- Lopetegui’s tenure at West Ham is balancing on a thread amid their poor season
- The Hammers have held talks with their No 1 replacement target, Graham Potter
- LISTEN to It’s All Kicking Off! Jack Grealish won’t be allowed to drift at Man City… he’ll be sold this summer if things don’t change
Graham Potter is in talks with West Ham over replacing under-pressure Julen Lopetegui.
Hammers head coach Lopetegui is under huge pressure following a difficult start to life at the London Stadium.
And Mail Sport understands that former Chelsea boss Potter is emerging as the club’s No 1 candidate to replace Lopetegui.
It is understood Potter has held talks with the Hammers hierarchy over the last 24 hours with a view to taking over from the Spaniard.
A picture emerged on social media on Monday of Potter meeting with West Ham technical director Tim Steidten, but Mail Sport understands the picture was not taken on Monday.
There is an acknowledgement from multiple sources that Lopetegui’s position is under huge threat heading into the forthcoming FA Cup tie versus Aston Villa.
Graham Potter is West Ham’s No 1 candidate to replace Julen Lopetegui at the London Stadium
The former Chelsea boss has been pictured with West Ham technical director Tim Steidten
Lopetegui has had a rough debut season as West Ham lie 14th place in the Premier League
Potter came close to replacing Lopetegui in November, but the club decided to keep faith with Lopetegui.
But the highly-rated head coach is now in line for a return to football in east London.
West Ham endured a rocky start to the season under Lopetegui despite spending approximately £150million during the summer transfer window.
Despite pressure mounting on Lopetegui, Steidten has also faced criticism from some quarters for leading West Ham’s expensive recruitment drive in the summer.
Mail Sport revealed in October that the £25m signing of Brazilian teenager Luis Guilherme raised eyebrows internally. The 18-year-old has just four substitute appearances so far this season.
It is understood Guilherme – a signing led by Steidten – has failed to make a sufficient impact on Lopetegui, who fears the youngster is some way from being able to make a regular contribution at senior level – a worrying dynamic given the sizeable outlay.
There are similar apprehensions about Niclas Fullkrug, whose £27m arrival from Borussia Dortmund is not proving value for money.
Meanwhile, Crysensio Summerville, signed from Leeds for an initial £25m, has scored only one Premier League goal in 19 appearances this term.
The decision to let James Ward-Prowse, a seasoned Premier League campaigner, join Nottingham Forest another questionable transfer decision.
Potter has yet to take charge of a club since he was sacked by Chelsea back in April 2023
West Ham sporting director Steidten faced criticism from some quarters for leading the Hammers’ expensive recruitment drive in the summer, spending approximately £150million
Although recovering to 14th place in the table with crucial wins over Southampton and Wolves in December, the Hammers have relapsed with heavy defeats against Liverpool and Manchester City over their last two matches, losing 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.
It has left West Ham with the joint-third worst goal difference in the division, level with Ipswich and behind Southampton and Leicester, with all three currently occupying the Premier League’s relegation zone.
The Hammers parted ways with David Moyes last summer due to a desire to improve their style of play, even though the Scot had guided the club to European glory and three top-10 Premier League finishes during his tenure at the London Stadium.
Potter, who demands an expansive and progressive style of football from his teams, was in the television studio at the King Power Stadium during West Ham’s 3-1 defeat by Leicester on December 3 and admitted he was keeping an eye on a return to management.
‘Yeah, of course,’ he said last month. ‘As I’ve said before, you’re open to everything.’
