Julen Lopetegui: West Ham considering whether to sack Spaniard

West Ham are contemplating whether or not to sack Julen Lopetegui and have held talks with Graham Potter about presumably changing the Spaniard.

Hammers sources have denied Lopetegui has already been dismissed however settle for the previous Actual Madrid and Spain coach is beneath large stress.

Lopetegui, 58, was on the point of being sacked previous to final month’s dwelling recreation with Wolves. However victory in that match triggered a four-game unbeaten run, West Ham’s better of the season.

Nevertheless, a humiliating 5-0 dwelling defeat by Liverpool was adopted by a 4-1 loss at Manchester Metropolis to depart West Ham 14th within the desk, seven factors above the relegation zone.

West Ham’s technical director Tim Steidten has been pictured speaking to former Chelsea and Brighton boss Potter, who has beforehand been linked with the Hammers job.

The {photograph} has been circulated on social media. Sources have mentioned it’s a current image however this has not been independently verified.

Lopetegui was dropped at West Ham in the summertime to succeed David Moyes, who left on the finish of his contract. Nevertheless, the previous Wolves boss has not been in a position to enhance both the workforce’s efficiency or type, for which Moyes was closely criticised.

Former Ostersund and Swansea boss Potter has not held a managerial position since he was sacked after lower than seven months in control of Chelsea in April 2023.

Potter, who had been linked with succeeding Sir Gareth Southgate as England boss, mentioned he was “prepared” to return to membership administration in September.

Membership officers have privately confirmed Steidten is now not understanding of the membership’s coaching floor, in a transfer that has echoes of the break up between Moyes and the previous Bayer Leverkusen technical director in the direction of the tip of final season.

West Ham sources mentioned that call is to permit Steidten to work on switch targets for the present window. West Ham want a striker after skipper Jarrod Bowen suffered a damaged foot and Michail Antonio sustained critical accidents in a automotive crash final month.

The membership’s subsequent recreation is at Aston Villa within the FA Cup third spherical on Friday. No readability has been supplied on if Lopetegui will likely be in cost at Villa Park.