Former Chelsea manager Gianluca Vialli has dismissed West Ham’s chances of hiring Roberto Mancini if they decide to sack Slaven Bilic.
Mancini is currently head coach at Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg, but the Mirror have reported in recent days that the Hammers have made the Italian their number one target to take over the reins at the London stadium.
Asked by the Russian news agency TASS (quotes via Itasportpress) about the links to West Ham, Vialli said Mancini intends to stay at Zenit with the club sitting top of the Russian league:
“I think Roberto is absolutely happy in St. Petersburg. Everything goes well – the team is at the head of the championship and continues successfully in the Europa League. When you go to Russia for a project such as Zenit, then you are expected to stay for at least two or three years. He will not go to West Ham.”
Mancini has been linked with the Hammers on and off over the past year as Bilic’s struggles in the West Ham hot seat have become ever more apparent. Manuel Pellegrini, David Wagner, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez are just some of the other names that have been linked to take over at the club.
Bilic has reportedly just two games to save his job, with the Carabao Cup fourth round tie against Tottenham tomorrow night, and the next league fixture against Crystal Palace, determining the Croatian’s future.
