According to various reports, West Ham United are in advanced talks to hire Julen Lopetegui as their new manager. The optimistic view believes that an agreement could actually be in place as early as next week.
What about their current manager, David Moyes, you might ask?
London Derby FYIs
West Ham United at Chelsea FC
Kickoff: Sun. May 5, 2pm, Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Team News: Chelsea Part 1 Chelsea Part 2 West Ham
Starting XI Predictions: Chelsea West Ham
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Google Result Probability: Chelsea FC 59% West Ham United 21% Draw 20%
PL Form, Position: West Ham United DLLWD, 48 pts, 8th Chelsea FC DLWDW, 49 pts, 9th
According to The Guardian, “a final decision on Moyes, whose contract runs out this summer, will not be made until the Scot holds talks with the board once the campaign is over.”
However, it is starting to sound like the decision has already been made, to some extent. If let go, it would mark the second time that WHUFC have sacked
Thomas Tuchel has also been linked, but it remains to be seen if he would actually take the job or not.
Plus there is still a chance that he might stay put at Bayern Munich, provided the right set of situations and circumstances unfold.
The Hammers have also been linked with likes of Hansi Flick, Marco Silva, Paulo Fonseca and Graham Potter.
Also, the idea of the Lopetegui hire has certainly drawn some backlash from Hammers supporters:
West Ham say no to Lopetegui – Sign the Petition! https://t.co/fsw0vtDo1b via @UKChange
— Claret and Booze (@ClaretBooze) May 3, 2024
No matter what happens with Moyes, he’ll always have this- he ended the club’s silverware drought. In winning the UEFA Europa Conference League, it was the club’s first trophy in 43 years.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to Ravens Wire, part of the USA Today SMG’s NFL Wire Network and the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated, Chicago Tribune and the Washington Times. You can follow him on Twitter.