Fonseca out of the running as Newcastle boss Benitez is linked with West Ham job

Shakhtar Donetsk coach Paulo Fonseca, who had been linked with the West Ham manager’s job, has signed a new two-year contract at the Ukrainian club.

The Portuguese had been a reported target for the Hammers as they look for a successor to David Moyes.

But Shakhtar announced on Thursday night that the 45-year-old had committed his future to the club.

Former Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, currently with Hebei China Fortune, outgoing Paris St Germain coach Unai Emery, and Newcastle’s Rafael Benitez, have also been linked with the Hammers boss.

There have been reports that West Ham plan to make an approach for Benitez, who is much admired by the West Ham hierarchy.

Fonseca is certainly out of the running, having been given an improved deal by his current club.

Shakhtar president Rinat Akhmetov said on the club website: “Paulo Fonseca is at Shakhtar and I’m delighted with that. We’ve signed a new contract for two years.

“Now we’ve signed a new contract and I’m confident that new successes await us in the future. Paulo is a professional. He’s an ambitious man, an industrious man and he’s got great ideas. He knows what to do.”