Last week, after links with the Everton job, still held by Ronald Koeman at the time, Paulo Fonseca was asked about a potential move to Goodison Park.
Speaking to Portuguese newspaper Record, Fonseca was quizzed specifically about a potential Everton opportunity, and replied: “Everyone knows that my dream is to train in England and live the whole atmosphere. Seeing my name linked to Premier League clubs leaves me satisfied, of course. It is the acknowledgment of the good course that we have been carrying out.
“But at that moment I do not think about it. I’m just focused on Shakhtar, the revalidation of the titles and the attempt to have a good performance in the Champions League. These, yes, are my priorities.”
The Shakhtar Donetsk manager’s comments made their way back to the Ukraine media quickly, and Fonseca was forced to backtrack somewhat.
Quoted by RBC in Ukraine, Fonseca said: “I want to put an end to this issue, and now I do not care about my future, it’s so debated that it seems to everyone that my contract ends in December. No, it expires only at the end of the season, and the time for making some decisions is still long off.”
Taken at his word, Fonseca would have to snub any Everton advance and wait until the end of Shakhtar’s season in June, but with his contract ending next summer anyway, a move earlier can’t be ruled out.
For climatic reasons, the Ukraine league has a long break from early December until March, which is much longer than the summer off-season, from June until July. That means changing a manager in December would make some sense, if a change was on the way anyway, and the club would have three months to find a replacement and get him settled in, there’s even a preseason period.
Should Fonseca genuinely be on Everton’s list, then those in charge at Goodison Park will surely be aware of the situation, and possibility of an early December move.
