West Ham reach an agreement with Julen Lopetegui to replace David Moyes but the ex-Hammer issues a warning
West Ham have reached a verbal agreement with Julen Lopetegui to become their new manager, talkSPORT understands.
hammer owner David Sullivan has personally led the search for Lopetegui to replace David Moyeswho has been back in the London Stadium dugout for four and a half years.
This despite the fact that sporting director Tim Steidten, who joined the club last summer, wanted to hire Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.
talkSPORT understands the former captain Mark Noble also pushed for the Primeira Liga coach, who flew to talk last month, to enter.
Reports suggest that Bayern Munich were also interested in signing favorite Lopetegui as a replacement for Thomas Tuchel, who will leave the club this summer.
As the search for a manager continues, while Moyes' supposed departure has not been confirmed, West Ham have been falling apart on and off the pitch.
Steidten has agreed to stay away from the locker room for the rest of the season, with Moyes unhappy that the club is looking for replacements while he is still in the job.
Meanwhile, the Hammers' own team has reflected on the chaos going on behind the scenes, conceding five against both Chelsea and crystal Palace during the last month.
Ironically, they have also not won since a 2-1 victory over Lopetegui's former team, Wolves, in early April.
But while Sullivan appears determined to hire Lopetegui, who has been out of work since leaving Molineux in August, a former Hammers star who saw him manage Sevilla is not convinced he is the right man for the job.
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Scott Mintowho played for West Ham between 1999 and 2003, told talkSPORT: “I have to be honest with you, I'm not too enamored of the decision, if that's going to be the decision.”
“I've said this a few times on talkSPORT, I don't like talking about managers when David Moyes (is still there) and look, whatever you think about his style of play, I've watched a lot of West Ham. This season I really have. and fans talk about the style of play.
“If you look at the Arsenal game, it's a good example because you faced Arsenal, but from minute one, it was like sitting playing at home.
“That's not what the fans want to see, they want to see you try.
“But if you look at Lopetegui, he is very well organized and very well structured, but he is not the anti-David Moyes that the fans are looking for.
“What I would say is that the thing about David Moyes is that the fans will remember it as a golden era for West Ham.”
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Moyes first served as Hammers boss in 2017 with the team in the relegation zone, ensuring Premier League survival before leaving that summer at the end of his contract.
The former Manchester United manager returned in December 2019, replacing Manuel Pellegrini, who had left them in a precarious position with relegation threats increasing once again.
Since moving away from danger again, the Scot has led West Ham to finishes of 16th, 6th, 7th and 14th.
They also reached a Europa League semi-final in 2022 and won the silver medal by lifting the Europa Conference League in 2023.
The Hammers currently sit ninth in the Premier League.
