Julen Lopetegui is 'fan' of West Ham star supposedly set for 'big Saudi move'

West Ham are set to appoint former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui as the replacement for David Moyes this summer. The ex Real Madrid and Spain boss had been linked with the role but new reports this week suggest a deal has now been agreed.

Moyes' current contract at the London Stadium is set to expire at the end of the campaign and the Scotsman had confirmed that talks over any possible extension would wait until the end of the season, never committing his future to the club. With growing unease among some sections of the fanbase, it now looks as if Moyes will quit the club when his deal ends.

That means a new dawn is set to arrive at West Ham with Lopetegui coming through the doors. The Spaniard enjoyed success with Wolves last season, lifting them up the table and away from relegation, but left the club by mutual agreement ahead of the current campaign having expressed his frustration at transfer activity at Molineux.

One player who was linked with a move to Wolves while Lopetegui was in the Midlands was none other than West Ham striker Michail Antonio. In January 2023, talkSPORT reported that the Jamaican international was a target for Wolves as they sat 19th in the league table.

Lopetegui was said to have 'highlighted' Antonio as someone who could bolster the club's attacking line. The outlet added that the Wolves boss was a 'fan' of the player.

If true, it's an intriguing link with Antonio's current West Ham contract set to expire this summer. The Hammers hold the option of another year, but any extension is yet to be confirmed and Football Insider last week reported that the striker was set to leave the club. The outlet added that a ‘big move’ to Saudi Arabia could be on the cards.

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The player has just six Premier League goals this season but four of those have come since March as he enjoys a strong run of form to end the campaign, putting in big performances for the side. Even during his goal-shy spells, it is known that Lopetegui appreciated a striker's physicality and hold-up play.

Praising Raul Jimenez when at Wolves, the manager said: “And, above all, Raul Jimenez has played a fantastic match in my opinion. It’s good news for him and for us.

“He didn’t score but he was very important in a lot of facets of the play. It’s important. Sometimes we analyse the forwards for the goals that they score but they have a lot to offer to the team. I have to review the match, but in my opinion, he has made a very good match.”