West Ham complete deal for Julen Lopetegui to replace David Moyes but ex-Hammer issues warning

West Ham have reached a verbal agreement with Julen Lopetegui to become their new manager, according to talkSPORT.

Hammers owner David Sullivan personally led the pursuit of Lopetegui to replace David Moyes, who has been back in the hot seat at the London Stadium for four and a half years.

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This is despite sporting director Tim Steidten, who joined the club last summer, wanting to hire Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim.

talkSPORT understands former captain Mark Noble has also pushed the Primeira Liga manager, who flew in for talks last month, to come forward.

Reports suggest that Bayern Munich were also interested in bringing in favorite Lopetegui as a replacement for Thomas Tuchel, who is leaving the club this summer.

As the manager search continues – while Moyes’ rumored departure has not been confirmed – West Ham are falling apart on and off the pitch.

Steidten has agreed to stay away from the dressing room for the remainder of the season, with Moyes unhappy with the club fielding substitutes while he is still in charge.

Meanwhile, the Hammers team themselves have reflected the chaos behind the scenes, conceding five against Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the past month.

Ironically, they are also winless since the 2-1 win over Lopetegui’s former Wolves team in early April.

But while Sullivan appears determined to hire Lopetegui – who has been out of work since leaving Molineux in August – a former Hammers star who saw him manage Sevilla is not convinced he is the right man for the job. job.

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Scott Minto, who played for West Ham between 1999 and 2003, told talkSPORT: “I have to be honest with you, I’m not too keen on the decision, if that’s going to be the decision.

“I’ve said it a few times on talkSPORT, I don’t like talking about managers when David Moyes (is still there) – and look, whatever you think of his style of play, I’ve seen a lot of West Ham. this season I really did it and the fans tell me about the style of play.

“You look at the game against Arsenal, it’s a good example because you played against Arsenal, but from the first minute it was kind of sitting there playing at home.

“That’s not what the fans want to see, they want to see you try to go for it.

“But if you look at Lopetegui, he is very well organized and very well structured, but he is not the anti-David Moyes that the fans are looking for.

“What I would say is what you get with David Moyes is the fans will look back on this as a golden period for West Ham.”

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Moyes first served as Hammers boss in 2017 with the team in the relegation zone, ensuring Premier League survival before leaving that summer at the end of his contract.

The former Manchester United boss then returned in December 2019, replacing Manuel Pellegrini who had left them in a precarious position with growing relegation threats.

Since moving away from danger again, the Scot has helped West Ham finish 16th, 6th, 7th and 14th.

They also reached a Europa League semi-final in 2022 and won silverware by winning the Europa Conference League in 2023.

The Hammers currently sit ninth in the Premier League.