Slaven Bilic will ‘come in’ if West Ham sack Nuno Espirito Santo
West Ham may have to turn to former manager Slaven Bilic if they were to sack Nuno Espirito Santo.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who thinks Bilic rejoining the club would signal “desperation territory.“
Nuno’s future at West Ham is uncertain, despite the 51-year-old only having joined the club as manager in September.
West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Brighton leaves the Hammers in the relegation zone with a crucial trip to bottom of the table Wolves next.
Slaven Bilic ‘would be last throw of the dice’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – would back Bilic to become West Ham manager for a second time if Nuno departed.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks Bilic could “rally the troops” having also played for the club in his playing career.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, if there was a rush of blood to the head from the West Ham board, I’m thinking there won’t be, but if there was to be one, I think Slaven Bilic would have to be the one to come in, rally the troops, being the West Ham old boy.
“And that would be your last throw of the dice. I think that’s a long shot. That’s really in desperation territory.”
West Ham closing in on first January signing
West Ham are focused on backing Nuno in the January transfer window, with his request to sign Fulham winger Adama Traore set to happen.
Traore could become West Ham’s first signing of the January window, and he has previously worked under Nuno at Wolves.
The 29-year-old has only started one Premier League game for Fulham this season, who are happy to let the winger leave with just six months left on his contract.