If West Ham United do decide to bring an end to David Moyes’ second spell in the London Stadium dugout, identifying a high-quality replacement is unlikely to prove all that difficult.
HITC understands that West Ham are ‘inundated’ with potential options. Those options include Marco Silva and Gary O’Neil – both of whom have done sterling jobs at Fulham and Wolves – and the out-of-work Julen Lopetegui.
David Sullivan, West Ham’s co-owner, held initial talks with the former Real Madrid and Spain boss recently and was impressed with what he heard. And while Ruben Amorim appears to have removed his hat from the ring, Paulo Fonseca‘s remains very much in play, the Lille coach’s camp confirming to us that there is indeed interest from the Hammers.
Furthermore, if the Conference League holders opt to look a little closer to home, one of the sharpest young tactical minds in the game is weaving his magic only 70 miles or so to the east.
Could West Ham lure Kieran McKenna away from Ipswich?
Kieran McKenna, his Ipswich Town side one single point away from successive promotions and a return to the big time after over 20 years away, will be very hot property this summer. And Portman Road legend Matt Holland cannot help but wonder if, say West Ham come calling, whether McKenna will seize the chance to strike while his reputation is hot.
“Getting to the Premier League, you’d like to think he would stay,” Holland, who captained Ipswich throughout much of his six year spell in East Anglia, tells talkSPORT.
“But if someone like a Brighton or a West Ham come in for him, then he has a big decision to make.”
McKenna, formerly part of the backroom staff at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, is still only 37 but already possesses a managerial CV many would sacrifice a limb for. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s old assistant took over an Ipswich side treading water in League One and has awakened the sleeping giants from their slumber, a win at home to pretty-much relegated Huddersfield Town on Saturday enough to guarantee their place alongside West Ham in the Premier League next term.
‘He’s a genius’
“His mind is just incredible. He’s a genius,” says Ipswich’s one-time Arsenal youngster Harry Clarke.
“I know he’s young but the things I’ve learned from him, obviously I played for a big club in Arsenal but playing under this manager, I feel I can hit very, very big potential.”
West Ham held talks with another 30-something tactician in Amorim last week, he and his agent flying in to London for discussions. The man who ended Sporting Lisbon’s long Primeira Liga drought appears to no longer be in contention, however, apologising to the Portuguese giants a few days ago.
“So, let’s get the elephant out of the room and I’ll talk about it once,” Amorim said in a rather obvious attempt to clear the air. “The first thing is to say that the club was aware of my trip (to London). It’s important and changes the context.
“Obviously my trip was a mistake. The timing was completely wrong. It was wrong, especially when I’m so demanding with my players and always the first to say that each one’s actions can overpower the team. I have already removed players from the squad for much less.
Ruben Amorim apologises after Hammers talks
“It was my mistake, I have to accept it and live with it.
“It didn’t seem so bad at the time, but thinking about it later it’s very clear,” adds Amorim, who became the third-most expensive coach in history when Sporting triggered the £9 million clause in his contract following only 13 matches in charge of Braga.
“I gave explanations to the players and the staff. Now it’s time to move on. Obviously, I also use the public part here to apologise to the Sporting fans, the staff and, mainly publicly to my players for the mistake I made.
“It was a mistake because the fact that we are close to winning the championship, nothing has been done yet, and the team leader causes this noise, is a mistake. Whether or not he is authorised. And I’m the biggest defender of that. That’s why I said it is an error.”
One name to keep an eye on may be that of Will Still. The West Ham-supporting 31-year-old confirmed on Thursday that he is leaving Ligue 1 outfit Stade de Reims.
- MORE: Simon Jordan slams Tottenham star who plays ‘without a brain’ & also criticises James Maddison