Report: West Ham Decide Lopetegui’s Fate Ahead of Bournemouth Clash

Julen Lopetegui’s West Ham side face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium in Premier League action on Monday, December 16.

One player will be missing from the traveling squad.

The Spaniard remains under scrutiny in East London and will rely on his key players to deliver against the Cherries.

However, Monday’s result will not determine the 58-year-old’s immediate future.

As reported by Whetstone via West Ham Football on X, “Julen Lopetegui will have ‘some leeway tonight as West Ham are LONG odds against winning tonight.’

He will not automatically be sacked if West Ham lose.”

Unlike last week’s 2-1 victory over Wolves at the London Stadium, the result against Bournemouth appears unlikely to affect Lopetegui’s short-term position.

This means the manager heads to the South Coast under slightly less pressure than he faced previously. Still, this doesn’t mean he’ll want his team to ease up.

Although a loss may not lead to his immediate dismissal, it will undoubtedly harm Lopetegui’s chances of securing a long-term future with the club.

As such, the Hammers boss will be eager for a strong performance and a decisive win to bolster his standing.

Some fans may argue that Bournemouth’s perceived difficulty as opponents reflects Lopetegui’s disappointing tenure so far.

If this logic holds, they could question why he remains safe from dismissal.

For now, however, it seems Lopetegui’s position is secure—at least in the short term.

Nonetheless, the pressure for improvement remains, and the outcome at Bournemouth could still play a role in shaping his tenure moving forward.