West Ham news: Julen Lopetegui edges towards axe as Hammers take interest in Champions League winner
West Ham United have been the surprise package of the 2024/25 Premier League season – but for all the wrong reasons.
Ahead of the new campaign, many supporters and pundits toted the Hammers for greatness, but just four wins in 14 matches have left Julen Lopetegui’s job hanging in the balance.
All attention will be on the London Stadium on Monday night as West Ham take on Wolverhampton Wanderers, with both sides – and managers – desperate for a good result.
The common consensus is that whoever loses gets the sack, a draw could even see both Gary O’Neil and Lopetegui out of a job.
The 58-year-old West Ham boss will know his opponents well, as he was in charge of Wolves as recently as August 2023.
The Spaniard left the club just three days before the 2023/24 season after he grew frustrated with their lack of spending and sale of top talent.
The West Ham hierarchy has already drawn up a shortlist in case they give Lopetegui the axe, but who could be the new face in the East Londoners dugout?
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Massimiliano Allegri, Unattached
A serial winner, Massimiliano Allegri is supposedly one of West Ham’s top targets if they are to replace their manager, according to Football Insider.
The 57-year-old has enjoyed huge success in Italy at the helm of giants such as Juventus and AC Milan, winning six Scudettos, six Coppa Italias and three Supercoppa Italiana titles.
Allegri’s last post was a second spell at Juventus, with the Italian leaving the club in May 2024.
During his managerial career, the former midfielder has been linked with jobs at Arsenal, Manchester United and Real Madrid, among others.
There is no doubt that Allegri knows how to be successful and would be a more than qualified candidate to take the reins at West Ham.
Michael Carrick, Middlesborough
The Hammers will be very familiar with Michael Carrick, who came through the academy at West Ham as a player, with the club now considering the 43-year-old as a possible replacement, as per the Mirror.
The former midfielder spent five years at the club before moving on to Tottenham Hotspur and eventually Manchester United, where he won a bucket full of trophies, including the Champions League and five Premier League titles.
Carrick started his managerial career as caretaker manager at Man Utd before he took over Championship outfit Middlesborough.
The ex-England international has established himself as one of the best young managerial talents in the country whilst at Boro, leading the club to the Play-Offs in his first season in charge.
Middlesbrough have been smart and tied down Carrick to a contract that runs out in June 2027, so West Ham will have to pay a considerable amount in compensation.
The Boro boss would be more than worth it, though – young, exciting and full of fresh ideas, Carrick would be a breath of fresh air at the London Stadium.
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