The manager West Ham reportedly put on standby to replace Julen Lopetegui has indeed flown to the UK.
But it says everything about Julen Lopetegui’s precarious situation at West Ham that Edin Terzic flying to England while he’s in Spain is not even the manager’s biggest concern right now.
While the cat’s away the mice will play, as they say.
Well that’s not quite the case with the Hammers right now.
But it’s becoming increasingly clear that Lopetegui is hanging by a thread.
It has been reported that the 57-year-old went home to Spain this week in the misguided belief his job is safe as Hammers boss.
Former West Ham assistant coach Terzic, who was the brains behind the Farewell Boleyn season, suddenly became a frontrunner to replace Lopetegui after the pitiful collapse at Spurs.
Those links are not going away either.
German Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg – who counts technical director Tim Steidten among his close contacts – revealed West Ham had put Terzic ‘on standby’ to replace Lopetegui.
The report also claimed the German is now open to managing his old club after rejecting an offer back in April.
There was a massive development when Terzic left the door wide open for the Hammers by turning down a huge job opportunity in Italy this week.
Terzic flying to UK is a red herring for West Ham
With that as background, it’s no wonder there is much speculation and intrigue around the former Dortmund manager’s current whereabouts.
Well he is in England right now, that’s a fact.
But while Terzic flying to UK is a red herring, David Ornstein’s West Ham update is even more ominous for Lopetegui.
As reported by Sport BILD, Terzic is currently in Manchester.
Cue suggestions of ‘secret West Ham talks’ away from the glare of London.
While that could of course be the case behind the scenes, the fact is Terzic is there to teach at a lecture.
It will not be lost on West Ham’s owners, though, that the man who is very highly regarded in the boardroom is in the country and a free agent.
If Lopetegui did really go to Spain believing his job is completely safe, then – besides accusations of being delusional – he will now be well aware the clock is ticking.
Because one of the most respected football journalists around has provided an update which carries far more weight than tenuous links to Terzic being in Manchester.
What Ornstein has said is ominous for Lopetegui at West Ham
Ornstein has revealed his sources at the club have admitted they may soon have to reluctantly break their commitment to honouring contracts.
The Athletic journalist painted a bleak picture of Lopetegui’s situation describing it as ‘delicate’ and ‘under pressure and scrutiny’.
Ornstein also says the fact fans are turning has been noted by the owners.
The most ominous line from the reporter is that Lopetegui ‘lives on for now’.
Coupled with his comments that the owners ‘hope and expect things to change’ and it seems the axe is in hand.
Because West Ham have Newcastle away and Arsenal at home next.
‘Lives on for now’ claim comes ahead of two daunting fixtures
The Magpies have beaten Forest 3-1, Arsenal 1-0 and Chelsea 2-0 in their last three games.
And the Gunners are looking to close the gap on Man City and Liverpool in the title race.
“They hope and expect things to change,” Ornstein said on Threads.
“There will be scrutiny on him, because the fans are turning. There will be scrutiny on Tim Steidten, the sporting director, who bought Lopetegui in and so many of the players in the summer window.
“He lives on for now, but it is delicate there.”
If Ornstein is saying Lopetegui’s situation at West Ham is ‘delicate’ then you know it really is.
The words ‘for now’ are telling.
The fact Lopetegui is going into games against Newcastle and Arsenal being warned by the owners they expect things to change surely spells the beginning of the end.
Most expect heavy defeats in the next two games.
Should that happen, Lopetegui being sacked seems increasingly inevitable.
Related Posts
