Mark Noble fond of former West Ham teammate to be Lopetegui replacement
Mark Noble is fond of former West Ham teammate Michael Carrick if Julen Lopetegui is sacked, according to TBR Football.
The Spanish manager is under heavy pressure at the London Stadium after embarrassing defeats to Arsenal and Leicester.
His future as Irons boss is hanging by a thread with some directors already having lost faith in the former Wolves man, according to Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth [4 December, X].
The report states that the Hammers' sporting director appreciates the work that his former teammate has done at Middlesbrough but David Sullivan is not considering the 43-year-old to replace Lopetegui at this stage.
Carrick would be an exciting appointment at West Ham
Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith told 72+:The EFL Podcast that Carrick has done a great job in his first managerial role, saying: "One thing you would say about Michael Carrick is - I've seen it first-hand as soon as he walked through the door - he coaches and he manages exactly how he plays."
"From my point of view, he's done a terrific job."
It is understandable why Noble admires his former teammate as he is impressing in his first permanent managerial role.
His Middlesbrough side sit 5th in the Championship and is known for an exciting and expansive style of football.
That is something that cannot be said of Lopetegui's football at the London Stadium this season despite a huge amount of money spent on signings in the summer.
The Hammers could do a lot worse than look towards Carrick to return the club to where it belongs.
In other West Ham news, the club are reportedly interested in a former Denmark manager if Lopetegui is sacked.