A confidant of majority owner David Sullivan has shared what he’s just heard from the boardroom about West Ham’s Ruben Amorim chances.
There’s a reason the words to West Ham’s anthem include ‘and like my dreams they fade and die’.
Because more often than not that’s exactly what happens when Hammers fans get their hopes up about anything.
David Moyes is widely regarded to have done a superb job at West Ham.
A growing number of supporters are tired of the Scot’s risk averse approach, though.
Moyes looks increasingly likely to depart when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.
Pulses were racing when, somewhat out of the blue, journalist David Ornstein revealed Ruben Amorim was flying to London for talks with West Ham about succeeding Moyes on Monday.
The excitement was palpable among the Hammers fanbase.
Amorim prospect united West Ham fans
A rare unity washed over supporters that Amorim, one of the world’s most innovative and coveted young managers, was the perfect man to take West Ham forward.
In less than 24 hours, though, hopes were killed as word emerged on his return to Portugal that Amorim would not be taking over at West Ham.
That led many to believe longstanding suitors Liverpool did indeed have the 39-year-old lined up to replace Jurgen Klopp.
Fast forward another few hours, though, and there has been another plot twist.
Reports now abound that Feyenoord boss Arne Slot – another name who has reportedly been on West Ham’s shortlist – will take over at Liverpool.
Cue renewed hope that West Ham may, after all, have a shot at Amorim.
Particularly after it was claimed he was attracted by the Hammers project and would be given a big transfer kitty to spend.
But is that false or genuine hope?
Well a David Sullivan confidant has shared what he’s just heard from the boardroom about West Ham’s Amorim chances.
Sullivan confidant on Amorim chances
Sean Whetstone, who also counts vice-chair Karren Brady among his contacts at the club, has delivered an update on Amorim.
And the two words coming from the corridors of power are not encouraging.
“The chance of West Ham landing Ruben Amorim as their next manager are ‘almost zero’,” Whetstone reports.
“The whole flight saga seems an agent stage-managed event to focus the minds of other Premier League clubs.
“The Sporting Lisbon manager is thought to have a larger buy out clause of £17m for ‘foreign clubs’.”
If it was to focus the minds of Liverpool then it seems to have backfired on Amorim and his agent.
Because all roads now point to Slot for that position it seems.
Elsewhere it is difficult to see an opening in the Premier League for Amorim that’s more attractive than West Ham.
There is the possibility that vacancies could open up at Man United and Chelsea. That would of course be a more attractive proposition for a young, ambitious manager no doubt.
Other than that there is Newcastle where talk has been doing the round about the future of Eddie Howe.
But given the financial restrictions the Magpies are working under due to PSR, that would also be a tough assignment.
Meanwhile West Ham are reportedly set to announce a record £368m turnover which means the club should be well-placed to spend on transfers this summer.