West Ham and Spurs were allegedly jostling for Graham Potter but now Daniel Levy is going in a different direction.
Both Julen Lopetegui and Ange Postecoglou have found themselves under intense pressure at West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur this season.
The London rivals were both reportedly eyeing Graham Potter as their next manager.
In fact just before the turn of the year it emerged Spurs were piling the pressure on West Ham to activate their private agreement with Potter.
The Hammers have had the former Chelsea boss on standby for a month.
But after Tottenham’s draw with Wolves, it was reported Potter was the number one target for Daniel Levy if he pulls the trigger on Postecoglou.
It seems the threat of Spurs – and Everton – has forced West Ham’s hand over Potter.
With the axe falling on Lopetegui at West Ham, the ex Brighton man is expected to be unveiled as only the 19th manager in the club’s 130-year history.
With Potter coming in, debate has raged over whether he is the right choice.
Particularly having been out of work since April 2023.
Hammers supporters have been making their views clear on who they want David Sullivan and co to hire.
West Ham “beat” Spurs to Potter
While many are all for Potter, some wanted a more ambitious hire.
West Ham would love nothing more than to say they have beaten Tottenham to Potter.
But Spurs plan raids for two managers and it will have West Ham fans green with envy.
The Irons have been linked with a plethora of managers as pressure started to rise on Lopetegui in recent months.
Two in particular really captured the imagination of West Ham fans.
But they seem to have captured the imagination of Levy too.
Firstly it has emerged that Tottenham, unlike West Ham, are prepared to go out and pay compensation to get the man they want should Postecoglou be sacked.
Their top target was also recently linked to West Ham in the shape of Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.
It was claimed recently that Sullivan was targeting Iraola for West Ham.
Iraola’s name was also one of four in-contract managers offered up to fans by a Sullivan ally recently.
Now it has been revealed to Hammers News by journalist Graeme Bailey that Hammers target Iraola is very much in Tottenham’s sights.
West Ham fans have been hugely impressed by Iraola and the job he has done with the Cherries.
Iraola has Bournemouth where West Ham and Spurs hoped they’d be – challenging for a European spot – while playing fantastic, exciting, attacking football.
He’s not the only manager coveted by West Ham fans that Tottenham are eyeing, though.
Spurs plan manager raids that’ll have West Ham fans envious
Bailey claims Brentford’s Thomas Frank is also high on Levy’s shortlist after impressing him.
The Telegraph stated last month that West Ham wanted Frank but were put off by his £9m release clause.
In a joint article from the paper’s leading reporters Sam Wallace, Jason Burt and Matt Law, it was stated West Ham had identified Frank as a top target.
Frank is a manager West Ham supporters also felt the club should have gone for when David Moyes left.
The Dane has taken Brentford from the Championship to challenging for Europe.
Brentford’s progress this season is all the more impressive given the sale of goalscorer Ivan Toney and the loss of his replacement Igor Thiago to a long-term injury.
So it seems West Ham have not “beaten” Spurs to Potter so to speak.
Instead Levy has a clear view of the kind of manager he wants should Postecoglou depart.
And Spurs are willing to pay the money needed to get Frank or Iraola out of their clubs.
Whether those managers would leave for Spurs at this stage remains to be seen.
Frank, Iraola and Potter win ratios
So who has the best ratio of Potter, Iraola and Frank?
Now into his fifth year at Brentford, Frank has overseen 298 games in the Championship and Premier League with 124 wins, 102 losses and 72 draws.
That leaves Frank with a win percentage of 41.61.
Iraola has been in charge of Bournemouth for 65 games, winning 26, losing 24 and drawing 15.
That gives Irola a win ratio of 40% – a slight improvement on his record at Rayo Vallecano.
Potter has the lowest win ratio of the three with 38.71% at Chelsea where he won 12 of his 31 games, lost 11 and drew eight.
At Brighton, where Potter really made his name, his win percentage was lower, down at 31.11 after 42 wins from 135 games, 47 defeats and 46 draws.
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