West Ham will look to bring in a “big name” to replace David Moyes as manager if he leaves the club this summer, according to journalist Michael Bridge.
The future of the Hammers boss is still up in the air, with his current deal expiring at the end of this season, but no extension agreed yet.
It could be that Moyes simply decides that he has come as far as he can at the London Stadium, walking away this summer, or a poor end to the campaign could see him relieved of his duties. There is also a chance that he stays on, too, feeling that he still has unfinished business.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Bridge claimed that the Hammers will aim to replace Moyes with a “big name” manager, should their current boss be gone in the coming months:
“You’re always going to have fans who just aren’t having him. I’ve got a couple of West Ham fans that I know that aren’t having him. I’ve always given it the, how can you not like this? But then they’re the ones paying the money, I’m not paying the money.
“If it was to be the end of David Moyes, a couple of people I know at West Ham kind of give me the impression that it’s not going to be another good young English coach.
“They’d probably target a very big name, because I think there are going to be some big names available. And people say, well, would they go to West Ham? Well, let’s wait and see. I think West Ham would look big if Moyes was to move on.”
Hiring a well-known manager would probably be the best solution for West Ham, in terms of keeping fans happy and showing that the club have big aspirations moving forward.
There is always the alternative of bringing in an exciting young coach who is still unproven at the top level, but that comes with a huge risk, and could potentially backfire.
If Moyes leaves, West Ham need a period of consolidation with an experienced manager at the helm, with someone like Fulham’s Marco Silva a strong option, having been linked with taking charge at the London Stadium.
A separate report has mentioned Julen Lopetegui, Steve Cooper and Graham Potter as possible choices, too, all of whom have proven themselves in the Premier League and represent intriguing candidates.
West Ham fans will be split on Moyes, with some wanting him gone and others keen on him remaining as manager, but if the latter happens, nailing his successor is vital.
