ExWHUemployee has suggested that West Ham are not currently looking to appoint Rafa Benitez as manager, despite recent reports to the contrary.
Manuel Pellegrini is under intense pressure at the moment. His Hammers side have taken just two points from their last six Premier League games – a run that has seen them plummet down to 16th place in the table.
The Mirror reported earlier this week that the Chilean is facing the axe. And that the West Ham board are lining up a move for former Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle boss Benitez.
The British tabloid claims that the Spaniard would be interested in a move to the London Stadium, but his £12 million a year salary would be a real stumbling block.
Benitez is one of the best tacticians in the game. And he would undoubtedly help improve the way in which West Ham set up.
Well-informed insider ExWHUemployee refuted that suggestion, however, when speaking during the West Ham Way podcast last night (Wednesday, November 20th):
“There has been talk about who we would get as the manager to replace Pellegrini. They have been saying that Benitez is being lined up but I would say that that isn’t true. That’s just a lucky guess from the newspapers because we were linked with him before Pellegrini. Don’t get me wrong, I think we would be interested if we were looking but at this point we’re not looking. They (the board) don’t want to undermine Pellegrini.”
Time running out for Pelle…
Much will surely depend on whether West Ham’s results improve over the next month or so.
The Hammers board have been hesitant to sack managers in the past in order to avoid paying out compensation.
The decision to move Pellegrini on might just have to be made, however, if results and performances do not get better.
And if the Chilean is moved on, Benitez will surely be leading the queue of potential new managers.
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