West Ham make approach for PL title winner after placing him top of wishlist - report
By Richard Parks
West Ham have made a preliminary approach for Manuel Pellegrini to become their new manager, according to a report.
The Sun on Sunday claim the Hammers have placed the former Manchester City boss top of their wish list to be boss next season as they carry out a review following months of turmoil on and off the pitch.
It is said that Pellegrini, 64, was top of West Ham's shortlist when they sacked Slaven Bilic last November but he could not be tempted to leave his current post at Hebei China Fortune.
The Sun report that club intermediaries have "put out feelers" to assess Pellegrini's interest in the West Ham role and a formal move if planned if he is keen on a return to the Premier League.
West Ham, who appointed David Moyes on a short-term contract, are two points above the relegation zone and locked in a battle for Premier League survival.
Football Insider verdict:
Pellegrini has a decent CV, and is widely admired for his work at Malaga and Man City, where he not only won the 2013-14 title but had the fifth biggest winning percentage in Premier League history among managers. But is he the right manager for City, a club where firefighting is needed as well as giving elite players a platform to showcase their skills? Hammers fans will not be entirely convinced by the credentials of Pellegrini, whose paternal approach to egos and big names is not perhaps as well suited to a mid-table club as one chasing Premier League and Champions League glory.
In other West Ham news, the club are close to sealing two massive deals, an Insider has revealed.