Julen Lopetegui’s future as West Ham boss is looking increasingly uncertain after a massive development in the situation.
West Ham’s woeful stalemate at home to Everton has left Julen Lopetegui in peril.
The game was reportedly seen as a must-win according to sources close to West Ham’s ownership.
While the Hammers didn’t lose, the performance was so bad it has still heaped pressure on the owners to axe the head coach.
A journalist revealed the only time he saw Lopetegui smile during a 21-minute press conference ahead of Everton was when he was asked about returning home to Spain.
It has since been claimed Lopetegui has gone away in the misguided belief his job is safe at West Ham.
Sources have claimed the 57-year-old has read the situation all wrong.
So much so that West Ham will meet this week to make a decision over his future or how much longer he has to turn things around.
Three weeks ago, after the embarrassing 4-1 thrashing at Spurs – a very interesting claim emerged from a source close to Hammers technical director Tim Steidten.
Lopetegui surely on brink as top West Ham target turns down job
Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg said West Ham had put former Hammers assistant coach Edin Terzic ‘on standby’ to replace Lopetegui.
He also said Terzic was now open to the challenge.
That’s after Sport Bild previously revealed Terzic was actually approached by the Hammers hierarchy before Lopetegui but rejected the chance to replace David Moyes.
He is said to be highly regarded in the Hammers boardroom and has a good relationship with compatriot Steidten as well as sporting director Mark Noble.
He made a name for himself at Dortmund, taking them to the Champions League final last season with West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug leading the line.
Terzic joined the Hammers as assistant to Slaven Bilic in 2015 having worked with him at Besiktas.
The 41-year-old was an integral part of the management team and chief tactician West Ham enjoyed one of our best ever Premier League seasons in the memorable Farewell Boleyn campaign.
With all that as background, Lopetegui is surely on the brink as the top West Ham target turns down a major job.
Terzic leaves door open for West Ham after snubbing Roma
Italian giants Roma are looking for another new manager after sacking Ivan Juric.
Ironically Croat Juric is one of eight managers who has been linked with West Ham in the last week as a result of his dismissal.
There was bad news for any West Ham plans of turning to Terzic when it emerged Roma were looking at Terzic too.
Now there has been a huge hint over which direction the Hammers may go in.
Because Terzic has sensationally turned down the Roma job.
That’s according to an update on Tuesday morning from the reputable Corriere dello Sport in Italy.
“Former Borussia Dortmund coach Edin Terzic has reportedly expressed to intermediaries his desire not to take over,” the report states.
“The coach had already been contacted following the dismissal of Daniele De Rossi, but on this occasion too the German of Bosnian origins declined the offer.”
This is massive news for West Ham and could have serious ramifications for Lopetegui.
With sources claiming his job is very much on the line and fixtures against Newcastle away and Arsenal at home after the international break, things look bleak for the ex Wolves boss.
West Ham’s owners stated performances ‘are not good enough’ after the draw with Everton.
The club are said to be concerned by the fact swathes of fans have left six of Lopetegui’s 13 matches early.
There was also embarrassment at the club when Match of the Day presenters Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer highlighted fans yawning and apologised for even showing the highlights from ‘the worst Premier League game of the season’.
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