West Ham overcome final hurdle to beat Everton to Potter appointment
Graham Potter has been offered a two-and-a-half year deal as West Ham United close in on hiring him as Julen Lopetegui’s replacement, according to Alan Nixon .
The Sun journalist reported via his Patreon (8 January) that having initially proposed a deal until the rest of the season, the Irons have increased their offer until mid-2027 to ward off interest from Everton.
Potter has been in talks with the Hammers’ hierarchy over recent days with their six-month offer being the “main snag” behind the deal not being signed off yet, but that “hurdle” has now been removed.
Everton had also opened the possibility of hiring Potter with Sean Dyche under pressure, but despite Lopetegui still being in line to take training on Wednesday [David Ornstein, 8 January], Potter’s East London move should happen.
Graham Potter gives West Ham United the green light
Having been out of work for almost two years since leaving Chelsea and being linked with almost every Premier League vacancy under the sun, Potter opting for the London Stadium is huge for the Hammers.
With Lopetegui’s exit seemingly on the brink of being announced – with his upcoming pre-match press conference cancelled by the club – bringing in the 49-year-old straight away could be a massive coup.
Everton, below the Irons in the Premier League table by six points and firmly lodged in a relegation battle, may regret not moving fast enough if Potter can live up to the billing in East London.
Unlike if he’d moved to Merseyside, Potter will have a new-look squad worth over £120million at his disposal when he takes the reins, and will be backed to do a better job than Lopetegui has managed.
The Spaniard’s continued inability to get results, despite being heavily backed, leaves him on the brink, and signing Potter up for two and a half years could be the start of another fruitful period in East London.
In other West Ham news, the Irons are one of several clubs offered the chance to sign an out-of-favour Champions League forward.
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