after the club's form nosedived. Silva was replaced by Javi Gracia who has done enough to keep Watford in the Premier League.

Fonseca, meanwhile, won the Ukrainian cup this past week and is on course to land a third successive league title having led Shakhtar out of the group stages of the Champions League this season.

The Portuguese is an outsider to fill the upcoming vacancy at Arsenal where Arsene Wenger is retiring after 22 years while there is plenty of gossip in Italy suggesting that he could be lined up by Napoli if they part company with Maurizio Sarri.

Talk that Allardyce will be removed at Goodison Park having completed the job for which he was hired has been rife in the English press for weeks, fuelled further by distaste among Everton fans for his continued tenure at the club.

He was asked again about his future during his press conference this afternoon but refused to be drawn further than to reiterate that he has a year remaining on his contract.

“I have a contract,” Allardyce said somewhat testily. “I have a one-year contract. Until such time as someone says to me I no longer want you to fulfil that contract then I have a contract.

Asked if he had been able to plan for next season, he smiled: “Already done it. It's planned. It's there.”

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