Sam Allardyce became the eighth Premier League manager to go this season after he left Newcastle “by mutual agreement”. But who will take over?

The Heerenveen coach Gertjan Verbeek has confirmed that unsettled Brazilian striker Afonso Alves has played his last game for the Dutch club.

Alves, who has been linked with a possible move to the Premiership Middlesbrough, has been seeking a transfer for a number of weeks and his club have finally given up hope of persuading him to stay.

“The book is closed,” admitted Verbeek. “From the moment that he said that he wanted to leave Heerenveen, the story is over. I only work with guys who have their heart and soul at Heerenveen and that is not the fact with Alves.

“He is not ready for it either, physically and mentally,” Verbeek told AD Sportwereld.

“Maybe I can put him in the line-up for four games, but I don’t even dream of doing that. I don’t want to be the victim of his unpredictable behaviour. That only leads the club into confusion.”

Alves was Heerenveen’s record signing when they bought him from Malmo in 2006 for €4.5mand went on to become the Eredivisie’s top scorer last season with 34 goals from 31 games.

Sam Allardyce became the eighth Premier League manager to go this season after he left Newcastle “by mutual agreement”. But who will take over?