Emery/Fonseca set for talks as Rafa price rises

West Ham are keeping an eye on Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle position as they push ahead with their managerial plans at the club.

Despite Unai Emery being lined up for an interview this week following CandH reporting last Friday  he was very much in their thinking , the club would still love to land Rafa.

However, it has now become clear that the Spaniard is holding out for a massive wage on top of the buy out from his contract in the north east which looks likely to scupper a deal.

That release clause has been set at £6 million and we understand he is seeking around £10 million a year in wages on his next deal which would cost the Hammers around £26 million over two years.

However, having all but clinched his signature before they were hijacked by Real Madrid the board would love to bring him into the London Stadium.

However, with there being no certainty of him leaving Newcastle anyway,  the Hammers will be talking to David Moyes,  Emery and Paulo Fonseca , this week as they bid to settle their choice.

Emery has been a strong candidate for some time and was included in the last ClaretandHugh poll after it became apparent he was set to leave Paris St Germain at the end of the season and was very much in the Hammers frame.

Despite him being seen as a widespread favourite in reports this morning , there is still a way to go but Marco Silva remains an outside possibility.

Fonseca ,45,  led led Shakhtar Donetsk to the Ukrainian title and is fancied across the Premier League although Moyes remains in the frame if he can convince the club of his requirements and vision.