Graham Potter to West Ham: O’Rourke shares update after ‘advanced talks’
Graham Potter remains the clear frontrunner to take over from Julen Lopetegui if he loses his job at West Ham, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that the Spaniard has been given a stay of execution ahead of the clash with Wolves on 9 December.
There was an initial expectation for Lopetegui to lose his job off the back of the defeat to Leicester amid pressure from the fans and a reported bust-up with Jean-Clair Todibo.
However, sources say that the Hammers boss will be given one more chance, and if he suffers another home defeat, he will be sacked.
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.
Now, Potter remains in the frame after negotiations with the West Ham board but will have to wait until Monday at the earliest to take over.
Talks had also taken place with former Juventus manager Max Allegri, but there is uncertainty over the expense of a deal and whether he would take over mid-way through the season.
Graham Potter in line to take over at West Ham after Julen Lopetegui sack twist
Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in 2023, but had flirted with a return to the Premier League with Leicester before Steve Cooper’s appointment in the summer.
The Englishman remains very highly rated within the game, and revealed he is open to a return to management while on pundit duty for the Hammers’ clash v Leicester.
West Ham are currently 14th in the Premier League, having won just four of their opening 14 games, shipping 27 goals in that time.
Meanwhile the fans have largely turned on Lopetegui and were singing “sacked in the morning” from the away end at the King Power.
As a result, sources say it would take a remarkable turnaround for the manager to save his position, with Potter now on standby to take over.
Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is facing similar pressure and it has been said that whoever loses the clash on Monday night will lose their job.
In other news, Stefan Borson drops “£1billion” West Ham takeover claim.
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