Ruud van Nistelrooy now a ‘serious contender’ for West Ham job with Julen Lopetegui ‘on brink’. West Ham may finally get a top quality striker to unlock their goalscoring potential but it could be as their next manager instead.
It is often said there is no smoke without fire. If that’s true then Julen Lopetegui is clearly in big trouble at West Ham.
The pressure on the Spaniard hit new levels after the dismal stalemate with Everton at the weekend.
West Ham’s owners have – on more than one occasion – made it clear performances must improve.
But, if anything, what the Hammers served up against the lowly Toffees felt like a new low, despite the point. West Ham started the season with aims to get back into Europe.
Approaching a third of the way through the campaign – after a £155m spend added to the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, Edson Alvarez and Alphonse Areola – they sit 14th in the Premier League table.
In fact Lopetegui’s side are closer to the bottom than the top six.
Worryingly, should the Hammers suffer heavy defeats against Newcastle and Arsenal in their next two games – as many expect – they could even find themselves in the bottom three going into the busy Christmas period.
The situation is looking increasingly bleak for the Spaniard.
With just three wins under his belt in the Premier League so far, fans and players are unconvinced. A lack of identity or clear sign of what Lopetegui is trying to achieve with the team has raised red flags. On the terraces and in the boardroom.
One journalist claimed Lopetegui was the happiest he has been all season when discussing getting away from West Ham for a break in Spain.
He reportedly flew back home in the misguided belief his job as Hammers boss is safe. A plethora of managers have been linked as potential replacements.
But one particular outsider seems to be coming up on the rails according to new claims. Ruud van Nistelrooy is now a ‘serious contender’ for the West Ham job with Lopetegui ‘on the brink of the sack’.
Van Nistelrooy now a ‘serious contender’ for West Ham
Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs.
Speaking on a podcast this week, Wyness claims “close sources at West Ham” have told him Lopetegui’s job is under immediate threat.
So much so he may even be sacked during the international break.
At the same time a journalist at The i News says there is ‘no guarantee Lopetegui survives the international break’.
And he claims Van Nistelrooy is now a serious consideration for West Ham’s owners. talkSPORT mooted the prospect of Van Nistelrooy replacing Lopetegui earlier this week.
That was after the Dutchman departed Man United following four games as interim boss.
He is making way for ex West Ham target Ruben Amorim and now inews’ Michael Hincks says he could rather ironically head to the London Stadium.
“The more I wrote about where next for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the more RvN to West Ham made sense,” Hincks states. “Plenty to prove, but the Man United stint was a timely cameo and he could lift the mood at West Ham…
“Like a true fox in the box, Van Nistelrooy has emerged seemingly from nowhere and placed himself in the shop window for Premier League clubs considering their options during this international break and in the months to come.”
Hincks goes on to say Lopetegui may be gone by the time West Ham face Newcastle.
Lopetegui said to be ‘on brink’ at West Ham
And he believes of the four or five clubs who could soon be in the market for a new manager, West Ham is the best fit for Van Nistelrooy.
“The fact it could happen soon is why it makes even more sense, and in true Van Nistelrooy fashion, the Premier League club that pulls the trigger first could view the Dutchman as an easy tap-in,” he adds.
“He was much more than that as a player, of course, but managerially speaking he now poses as an enticing option, and the more time spent deliberating the possibilities, the more West Ham feels like the ideal fit.
“Ten years Lopetegui’s junior, Van Nistelrooy could be the rude awakening that West Ham need. Yes, the headlines write themselves.”
The more I wrote about where next for Ruud van Nistelrooy, the more RvN to West Ham made sense
