West Ham United is poised for a managerial change at the end of the season, with Julen Lopetegui reportedly reaching an agreement in principle to succeed David Moyes.
Lopetegui, 57, who has been without a club since his departure from Wolves just before the season’s commencement, has remained in England in anticipation of landing another Premier League role.
The Spanish tactician, renowned for his stints with Porto, the Spanish national team, Real Madrid, and Sevilla, is on the brink of assuming the helm at the London Stadium following Moyes’ anticipated departure.
West Ham currently occupies the ninth spot in the league standings, with their recent 5-0 defeat against Chelsea intensifying speculation about Moyes’ future.
Moyes, 61, whose contract expires this summer, has encountered mounting scrutiny as his team managed just one victory in their last nine league fixtures.
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Expressing remorse for the heavy defeat at Stamford Bridge, Moyes empathized with the West Ham faithful, acknowledging their unwavering support amid challenging times.
In a club statement on Monday, Moyes said: “I have enjoyed four-and-a-half brilliant years at West Ham, and the club is in a stronger position than when I returned back in 2019. When I joined West Ham for a second time, the club was one place above the relegation zone, and it has been a terrific journey to have achieved three consecutive seasons in Europe.
David Moyes has endured a dissapointing season with the Hammers.
“After leading the club to safety, we guided the team to finishes of sixth and seventh in the Premier League, and I was delighted when we won the Europa Conference League title last June – the club’s first major trophy in 43 years. I would like to thank all the players for their support, and all the success they have achieved, over the last four-and-a-half years.”
West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan offered “sincere thanks and gratitude” to Moyes.
Steidten has been involved in the search for a new manager. West Ham have held talks with Sporting’s Rúben Amorim and the former Bayern Munich manager, Hansi Flick. Amorim, whose contract contains a €15m buyout clause, has said that he is staying at Sporting.
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