David Moyes has revealed he is “well down the line” in agreeing a new contract as West Ham boss.
The 58-year-old’s current deal is set to expire this summer after he was handed an 18-month contract in December 2019 for his second stint in charge.
There is the option to extend Moyes’ stay by another year but the PA news agency understands he is close to signing fresh terms on a longer-term deal.
“We’re pretty well down the line with my contract and I hope that we’ll get something confirmed,” he said.
“It is more likely to be after the end of the season before we do anything. We don’t really want anything to get in the way of what we’re doing just now.”
The Hammers were in a relegation battle at the time of his appointment but Moyes kept them up and has enjoyed a fine season at the helm this time around.
While their Champions League qualification hopes are all but over following a run of one win in their last five Premier League games, European football in some guise remains a real possibility for next term.
With Moyes now nearly guaranteed to be in charge, he insists qualifying for the first season of the new Europa Conference League could not be considered a failure.
“Yes,” he replied when asked if he would take the third-tier UEFA tournament seriously.
“I think I am really weary of a third European competition, you start to think about things like the Intertoto Cup which was around a few years ago.
“But I have got to say that if you are rewarded with European football for finishing high up the league, it is praise for you and it is showing the work you have done.
“If we end up finishing in that competition it won’t be disappointing – but maybe next year if I am playing Thursday and Sunday I might think differently.
“I think if we made European football it would be worthy of celebration. You are always trying to get more and push up the league. We might enjoy a couple of beers if we make Europe after Sunday’s game.”
Winning at relegated West Brom on Wednesday night will be an important step to securing European football – but Moyes will not be taking the Baggies lightly.
“It will be disrespectful to think that any club who had been relegated would not be working as hard,” he added.
“Just look at Sheffield United (winning at Everton) the other night. Everybody wants to win and the competition in the Premier League is really difficult.”
