West Ham United are gearing up for a new era, with the club scouring the market for a long-term successor to manager David Moyes.
Moyes is poised to end his seven-year spell with the Hammers when his contract runs out this summer, although he is still expected to sit down with the board to discuss his future at the end of the season.
Plenty of names have already been floated around as potential candidates to succeed the Scottish manager at London Stadium.
West Ham have endured a turbulent campaign, and Moyes has come under intense scrutiny. The Hammers have won just four of their 22 games this year (D9, L9).
There’s a decent chance he wouldn’t be in the dugout next season, with former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopegui considered the front-runner to replace the Scotsman.
However, reports from Italian news outlet TuttoMercatoWeb claim West Ham are also interested in former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.
Newcastle United are also in the running to secure his services.
West Ham must beat Newcastle to Sarri’s signature
Lopetegui is considered the favoured candidate to succeed Moyes, but he’s hardly an upgrade on the Scottish manager.
Despite previously working at top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid, Sevilla and Porto, the Spanish manager can only boast a solitary Europa League trophy in his cabinet.
He may have rescued Wolves from the threat of relegation in his only Premier League adventure, but his brand of football is no different from Moyes.
Both managers favour a defensive, rigid system, which the Hammers faithful have repeatedly condemned during Moyes’ tenure, so it is difficult to view Lopetegui’s potential appointment as a step forward.
Sarri would be a better long-term successor to Moyes, and his attacking brand of football would give the fans something to be excited about.
He led Juventus to the Serie A title in 2019/20 and finished third during his only Premier League stint with Chelsea. He parted ways with the Blues as a Europa League winner after thrashing Arsenal in the final.
The 65-year-old is an exceptional manager and has already proved he can compete at the highest level in the Premier League. He would be a great appointment for West Ham.
