Sources: West Ham’s new Nuno sack plan revealed
Nuno Espirito Santo is set to be given another month to turn things around at West Ham as uncertainty continues to loom around his future as their manager.
Nuno was appointed as West Ham’s new boss to succeed Graham Potter in September, but he has been unable to lead them away from the relegation zone over the last few months.
They are one place and four points behind Nottingham Forest in 18th right now, with relegation a distinct possibility after a 2-1 defeat to Nuno‘s old club on Tuesday.
West Ham’s board are unsure about Nuno‘s future as it stands, but he has been given the chance to bring in numerous new signings so far this month to turn the tide for the second half of the campaign.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the Portuguese boss is not set to lose his job imminently and will be given the next five games to improve the Hammers’ form.
Nuno to take charge of the next five West Ham games before potential sack decision
Michael Carrick has emerged as the favourite to replace Nuno at West Ham, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
He has kept his job up to now, even though they are cut adrift in the relegation zone, and is set to be given the next five West Ham games to turn their form around before potentially being sacked.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, I explained: “(It’s a) big period coming up for West Ham. Obviously they’ll have the relief of playing the FA Cup this weekend against QPR, if they can get a win there.
“Then they’ve got a big game against Tottenham on the 17th of January, then Sunderland, Chelsea and Burnley.
“If things haven’t improved since then and they still find themselves adrift at the wrong end of the table then there might be a decision where West Ham need a change of manager
“But they don’t really want to have to change their manager again, and have a third different manager of the season, having had Graham Potter and now Nuno.
“They’re trying to stick with Nuno, for now, in the hope that he can turn things around with these new signings.”
West Ham have decided against signing Jorgen Strand Larsen
The Irons have signed Pablo and Taty Castellanos to bolster Nuno’s attacking depth, with Niclas Fullkrug leaving to join AC Milan on loan.
Callum Wilson is also set to leave West Ham as his contract is cancelled, but they are not set to add any more centre-forward depth to Nuno’s arsenal in the January window.
Football Insider have revealed that West Ham have pulled out of the race to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen despite being heavily linked to his services prior to the start of the month.
Nottingham Forest are now believed to be frontrunners for the Norwegian’s signature, and the Hammers will hope that their decision not to pursue a deal does not come back to bite them in the relegation battle this season.