Julen Lopetegui: West Ham considering whether to sack Spaniard
West Ham United are considering whether to sack Julen Lopetegui and have held talks with Graham Potter over the possibility of replacing the Spaniard.
Hammers sources deny Lopetegui has been sacked but admit the former Real Madrid and Spain boss is under intense pressure.
Lopetegui, 58, was on the verge of being sacked ahead of last month’s home game against Wolves. But that win sparked West Ham’s four-game unbeaten run, their best run of the season.
However, after a 5-0 home defeat to Liverpool and a 1-4 loss to Manchester City, West Ham United ranked 14th in the standings, 7 points above the relegation zone.
West Ham United technical director Tim Staten was pictured speaking to former Chelsea and Brighton boss Porter, who has previously been linked with a job with the Hammers.
The photo has been circulating on social media. Sources say this is a recent photo, but this has not been independently confirmed.
Lopetegui was brought to West Ham in the summer to replace David Moyes, who left when his contract expired. However, the former Wolves boss failed to improve the team’s performance and style, and Moyes was heavily criticized for this.
Former Ostersund and Swansea boss Porter has not held a managerial role since being sacked in April 2023 after less than seven months in charge of Chelsea.
Potter has been linked with succeeding Sir Gareth Southgate as England manager and says he is ‘Ready’ to return to club management September.
Club officials privately confirmed that Stadelten will no longer train outside the club’s training ground, a move that echoes a rift between Moyes and his former Leverkusen technical director at the end of last season.
West Ham sources claim the decision was made to allow Stadten to commit to transfer targets in the current window. West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen fractured his foot in a car crash last month and Mikhail Antonio was seriously injured, leaving the club in need of a striker.
The club’s next game is against Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Friday. It is unclear whether Lopetegui will take charge at Villa Park.
