Tim Steidten holds ‘face-to-face’ talks with Julen Lopetegui as West Ham United move edges closer
West Ham United technical director Tim Steidten has held “face-to-face” talks with Jule Lopetegui over replacing David Moyes, according to Alex Crook.
The talkSPORT journalist reported via X Friday (3 May) that the former Wolves boss is “edging closer” to being confirmed as Moyes’ successor at the London Stadium having held discussions with those in charge in East London.
Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim remains an outsider in the race to take over the reins of the Hammers, but it appears as though West Ham are closing in on appointing former Real Madrid boss Lopetegui.
Writing on X, Crook said: “Julen Lopetegui move to West ham edging closer. Amorim is still regarded as an outside chance but understand Tim Steidten has held face-to-face talks with the former Wolves manager.”
Will West Ham United sack David Moyes and appoint Julen Lopetegui at the London Stadium?
Various reports suggested on Friday that Lopetegui was now the front-runner to take over from Moyes, but it now appears that those updates are more concrete if the Spanish manager has already held face-to-face talks.
Steidten has recently been banned from various first-team areas of both the Irons’ training ground and the London Stadium as Moyes is keen to avoid distracting his squad in the final weeks of the Premier League season.
However, that doesn’t appear to have halted the West Ham technical director’s work as he is still doing everything he can to find the Scotsman’s successor and it appears that after several different discussions, he may have found his man.
Whether this deal gets over the line remains to be seen and it is unclear when or where an announcement could be made by the Hammers. It seems unlikely much clarity emerge before the end of the campaign unless there is a surprise in store.
In other West Ham news, David Ornstein has shared an update on links between Liverpool and Hammers winger Mohammed Kudus
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