Sources: David Moyes close to West Ham sack as club make contact with big-name potential replacement
West Ham have reached out to Rafael Benitez and he is a leading contender to replace David Moyes, sources have told Football Insider.
The former Liverpool and Newcastle United manager has admirers in the Irons boardroom as they plot a potential change in the dugout.
Reports have suggested Moyes’ job is under new threat and he could be sacked if West Ham lose at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
It is believed there is growing pressure on Moyes, one well-placed source said, after he twice came close to being sacked earlier this year, including after the 2-0 loss to Brentford that left many supporters furious.
West Ham are actively assessing potential replacements for the Scot, 59, and Benitez’s name is one on their list.
They have sounded him out, via intermediaries, and the Champions League-winning Spaniard, 62, is keen on a Premier League return after a wretched spell at Everton last season.
But he is holding out for a longer-term contract rather than a short-term deal until the end of the season that would end if the club get relegated.
That is a very real possibility for West Ham after their 2-0 defeat to Tottenham last Sunday left them 18th in the Premier League.
Moyes has brushed aside speculation about his position over the last months and insisted he has a strong relationship with co-owner David Sullivan.
But the manager’s power base is not nearly as significant as it was and he is in a major battle to avoid the sack.
The death of David Gold early last month further weakened Moyes’ position, as he is believed to have been a strong advocate of the manager behind the scenes and would frequently offer him private support and encouragement.
In other news, West Ham handed huge boost in bid to sign midfield colossus.