Graham Potter is not the only man being considered by West Ham as a potential Julen Lopetegui replacement.

West Ham have approached two managers who have never managed in the Premier League as potential replacements for the struggling Julen Lopetegui this week.

The Spaniard has been under pressure all season after a stuttering start to life at the London Stadium and now his number could be truly up. Reports this week claim that Lopetegui could be dismissed before the side's next Premier League match against Fulham in a week's time.

Former Chelsea and Brighton boss Graham Potter has emerged as an early frontrunner for the job with talks supposedly underway. The 49-year-old has been out of work since being dismissed from Stamford Bridge in 2023 but has hinted at a desire 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 to new managerial 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.

Christophe Galtier has been approached by West Ham. | AFP via Getty Images

placeholder image — Christophe Galtier has been approached by West Ham. | AFP via Getty Images

Galtier 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.

West Ham tensions high under Julen Lopetegui

The Times has reported that Lopetegui will be in charge for the FA Cup meeting with Aston Villa on Friday night but that it is 'unlikely' the manager will be in charge for the Premier League meeting with Fulham on Tuesday, January 14.

Lopetegui took the West Ham hot seat following the departure of David Moyes from the club this summer. The Spaniard has previously been in charge of Sevilla, Real Madrid and the Spanish national side.

Graham Potter is favourite to replace Lopetegui.

The 58-year-old was backed with budget during the summer window with over £130 million being spent by the club. Niklas Fullkrug, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Crysencio Summerville, Max Kilman and Luis Guilherme all came in for significant fees.

However, the results have not come with the spending. The Hammers have won just three league fixtures since the start of November and have conceded three goals or more on eight occasions this term.

The Guardian reported on Monday that Lopetegui had asked West Ham technical director Tim Steidten to stay away from the training ground after a breakdown in relationship between the two. That report added that those claims have been denied by the club, who had attributed Steidten's absence to him focusing on the January transfer window.