Ex-Tottenham boss fires 'disrespectful' West Ham warning as Fabrizio Romano gives Graham Potter update
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West Ham are in the final stages of contract talks with former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter with the club believed to be poised to sack current head coach Julen Lopetegui.
The former Wolves manager has been under huge pressure since replacing David Moyes last summer and back-to-back 5-0 and 4-1 defeats to Liverpool and Manchester City have reportedly made the Spaniard's position untenable.
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Hide AdPotter has emerged as a strong favourite to make his return to management at the London Stadium and transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano provided an update on talks on Wednesday. Writing on social media platform X, he said: "West Ham and Graham Potter’s camp are discussing details of the contract in order to proceed with the agreement. All parties optimistic after spending last two days in talks, still waiting on final key points to get it sealed."
Lopetegui had been due to have a press conference today ahead of Friday's FA Cup clash with Aston Villa but that was cancelled by the club. The West Ham manager also reportedly cancelled a team bonding meal over the last 24 hours as he awaits news on his position.
Harry Redknapp criticises West Ham
Reports earlier this week had suggested that Lopetegui could still be in charge of the Hammers for the visit to Villa Park with confirmation of his departure coming ahead of the Premier League clash with Fulham. Reacting to how the change in management has been conducted, former top flight manager Harry Redknapp heaped criticism on his former club.
Redknapp told BBC Radio London: "It's disrespectful. If you want to get rid of him [Lopetegui], you call and say I'm sorry it's not worked out.
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Hide Ad"It's not an easy place to manage West Ham. The expectation there is very high. It's not only do they have to produce a winning team, they've got to produce a team that plays what West Ham fans see as the West Ham way."
Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in 2023 but had hinted at a readiness to return to the dugout. Speaking to The Telegraph in September, Potter had teased that he was ready for a return to the dugout. He said: “I’ve felt ready to return for a little while. It still has to be the right thing, but I’m excited for it. I’m excited to hear what the opportunities are and I’ll take each one and judge it on its merits."
West Ham approach two other candidates
However, Potter's appointment at West Ham is not a foregone conclusion. The Independent reports that the London club is 'understood to have sounded out' former Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier and AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao with approaches made.
Galtier is currently head coach at Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail, where he has been since October 2023. The Frenchman had previously worked at Saint-Etienne, Lille, and Nice, as well as PSG.
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Hide AdGaltier spent just one year in charge of PSG between July 2022 and July 2023, replacing Mauricio Pochettino and being followed by Luis Enrique. The manager won Ligue 1 and the Trophee des Champions.
Meanwhile, Conceicao was only appointed at AC Milan in December last year, replacing Paulo Fonseca. He has previously worked at Braga, Nantes and Porto.
The 50-year-old won three league titles while at Porto and helped Milan lift the Supercoppa Italiana on Monday, becoming the fastest manager to win a trophy in the club's history, managing that triumph in his second ever game.
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