West Ham United continue to back manager Julen Lopetegui despite a slow start to the Premier League season, with no discussions underway to bring back former coach David Moyes, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano.
Recent speculation suggested that Moyes could make a surprising return to the London Stadium just months after his departure.
However, Romano has dismissed these rumors, confirming that West Ham is fully supporting Lopetegui.
The Italian journalist emphasized that there has been no information or confirmation of any talks regarding Moyes’ return.
Romano noted that despite a string of disappointing results, including a 1-1 draw against Brentford this past weekend, the Hammers’ leadership remains behind Lopetegui.
Tomas Soucek’s second-half goal secured a point for the team, but West Ham has not won a match since the recent international break. After six rounds of Premier League fixtures, they currently sit in 14th place.
Lopetegui made some adjustments to his lineup for the match against Brentford, giving Jean-Clair Todibo his first Premier League start and including Michail Antonio in a front three alongside Jarrod Bowen and Mohamed Kudus.
Despite these changes, West Ham struggled to find a winning formula.
Their next challenge comes against Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town, which will be their final match before the October international break.
Romano’s report also touches on the speculation surrounding Moyes. He wrote in his Daily Briefing: “Despite West Ham’s struggles and rumors of a potential return for David Moyes, I have no information to support this. There’s been no confirmation, no discussions, and no contact at all regarding his return.”
He added that the club is still backing Lopetegui as they await improvements following a summer that saw many changes to the squad.
Moyes left West Ham at the end of last season after four-and-a-half years in charge.
During his tenure, he led the team to two top-seven finishes in the Premier League and secured a historic win in the 2023 Europa Conference League final—the club’s first major trophy in 43 years.
Despite these achievements, his final months saw the team underperform, culminating in a 5-0 defeat to Chelsea in May, which led to his departure.
While West Ham has invested heavily in the squad over the summer, spending nearly £140 million, their defensive struggles persist.
They have conceded 10 goals in their first six matches, with only Wolves, Everton, and Leicester faring worse in this regard.
Additionally, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta has faced criticism for his body language during the Brentford match.
Paqueta appeared frustrated when he was substituted in the 76th minute, and Standard journalist Dom Smith rated his performance at five out of ten, noting that the Brazilian “struggled to make an impact” and showed visible displeasure upon being taken off.
Paqueta lost possession 16 times during the match and won only two of his seven ground duels, further highlighting his difficult outing.
Despite the challenges, West Ham’s leadership remains committed to giving Lopetegui the time and support he needs to turn things around.
