Crystal Palace and West Ham on summer collision course over Lille boss Paulo Fonseca
Former Tottenham interviewee has emerged as a potential target for both London rivals at the end of the season
In the frame: Crystal Palace and West Ham could both pursue Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca this summer
/ AFP via Getty Imagesrystal Palace and West Ham could go head to head for Lille boss Paulo Fonseca this summer.
The London rivals are each considering managerial changes at the end of the season and Fonseca has been identified as a contender by both.
The 50-year-old was in the hunt for the West Ham job back in 2018, while he was also interviewed by Tottenham in 2021 before they hired Nuno Espirito Santo.
Fonseca is understood to be attracted to the idea of managing in the Premier League, but he is currently fully focused on finishing off a good season at Lille.
He has guided the French club to fifth place in Ligue 1 with seven games to go and they are pushing to qualify for Europe.
Fonseca’s work has caught the eye of Palace, who are looking for a new manager this summer after sacking Patrick Vieira last month.
Former boss Roy Hodgson was duly placed in interim charge until the end of the season, sparking an impressive turnaround to move away from relegation danger, but the club are expected to appoint a permanent successor.
West Ham could also be in the market for a new manager, but they are yet to make a final decision on David Moyes’ future and will sit down with the Scot at the end of a tough season.
The Hammers have struggled in the Premier League this term and are currently just four points above the relegation places, although they do have a game in hand on their rivals.
West Ham have impressed in the Europa Conference League, though, and they face Gent in the second leg of their quarter-final tie at the London Stadium on Thursday.
The two sides drew the first leg in Belgium last week 1-1, with Moyes saying it is a “big incentive for the club” to win a first trophy since 1980.