Julen Lopetegui exit: West Ham sack now expected after Claret and Hugh update
Julen Lopetegui leaving his position as West Ham United manager before the clash against Fulham is “more than just a possibility”, a football agent has told according to Claret and Hugh.
The Hammers news outlet reported on Monday (6 January) that Lopetegui is now expected to be relieved of his duties sooner rather than later.
While Matt Law reported on Sunday (5 January) via The Telegraph that the focus in East London is entirely on strengthening the squad in January, the Spaniard is believed to be facing a make-or-break period for his future, and West Ham are now willing to pull the trigger.
West Ham United will sack Julen Lopetegui
West Ham fans can rejoice – the end of the Lopetegui is in sight.
The Spaniard has worked under mounting pressure throughout his short tenure in East London and remains under the microscope after the crushing 4-1 loss against Manchester City on Saturday (4 January).
Lopetegui has faced numerous make-or-break periods already this season and has made it out the other side unscathed, but his reign appears to be heading towards an abrupt end.
Claret and Hugh also report that the original sack timeline bestowed upon Lopetegui is no longer in effect, and while the situation is subject to change, the result of the FA Cup third-round tie against Aston Villa on Friday (10 January) is no longer a deciding factor.
While another defeat and an early cup exit will undoubtedly spell the end of his spell in East London, the mounting negative factors of allowing Lopetegui further time to improve his fortunes are weighing heavily on David Sullivan.
His appointment has been a misfire since day one – the West Ham faithful were eager to see an expansive brand of attacking football at the London Stadium but have wound up with David Moyes 2.0, minus the results.
This decision has been brewing for a long time in East London, and while many will consider it a few weeks too late, it is time to end the Lopetegui experiment.
In other West Ham news, David Sullivan has nowhere to run after emerging £75m news at the Irons.
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