‘Graham Potter spotted at West Ham’ – O’Rourke shares new manager twist
Graham Potter has been in attendance at the last two West Ham games amid pressure on Julen Lopetegui, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that despite having been linked with the Wolves job, the former Brighton boss would prefer to take over at West Ham.
This comes after Football Insider exclusively revealed on 5 December that Potter is in advanced talks to take over from Lopetegui at the London Stadium.
The Hammers’ boss has been given a stay of execution ahead of the clash with Wolves on 9 December, where a defeat would likely see him dismissed.
That is despite initial expectations that he would be sacked in the wake of their 3-1 defeat to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
Following that defeat, the board have already begun assessing potential replacements, with Potter emerging at the top of their list of options.
Football Insider revealed on 6 December that Potter remains the leading candidate for the role and is now on standby to take over if they lose against Wolves.
Graham Potter spotted at West Ham after Julen Lopetegui twist
Pressure on Lopetegui’s position has grown throughout the season so far, with the Hammers having won just four of their opening 14 league games, placing them in 14th position.
Potter, meanwhile, has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in 2023, and has been waiting for the perfect opportunity to make his return to Premier League management.
He was heavily linked with the vacant position at Leicester before Steve Cooper’s arrival, and then again after his dismissal before Ruud van Nistelrooy was named as his replacement.
Now, though, the English boss has been heavily linked with the West Ham job and his presence at their last two fixtures comes following plenty of speculation.
The board’s willingness to back their manager’s extensively, as shown with Lopetegui upon his arrival in East London, is thought to be a big draw for Potter.
As a result, he could take over at the London Stadium as soon as Monday night should they fail to win their high-pressure clash against Gary O’Neil’s side.
In other news, Stefan Borson drops “£1billion” West Ham takeover claim.
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