West Ham in Talks with Graham Potter as Julen Lopetegui Faces Imminent Sacking

07 Jan 2025 ScoreWaves Staff view

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West Ham are a club in crisis at the moment. After picking up just 23 points from 20 games, it looks like Julen Lopetegui’s days at the Olympic Stadium are numbered. The Hammers have already initiated talks with Graham Potter about the managerial position in the event Julen Lopetegui leaves the club.

For now, Julen Lopetegui remains at the helm of West Ham United, but the writing appears to be on the wall. The Spaniard, who replaced David Moyes, has struggled to steady the ship since taking over in the summer. The numbers tell a troubling story. West Ham have picked up just eight points from their last eight Premier League matches, and their defensive frailties have been glaring. They shipped five goals against Liverpool and another four against an underwhelming Manchester City side in their last two league outings. Pressure has been mounting all season, with Lopetegui barely holding onto his position last month. Now, with an FA Cup third-round tie at Aston Villa looming on Friday, the 58-year-old’s future at the London Stadium looks increasingly bleak.

Enter Graham Potter, a man who’s been on West Ham’s radar for weeks. The former Chelsea boss, out of work since his departure from Stamford Bridge in April 2023, has been identified as the leading candidate to take over if Lopetegui is shown the door. Potter reportedly held talks with the Hammers last month, though the club ultimately decided to give Lopetegui more time. While there’s no deal finalized yet, the West Ham job is Potter’s for the taking if he chooses to accept it. However, with Everton also expressing interest in the 48-year-old, the Hammers will need to act decisively to secure his services.

West Ham’s problems have been exaggerated further by the breakdown in relationship between Lopetegui and the club’s technical director, Tim Steidten. According to reports, Lopetegui has asked Steidten to stay away from training. Insiders reveal that Tim Steidten, appointed as West Ham’s technical director in the summer of 2023, is still actively involved in shaping the club’s recruitment strategy. However, his position has come under scrutiny. While there’s no indication that his role has been reduced, concerns about his impact have started to emerge.

Some staff members are reportedly unhappy with Steidten, and doubts have been raised about his familiarity with English football’s unique demands. These concerns have prompted the club’s board to take a more hands-on approach to transfers this month, signaling a shift in the decision-making dynamics at the London Stadium. Having said that, Steidten is very much front and center in West Ham’s search for a new manager. The German has been shortlisting candidates for several months now. However, Sérgio Conceição, once on their radar, has already taken up the reins at AC Milan.

Meanwhile, Edin Terzic, the former Borussia Dortmund boss, isn’t showing much enthusiasm for the idea of succeeding Julen Lopetegui. Adding to the complications, language concerns make Max Allegri, the ex-Juventus manager, an unlikely candidate for the role. With the season ebbing away, the Hammers must make a swift decision about Lopetegui and his potential successor. Graham Potter looks the most likely to succeed. But stranger things have happened in football.