West Ham are keen on pursuing a deal for Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, but are concerned that he may use their interest as a means of ensuring he is given a better deal on the south coast, according to Football Insider.
The Hammers are understood to be looking at possible replacements for Manuel Pellegrini given the club’s poor form this season, and 41-year-old Howe is said to be high on their list of targets.
But while it is believed that initial feelers they have put out have been in encouraging, there is always a worry that Howe could capitalise on their eagerness to strengthen his position in negotiations with his current club.
OPINION
The issue West Ham have at the moment is that it is very clear that they are interested in a new manager, despite assertions from vice-chairwoman Karren Brady that Manuel Pellegrini has the full backing of the board, as per her column in the Sun. That ultimately means that anybody they may be sniffing around is going to be acutely aware of the fact that they are essentially able to drive as hard a bargain as they want to. Where Howe is concerned, you can’t help feeling that it’s going to be a bit of stretch to lure him away from Bournemouth, especially with the Hammers struggling as they are, but if they were to land the 41-year-old, it would be a real coup. He has the potential to be one of the best managers in England, and he is still so, so young. Only time will tell, but the Hammers will be hoping that he isn’t just using them.
