Report: West Ham is considering employing a’special’ manager who is good buddies with David Moyes.
West Ham United are interested in signing Julen Lopetegui, as well as Steve Cooper and Graham Potter.
David Moyes is a man who feels the heat.
West Ham lost 2-0 against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, their third Premier League defeat in a row.
The Hammers have now gone six league games without a win, and they have yet to win in 2024.
That run of results has left Moyes fighting for his job, and the timing couldn’t be worse: his contract expires this summer.
Many West Ham fans want Moyes out less than a year after winning the Europa Conference League, and several intriguing candidates are desired inside the London Stadium.
West Ham United consider Julen Lopetegui
According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have begun putting together a list of potential Moyes replacements.
According to reports, West Ham are interested in three major players, one of whom is Julen Lopetegui.
The Spaniard has been out of management since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in August, shortly before the Premier League season began.
Lopetegui has been linked with plenty of jobs but has been holding out for the right role, preferably in the Premier League.
West Ham can offer that return and Lopetegui’s history as a Europa League winner with Sevilla will make him very appealing.
Lopetegui also worked wonders to drag Wolves from the bottom of the table to Premier League survival, so it’s no surprise to hear that he is wanted.
Ruben Neves, his former Porto midfielder, has described Lopetegui as a’special’ coach. Lopetegui has previously stated that he is good friends with Moyes, but he may replace the Scot in East London.
West Ham are also looking into Graham Potter, who departed Chelsea in April of last year and has not returned to management since.
Potter’s impressive record at Brighton and Hove Albion implies that he could be the manager that many West Ham fans desire.
The Chelsea deal failed, but the tumultuous circumstances may have convinced clubs that Potter can find success elsewhere.
The final name mentioned is Steve Cooper, who was fired as Nottingham Forest’s manager in December.
Cooper led Forest to promotion in his first season in command before securing Premier League survival the following season.
The Welshman received acclaim for his efforts at the City Ground, but results were simply not good enough this season, and Forest have been a touch more consistent under successor Nuno Espirito Santo.
We would rank Lopetegui and Potter ahead of Cooper for the West Ham position, but the Hammers will soon have to decide whether to make a change now or in the summer, and some managers may be hesitant to come in so close to the conclusion of the season.
