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The season is far from over, but already Everton are being linked with a whole host of new players - and now a new manager.

The Mirror claim that the Blues are lining up Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca to take over at Goodison Park in the summer, a man who reportedly interested the Blues before Sam Allardyce took charge.

The current Everton manager still has seven games left of this season before heading into the final year of his contract at the club.

But, that hasn't stopped reports of a new boss coming to the forefront of discussion, and Fonseca is the latest name to be brought up.

So, who is he? What's his managerial history? We've gathered all the information you need to know on the man said to be an Everton target.

Management in Portugal

Straight after hanging up his boots, Fonseca started his coaching career with Lisbon-based side Estrela da Amadora's youth team - who he was in charge of for two years.

A period of moving around Portugal followed that over the next few years, most notably with Pinhalnovense, who he guided to two Portugese Cup quarter-finals.

Fonseca led Aves to third place in the Portugese second division in 2011/12 before moving to top-tier Pacos de Ferreira for one campaign, also leading them to third place and Champions League qualification.

(Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

That, in turn, led to a high profile move to Porto - although that came to a sour end just 10 months into his tenure as he was sacked following a poor run of results which had left his side nine points away from league leaders Benfica.

A return to Pacos de Ferreira followed for the 2014/15 campaign before a move to Braga in the 2015/16 season - leading them to fourth place in the league and a Portugese Cup triumph.

Moving to Shakhtar

It is during Fonseca's time in Ukraine that he has really come to the forefront of attention.

The Portugese manager took over at Shakhtar Donetsk in 2016 for his first spell in management outside his native country - and got off to a brilliant start overseas.

He won a clean sweep of honours in his first campaign in charge of the Ukrainian club winning the league, cup and super cup.

Aside from team honours, he also collected the personal accolade of being named the Ukrainian Premier League coach of the year for his performances in charge of Shakhtar.

Not bad at all, eh?

What has he said about move?

Fonseca has previously been linked with the Everton job, most notably back in October when Ronald Koeman was sacked.

The Telegraph then asked the Shakhtar manager about a potential move to England, and the 45-year-old played up the idea.

He said: "All coaches want to go to England and I am one.

(Image: CARLO HERMANN/AFP/Getty Images)

“I have this dream and I believe this can happen. I believe a lot this can happen. If it’s soon or not, I have this dream.

“I have a big, big passion about the game and the atmosphere in England is amazing. I hope one day to live it. It’s the biggest league in the world.

"For any coach, to work in England can be amazing. You have the best coaches and the best players.”

Style of play

This is what Everton fans all want to hear isn't it?

Well, Fonseca's Shakhtar side set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation more often that not in their 2016/17 league title winning campaign, which Blues supporters should be quite used to seeing.

But what made them stand out was the expansive and attacking football that they played.

Shakhtar scored on average 2.06 goals per game, whilst still managing to concede only 24 goals across the whole season - losing only two of their 32 league matches.

That's an impressive record however you look at it.

High-possession and pass heavy football to overload teams in the middle third is essentially the way Fonseca's Shakhtar broke sides down, whilst of course being ruthlessly efficient in front of goal.

The Back 3 provide a full profile of Fonseca's tactical style, going into further depth of how short passing and overlapping full backs were crucial to the title win in the 2016/17 season.

The bit about full backs sounds a little familiar...

Anything else we should know?

Think you might have seen Fonseca in the news a few months ago?

Well, you probably did - and it wasn't anything to do with Everton.

The Shakhtar boss hit the headlines in December after turning up to a post-match press conference after a Champions League victory over Manchester City dressed as Zorro...as you do.

Why? Well, it was because he'd promised to do it if his side qualified for the last 16 of the competition - which they did.

He's a man of his word.