It says everything about the early pressure Julen Lopetegui is under at West Ham that other managers are already being linked with his job.
Julen Lopetegui has endured a torrid time so far at West Ham.
The Spaniard has had a target on his head in the press ever since taking over from media favourite David Moyes.
Now there are rumours he might be replaced by one of the managers who was on the West Ham shortlist with him in the summer, should results not improve soon.
In many ways Lopetegui has been his own worst enemy at West Ham so far.
The 57-year-old’s team selections and tactics have been heavily criticised by fans. He has even been labelled ‘a Spanish Moyes’.
Results have been poor with just one Premier League win from five so far.
Just when it looked like the penny might have dropped at Liverpool in the cup, a series of mistakes from players and officials ended up with another Hammers collapse in a 5-1 defeat.
It wasn’t only Lopetegui’s pride that was hurting after the game, though. To rub salt in the wound, he also injured his calf.
Lopetegui was not West Ham’s first choice in the summer. Not them his. Milan pulled the rug on him becoming their new boss leaving him available as the Hammers scoured Europe for their Moyes replacement.
Lopetegui replacements already being suggested at West Ham
Not one but two former Chelsea managers were said to be on West Ham’s shortlist of candidates to replace Moyes.
Those being Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
Back in February a journalist claimed to have been told the four names on West Ham’s shortlist to replace Moyes. And Potter was said to be chief among them.
Speculation intensified that the former Brighton man could be in line for West Ham when Potter turned down the Ajax job.
Many believed Potter was waiting for the Hammers gig as it became increasingly clear Moyes would be leaving.
Lopetegui ‘won David Sullivan over’ in interview, though, as exclusively revealed to Hammers News by Graeme Bailey at the time.
He was named West Ham’s 18th permanent manager in 129 years. And he has become the first to oversee three home league defeats at the start of a season in that time since.
Very few, beyond Lopetegui’s compatriot Guillem Balague, felt the owners were making the right call.
Former Hammers captain Nigel Reo-Coker said out of work boss Potter would’ve taken West Ham to next level.
Reo-Coker said West Ham missed a trick not giving Potter the job and made the ‘wrong hire’ in Lopetegui.
But now another former player turned pundit thinks they might have a second chance.
Darren Bent has suggested the ex boss of Premier League giants Chelsea is waiting for West Ham to call.
Bent suggests Potter is waiting for West Ham call
As speculation intensifies on Lopetegui’s future ahead of crunch games against Brentford and Ipswich, names are already circulating in the press.
Two of those being Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Potter.
It was put to Bent whether the Hammers job was ‘too big’ for someone like Solskjaer.
And the talkSPORT pundit dropped an intriguing claim.
He said he believes Potter would be a good fit and ‘must be waiting for something’.
“Too big? I mean, what is too big?” Bent said on talkSPORT on Saturday morning.
“They got David Moyes. Not happy. Get him out. Lopetegui. Not happy with him. Get him out.
“Potter would be a good fit because he is a good coach. He must be waiting for something.”
Bent’s claim comes less than 24 hours after Potter declared he is ready for a new job.
Speaking to The Telegraph Potter said he is excited for offers and wants a club job rather than international role.
“I’ve felt ready to return for a little while,” Potter said.
“It still has to be the right thing, but I’m excited for it. I’m excited to hear what the opportunities are and I’ll take each one and judge it on its merits…
“I like the day-to-day and the building process of club management…
“I do like the day-to-day bit of working with the players and being in at the club and trying to build and make a difference.”
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