West Ham United are reportedly close to appointing former Real Madrid manager Julen Loptetegui as their new boss.
According to a report from The Guardian, West Ham United’s search for a new manager could end next week as they are close to securing the services of Julen Loptetegui. The Spanish manager seems all set to take over from David Moyes after the end of the season.
David Moyes to leave West Ham?
Moyes has done wonders for West Ham in his second stint at the club. He ended the club’s 43-year-long wait for their first major title as they won the UEFA Europa Conference League last season. The Scottish manager has helped them become a regular feature in Europe.
The Hammers were all set to offer him a new two-year deal with his contract expiring at the end of the season. But, things have taken a major turn following the team’s poor form in 2024, and the 61-year-old is now expected to be shown the exit door in the summer.
A final decision regarding his future has not been made yet, and they are unlikely to decide on anything before the Scottish manager holds talks with the board after the end of the campaign. But, the reports suggest it is over for Moyes at West Ham as the club have been pushing hard for a new manager for quite a while now.
They held talks with Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim a few weeks back as he was their priority target. But, it seems the 39-year-old is no longer an option following a meeting between the two parties. West Ham now seemed to be completely focused on former Real Madrid boss Julen Loptetegui.
West Ham closing in on Julen Loptetegui
The 57-year-old Spanish manager has been without a job since leaving Wolves last summer. The Hammers have been doing their diligence on the former Sevilla manager, and they feel he could be the right man to take them forward.
While negotiations have not reached a conclusion yet, they are very close to appointing him as their new manager. If talks progress smoothly, both parties could soon reach a common understanding, and everything could be settled by next week.
Loptetegui is an experienced campaigner, and he could be a great addition to their ranks. Even if West Ham do reach an agreement with him, an official announcement is unlikely to arrive before the end of the season. However, it will allow Moyes to receive a fitting sendoff during West Ham’s final home fixtures against Luton Town next Saturday.
