West Ham United have held talks over a blockbuster move to hire Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim if David Moyes leaves the club this summer, according to The Athletic.
Amorim reportedly features prominently in West Ham’s thinking, and discussions have taken place between the two parties.
Amorim burst onto the Portuguese football landscape with Braga and has taken the Primeira Liga by storm. He joined Sporting in 2020, and they are on course to claim their second league title under him.
His achievements have put him on the radar of several top clubs looking to hire a new manager this summer.
Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona have been linked with moves for the 39-year-old.
The Blues see him as a potential option if Mauricio Pochettino leaves this summer while he has been strongly linked with the Liverpool job, although he is unlikely to emerge as the top candidate.
Barcelona had him on their shortlist but are increasingly leaning towards keeping Xavi Hernandez.
With the heavyweights uncertain, West Ham have taken the opportunity to insert themselves in the running for the Lisbon-born tactician.
However, it is still unclear how willing he will be to take the West Ham job. It is also contingent on Moyes’ future, which remains uncertain.
The former Everton manager claimed the club had offered him a new deal, but the Hammers prefer to wait until the summer before making any decisions.
Recent results have lit even more fire in his already hot seat as they lost 5-2 to Crystal Palace in their last match after crashing out of the Europa League in the quarter-final.
West Ham’s underwhelming season has been blamed on Moyes’ restrictive style and insistence on having a small squad despite European and domestic commitments.
Amorim is known for his attacking style of football, which would be in stark contrast to Moyes’ more pragmatic approach.
This could be a welcome change for West Ham fans who have grown frustrated with the team’s lack of creativity. However, convincing Amorim to take the job might be challenging.
Ultimately, the decision will hinge on Moyes’ results and their ambition in the transfer market.
If they can offer Amorim a clear vision for the future and the resources to build a squad that suits his style, they might be able to lure him to the London Stadium.
