Agbonlahor raises Potter concerns as Lopetegui replacement mooted at West Ham
Gabby Agbonlahor has raised concerns over Graham Potter as the new West Ham manager after being overlooked by other clubs.
The former Chelsea boss has since been sounded out by the Hammers, according to Jim White, with Julen Loeptegui under increasing pressure at the London Stadium.
Potter was linked with a move to East London during David Moyes’ final weeks at the club [GiveMeSport], though David Sullivan decided to go with Lopetegui instead, a decision that looks to have backfired.
Speaking live via talkSPORT [5 December, 7:27am], Shebahn Aherne said: “Some of the favourites if Lopetegui is to be gone: Michael Carrick, Graham Potter is a hot favourite, and Edin Terzic.”
Agbonlahor replied: “Don’t you keep looking at Graham Potter and see him looked past for jobs? As a club, do you start to look at him and think, ‘This club didn’t want him, that club didn’t want him’?
“He’s not getting that [a Champions League team], not on what he did at Chelsea. With West Ham, he should grab any opportunity.”
West Ham United to avoid Graham Potter once again as Julen Lopetegui stalls?
The 49-year-old has been out of work since parting ways with Chelsea in April 2023, though his detail and ability as a manager have been highlighted when playing the role of a pundit.
Potter has impressed in spells with Swansea City and Brighton before making the mistake of moving to Stamford Bridge, having lasted just seven months in the job.
It remains to be seen what Sullivan’s stance on a move for Potter would be, but with several names to choose from such as Edin Terzic [Daily Mail], his head could be swayed away from the obvious choice again.
While Agbonlahor brings up a decent point, the Hammers should not avoid Potter as a suitable replacement for Lopetegui just because of his time spent out of the job.
Unless a decision is made soon, it could be a detrimental season for the Hammers, who sit 14th in the Premier League table and only six points above the relegation zone. Potter could be the answer.
In other West Ham news, Julen Lopetegui was at Rush Green on Thursday morning amid crunch talks over his future.
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