The current Everton manager is not particularly popular, but his replacement should be, given the swashbuckling style he prefers.
It has long been clear that Everton and Sam Allardyce are not a good fit for one another, even if he has pulled the club clear of relegation trouble.
Toffees fans had just started to seriously worry that they could be in for a long, hard scrap at the bottom when the former England boss arrived and strung a series of results together.
But with Everton now safely removed in midtable, it has become evident that Allardyce is not the right man for the job.
His turgid style of play – particularly away from home – has grated on the Everton faithful and a large number of them want him gone at the end of the season.
That certainly appears to be a possibility and Paulo Fonseca, a target according to the Daily Mail last month, looks like the perfect antidote to Allardyce’s malaise.
Fonseca’s Shakhtar Donetsk have received plaudits for their wonderful football throughout this season’s Champions League and that was still evident even as they crashed out to Roma on Tuesday.
Shakhtar dominated both legs, being edged out on away goals as Edin Dzeko struck at Stadio Olimpico.
And while Everton will hope Fonseca could deliver success at Goodison Park, Shakhtar’s capability to boss proceedings and play an attractive style even in defeat is certainly at odds with Allardyce’s approach.
Given Everton’s investment in a host of talented stars last summer, the squad looks a much better fit for Fonseca than for the current manager.
And if the Portuguese can replicate the style displayed by Shakhtar in Europe this season, he will be popular with fans on Merseyside too.
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