TBR Football understands that West Ham United have decided who they want to replace David Moyes as their new manager.
Moyes has come under increasing pressure in recent weeks and Hammers co-owner David Sullivan has now made his decision with former Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui identified as the man who is set to take charge at the London Stadium this summer.
Sullivan has been considering his options since the turn of the year, and TBR Football understands that the decision to replace Moyes was only taken last month.
At that point the search for successors was stepped up and there was a high-profile conversation that took place in London with Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim – who later apologised to his club and their fans for making the trip. West Ham retain an interest in the Portuguese, but are aware that he is likely looking elsewhere.
The Hammers have also done their due diligence on a number of other names including Marco Silva, Paulo Fonseca, Thomas Tuchel, Gary O’Neil and Eusebio Di Francesco.
West Ham opt for Julen Lopetegui
TBR understands that Sullivan himself met with Lopetegui last month and was hugely impressed with the Spaniard and that has seemingly helped the West Ham chief make the final decision to make the move for him, and that technical director Tim Steidten is now pressing ahead with.
West Ham are set to hand Lopetegui a long-term deal, but sources believe that personal terms will not be an issue and the Spaniard is ‘excited’ about the chance of returning to coaching in England.
Lopetegui has also been in talks with Italian giants AC Milan about taking over from Stefano Pioli, and their club legend Filippo Galli was hopeful that he would be appointed as he believed he would bring ‘spectacular football’ to the San Siro.
However, Milan have since opted to look elsewhere and now Lopetegui is ready to commit to West Ham – sealing a return to the Premier League.
Lopetegui has been out of work since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers on the eve of the Premier League season due to issues he had with the club’s financial situation.
As it stands West Ham are yet to confirm Moyes’s departure, with his current due to expire at the end of the season.
David Moyes waiting to learn his fate
Moyes himself has insisted that he would talk with the club’s hierarchy at the end of the season.
“I’ve not had any communication at all. That is because we’ve already decided amongst ourselves that we would talk at the end of the season,” the Hammers chief admitted last week.
“There is a lot of speculation around, I understand that. But we need to get things right.”
The Scot was asked to comment on the names linked with the role, including Lopetegui, and he added: “I have to be honest, I haven’t looked. I’m only getting told by people like you, or maybe people have phoned me up.
“But I haven’t gone out looking. As far as I’m concerned, we had an agreement we would speak at the end of the season.”