Report: Steidten Preferred ‘Elite’ Manager for West Ham Over Lopetegui, But Sullivan Disagreed
According to Sami Mokbel, West Ham United’s sporting director, Tim Steidten, initially favored appointing Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim to replace David Moyes, rather than Julen Lopetegui.
Steidten reportedly viewed Amorim as the ideal candidate for the Hammers, recognizing the coach’s success at Sporting CP, where he won the Portuguese league twice in three seasons and was described as an “elite” manager.
However, West Ham’s owner, David Sullivan, deemed Amorim’s £17 million release clause too expensive, and this influenced the decision not to pursue him.
Instead, the club moved forward with Lopetegui, a decision reportedly led by Sullivan, even though Steidten preferred a more dynamic and innovative coach for the team’s rebuild in the summer.
While Amorim might have fit that profile, sources within West Ham suggest that Lopetegui was still seen as the top option overall.
The summer transfer window was a significant period for the Hammers, as they spent around £140 million on nine new players.
The most expensive signings were Max Kilman, Crysencio Summerville, and Niclas Fullkrug, while Carlos Soler and Jean-Clair Todibo joined on loan deals.
Despite this heavy investment, the team has struggled to see immediate results.
After five matches in the Premier League, West Ham currently sits in 14th place with only four points.
The situation worsened after a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea, marking an unfortunate record for Lopetegui as the first West Ham manager to lose his first three home games in a season.
Jacob Steinberg suggested that Lopetegui is now under considerable pressure to deliver better results.
According to GIVEMESPORT, West Ham’s management has given Lopetegui an ultimatum.
He has been given three matches to turn things around, with the club closely watching their upcoming games against Brentford, Ipswich Town, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Lopetegui, who signed a two-year deal with an option for a third year, returned to English football a year after leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2023.
He came with a strong reputation, having previously led Sevilla to Europa League success in 2019/20 and managing briefly at Real Madrid in 2018.
Nevertheless, his future at West Ham now looks uncertain after a disappointing start to the season.
Lopetegui’s squad decisions have also come under scrutiny, particularly regarding Jean-Clair Todibo, a summer arrival who has not yet found favor with the Spanish manager.
Despite high expectations following Todibo’s signing on a loan deal with an obligation to buy, his performance in the Carabao Cup match against Bournemouth left Lopetegui unimpressed.
Todibo was substituted at halftime and has played just seven minutes of Premier League football so far this season.
His uncertain position in the squad is surprising given his previous consistency at Nice, where he missed only 10 league matches in the past three seasons.
Additionally, Todibo had attracted interest from top European clubs such as Manchester United and Juventus before West Ham secured his signature in late August.
Now, the French center-back faces a crucial period in determining his role in the team moving forward.
