There is only one manager in the Premier League with fewer points to his name right now than West Ham United boss Graham Potter; the vastly-experienced, extremely well-travelled Vitor Pereira at Wolves.
While the Hammers will make the journey to Everton on Monday night looking to avoid a fifth defeat in six top-flight matches, Wolverhampton Wanderers travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday evening looking for a first point of the campaign.
Wolves are rock bottom as things stand, without even a draw to their name.
Yet, while reports indicate West Ham are likely to sack Graham Potter during the October international break, Vitor Pereira actually signed a new three-year deal at Molineux just last week. How good a decision that proves to be from the Wolves hierarchy – Pereira put pen to paper during the lowest point of his time in the Black Country – remains to be seen.
Hammers News can confirm, meanwhile, that West Ham United were sniffing around the 57-year-old Portuguese too before his new contract was sealed.
West Ham United held interest in Wolves manager Vitor Pereira
Chief football correspondent Graeme Bailey tells Hammers News that, while Karren Brady held talks with Nuno Espirito Santo shortly before that home defeat to Crystal Palace, West Ham’s vice-chair also discussed the idea of bringing Vitor Pereira to the London Stadium.
So-called ‘super-agent’ Jorge Mendes represents both Pereira and Nuno, as well as West Ham’s new £40 million midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
“I am told that Jorge Mendes spoke to Karren Brady about Vitor Pereira, and there was interest from West Ham,” Bailey explains.
“However, that tied in with the fact that Mendes was already speaking to Wolves about a new deal. It was bad timing for West Ham, really. Soon after, Mendes finalised Pereira’s new deal at Molineux.
“But, as we know, talks continued and the name of Nuno came up. He is an option being considered by West Ham’s top brass.”
Despite that winless start to the current campaign, Vitor Pereira still ranks as statistically the third-most successful Wolves manager from a Premier League perspective. His 37 per cent win rate is only bettered, ironically enough, by the aforementioned Nuno and former West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui.
Pereira stays at Molineux as David Sullivan eyes Slaven Bilic return
A charismatic yet occasionally combustible character, Pereira is managing in England for the first time despite flirting publicly with the Everton job a few years ago.
Wolves are the 15th club he has taken charge of in nine different countries.
Pereira rescued the Wanderers from relegation last term after the sacking of Gary O’Neil; another reportedly with admirers at the London Stadium. He has also accumulated eight trophies across a nomadic career, winning silverware at Porto, Olympiakos and Shanghai SIPG.
Pereira, who also coached Corinthians, Flamengo and Fenerbahce, has beaten West Ham in both his clashes as Wolves boss, including this season’s EFL Cup meet-up.
“We will increase our level, with [the] ambition to make our supporters proud on the pitch,” Pereira said when signing that extended contract last Friday. “I’m very proud to be Wolves head coach. It’s an honour for me.
“This is the moment that we need to be united.”
While Nuno is another name high on the West Ham list, Hammers News can confirm that sporting director Mark Noble is an admirer of Burnley manager Scott Parker. Michael Carrick and Frank Lampard, two more former Upton Park favourites, are also in Noble’s thinking.
Owner David Sullivan reportedly prefers the Slaven Bilic option, meanwhile. The Croatian’s old assistant Edin Terzic has also been pushed into contention, alongside ex-BSC Young Boys tactician Raphael Wicky.
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