Pellegrini is ready to take over at West Ham

MANUEL PELLEGRINI will hold talks with West Ham today and his appointment as David Moyes’s successor is expected later this week. Pellegrini is considering the offer of a three-year contract with the details to be finalised with West Ham chiefs. The 64-year-old has signalled his intent by negotiating his release from Hebei China Fortune, which was confirmed on Saturday. He spent two years in charge of the Chinese Super League team and leaves them in mid-table as the season breaks until after the World Cup. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has settled on Pellegrini as his preferred option to replace Moyes, who was released last week after six months in the job. Paulo Fonseca was interviewed by Sullivan but has since signed a new contract at Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine. Rafa Benitez was also among the leading candidates but he is under contract at Newcastle. Pellegrini has been searching for a return to European football. He spent three years at Manchester City, where he delivered success with an attractive style of football, leading them to the Premier League title and two League Cup wins and reaching the last four of the Champions League in 2016. His distinguished coaching career began 30 years ago in his native Chile before he moved on to Ecuador, Argentina and Spain. Pellegrini served as manager of Villarreal, Malaga and Real Madrid before moving to Manchester five years ago. Pellegrini will be West Ham’s sixth manager in the eight years since Sullivan and David Gold bought the club.