West Ham unlikely to offer Slaven Bilic new contract this summer despite interest from Fenerbahce

Safe | Hammers secured their Premier League status with victory over Spurs
Ian Kington/AFP/Getty Images
Ken Dyer8 May 2017

Slaven Bilic’s future at West Ham looks assured despite news that Fenerbahce are keen to appoint the Croatian as their next manager.

There was no appetite among the West Ham hierarchy to make a change even before Friday’s 1‑0 win over Tottenham — with the emphasis now shifting to whether Bilic should be offered a new deal.

It is unlikely, though, the board will rush into any decision regarding their manager, beyond next season.

Bilic has a year remaining on his contract and is well liked by those in authority at the club but co-owner David Sullivan will want to see how West Ham start next season, before deciding on a new contract.

Last season, when Bilic guided West Ham to seventh in the Premier League, Sullivan said he wanted to see if the 48‑year-old Croatian was a “one-season wonder” so it seems distinctly unlikely now, given West Ham’s troubled season, that he would hurry into drawing up a new, improved contract.

However, the board will have noted the news from Turkey where Fenerbahce are reported to be keen on Bilic succeeding Dick Advocaat as their manager, who is set to be appointed the head coach of the Dutch national side.

Bilic became a popular figure in Turkish football after managing Besiktas for two seasons, before moving to West Ham.

Kouyate has been nursing a wrist injury all season and will undergo surgery this week with West Ham’s place in the Premier League next term now assured.

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