Julen Lopetegui is set to be sacked as West Ham manager despite leading first-team training on Wednesday.
West Ham have held talks with former Chelsea manager Graham Potter about replacing Lopetegui, following a disappointing start to the Spaniard’s reign.
Ex-Hammers boss Harry Redknapp has criticised the way West Ham have treated Julen Lopetegui ⬇️#WHUFC #PL pic.twitter.com/WvCM3L3gHO
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 8, 2025
The East Londoners are 14th in the Premier League table and have suffered heavy defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City in recent weeks.
Lopetegui has taken training today ahead of Friday night’s FA Cup tie with Aston Villa. However, The Athletic are reporting that it is expected the 58-year-old will be relieved of his duties imminently. Talks with Potter are understood to be progressing well.
Potter has been out of work since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023. He previously spent three seasons in charge of Brighton & Hove Albion, where he led the Seagulls to a ninth-placed finish in his final full season, a club-record at that time. The 49-year-old has taken a patient approach to his return, rejecting several offers. He now appears ready to return in the Premier League and is expected to be named Lopetegui’s successor this week.
Former Wolves and Real Madrid manager Lopetegui was appointed as West Ham head coach on a two-year deal in the summer but has been unable to find consistent results. West Ham’s poor performances have come despite investing more than £132m on players in the summer window, as Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, Carlos Soler, Niclas Fullkrug, Luis Guilherme, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Guido Rodriguez and Wes Foderingham all arrived at the London Stadium.
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