David Ornstein shares Julen Lopetegui, Ruben Amorim update at West Ham United after reports
David Ornstein is not aware of a “preferred candidate” to replace David Moyes as West Ham manager despite reports stating that Julen Lopetegui is close to a deal.
According to Jacob Steinberg [3 May], the Hammers are ready to part ways with the Scot and are just days away from striking a deal with former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui.
The Irons are also said to be still interested in Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, according to Fabrizio Romano, though no official deals have been made as of yet.
Responding to a Q&A question for The Athletic, Ornstein was asked if West Ham have a preferred managerial candidate, and whether the deal for Amorim is off.
Ornstein replied: “After meeting West Ham, I understand Amorim decided a move there is not for him. If a managerial change is made — which is looking likely but not 100 per cent decided — the likes of Julen Lopetegui are thought to be in the frame.
“But if there is a preferred candidate I’m not aware of that yet. And let’s show some respect to David Moyes, who is still in position and has done a fantastic job.”
Does David Moyes deserve more respect at West Ham United?
Certainly from a specific section of the Hammers fanbase, Moyes deserves more respect for his impact at the London Stadium during his second spell at the club.
The Scot led West Ham to their first European trophy in the last few decades, which was seen as a huge achievement last season, and that seems to have been forgotten slightly.
Of course, football is a results-based sport, and some of the performances this season in the Premier League and domestic competitions have been far from ideal.
Considering this, the Hammers must find a suitable replacement. However, it must be remembered that the grass is not always greener on the other side, especially after Moyes was needed after the club hired Manuel Pellegrini in 2018.
With a CV containing previous experience with Wolves, Sevilla, Real Madrid, and the Spain national team, Lopetegui is certainly on paper an ideal replacement for Moyes ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Moyes deserves a respectful send-off, though. There is no doubt about that.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are set to agree the appointment of Julen Lopetegui in the coming days
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