West Ham’s options to replace David Moyes narrow as another top manager has also told David Sullivan ‘no’ claims a new report.
Replacing David Moyes with a top manager who can get fans excited may be easier said than done for West Ham.
Hammers fans have been divided over the future of Moyes for so long.
But they were unified this week when several leading football sources revealed that coveted Sporting boss Ruben Amorim had flown to London for talks with West Ham.
There was huge excitement among the fanbase. It did not last long, though, as word soon emerged from Portugal that Amorim will not become West Ham’s new manager.
That leaves David Sullivan and co exploring other options.
Amorim leaves West Ham feeling flat
The problem is, now almost all the names on their alleged list feel rather underwhelming.
The most decorated of all out of work managers, Jose Mourinho, has hinted he would be up for managing the Hammers.
But the owners are not keen at all.
Now West Ham options narrow as another top manager has also told Sullivan ‘no’.
Another innovative Portuguese boss the Hammers hierarchy were keen on is Abel Ferreira.
The former Sporting player and coach is managing Palmeiras in Brazil where he has won the league and Copa Libertadores twice each as well as several cups.
Options narrow as another top manager told Sullivan ‘no’
According to a new report from ESPN Brazil, West Ham approached Ferreira with a view to replacing Moyes back in January.
That suggests he was the first choice for Sullivan and Tim Steidten.
But Ferreira rejected West Ham’s advances, with ESPN claiming that resulted in the Irons switching their sights to Amorim instead.
The report also claims any further attempts to lure Ferreira would be futile.
“ESPN found that West Ham approached Abel Ferreira in January, when the coach did not know whether he would continue in Brazil, as his contract with Alviverde ran until the end of 2024 and had not yet been renewed,” ESPN states.
“At the time, Abel refused the English approach after saying ”no” to a million-dollar proposal from Al Sadd, from Qatar…
“If in England, the change of coaches has shaken the market, in Brazil, it is known that today, getting Abel Ferreira from Palmeiras is an almost impossible mission – and the issue here goes far beyond money.”
Names in the frame do not excite
Focus now appears to be on Julen Lopetegui for West Ham.
But supporters are far from enthused about the prospect of appointing the out of work Spaniard.
In fact many Hammers fans feel so strongly about it they have stated they would rather keep Moyes.
That now looks the most unlikely scenario, though.
The only way the Scot could put himself in the conversation to stay is by winning at least three of West Ham’s remaining four games and qualifying for Europe again.
With Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City among them that looks unlikely.
But at the moment, so do West Ham’s chances of making an exciting managerial appointment that is universally popular with fans.