'Amazing': Graham Potter has already praised potential West Ham succesor

West Ham manager Graham Potter continues to see his tenure at the London Stadium face question marks after a bumpy start to the Premier League season.

The Hammers host Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon in what could be a make or break fixture for the head coach, who has won just one fixture this season. West Ham have been well beaten by Sunderland, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in the league, as well as being dumped out the Carabao Cup by Wolves.

It’s a worrying lack of improvement on an underwhelming showing last time out with some beginning to call for change in management. Several figures have been touted as potential replacements for Potter at West Ham.

Graham Potter under pressure at West Ham

Former Chelsea and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho was linked with a sensational return to the Premier League following his dismissal from Fenerbahce, but he has since been appointed at Benfica. talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has also named former West Ham boss Slaven Bilic as an option.

Those links come after Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna was reported to have visited the West Ham boardroom during the defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. McKenna had been invited to the London Stadium the day after his Tractor Boys thrashed Sheffield United 5-0 in Championship action.

McKenna has been in charge at Ipswich Town since 2019 and has turned heads with his work at the club. The manager won promotion from League One and the Championship with the Tractor Boys, earning several Manager of the Month awards along the way.

Kieran McKenna linked with London Stadium job

Despite not being able to keep Ipswich Town in the Premier League last season, McKenna’s work did impress in the top flight. Potter himself heaped praise on the manager, who could become his successor.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference in May, Potter said: “They won back-to-back promotions, and I think if you look at where the club was when Kieran McKenna came in, compared to where they are now, you can see that they’ve been on an amazing journey. They’ve had a setback, but they’re well equipped and sometimes that’s when you learn and get stronger, ready to come again.”

West Ham did go on to claim three points at Portman Road in a 3-1 win. James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus were on the scoresheet for the visitors with Nathan Broadhead bagging a goal for the hosts.

Ipswich Town sit 14th in the Championship so far this season, winning one, drawing three and losing one of their matches. The Tractor Boys and McKenna travel to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

In other news, 'We Accept': West Ham confront £450m three-year spend in candid club statement.