West Ham appointment: Agreement reached before Julen Lopetegui sack
Graham Potter has “agreed in principle” to become West Ham United’s new manager if Julen Lopetegui is sacked, according to Sean Whetstone.
Whetstone posted via the West Ham Football X account (6 January) that after meetings with the Irons’ hierarchy, Potter has agreed to take the position should it become available shortly.
Lopetegui could be on his way out and replaced in the London Stadium dugout within 24 to 48 hours, albeit contracts are yet to be signed as Potter waits for the Hammers to show the Spaniard the door.
Julen Lopetegui sack announcement imminent at West Ham
Once the announcement is made that Lopetegui has been relieved of his duties in East London, the only surprise for Hammers fans will be that it’s taken so long for the 58-year-old to be sent packing.
Lopetegui has been on the brink several times already this season – despite overseeing just 22 matches so far – with the Irons shipping goal after goal to lose almost half of those by a massive margin.
As a result, the writing has long been on the wall for the Spaniard despite putting together a four-game unbeaten streak in recent weeks, which came to an abrupt end against Liverpool and Manchester City.
Shipping five and four goals respectively in their last two games – something which hasn’t been at all uncommon for Lopetegui – leaves the Hammers with the fourth-worst defence in the Premier League.
Few managers have looked less likely to see out the rest of the season than Lopetegui, and with Potter set to take the reigns, his exit represents the end of an error, rather than an era, at the London Stadium.
In other West Ham news, an out-of-favour Irons star is on the verge of an exit with one club’s directors ready to sanction a deal.
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