West Ham United are close to agreeing a deal to extend the contract of manager Slaven Bilic, according toSky Sports.
Bilic stepped in as the successor to Sam Allardyce in June 2015, and has seen through just over half of the three year deal he initially signed with the London club. With his current deal set to expire at the end of next season, the Hammers are set to signal their intention to stand by their boss by tying him down long-term.
West Ham close to agreeing a new contract with Slavan Bilic. (Source - Sky Sports)
Earlier this season, West Ham's form in the Premier League had intensified speculation that Bilic could actually leave his role at the London Stadium, though a series of more positive results since the start of December has helped establish the club's position in the middle of the Premier League table.West Ham have won six and drawn two of 11 Premier League games since then.
The club's board are said to have been impressed with the manner in which Bilic has turned the club around over the last few months, with particular credit given to him for the way he handled the situation regarding former star man Dimitri Payet - who returned to former club Marseille in the January transfer window.
Payet had upset the Hammers' fanbase after a drop off in performances, and Bilic had confirmed publicly that the Frenchman wanted to leave the club in mid-season. The sale was pushed through at the start of 2017, and the club showed their faith in Bilic by allowing him to spend big on the likes of Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass.
The Hammers are currently ninth, though are seven points back on West Bromwich Albion, who sit a place above them. They next welcome league leaders Chelsea to the London Stadium on Monday night.
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