Lopetegui on the brink as top West Ham candidate placed ‘on standby’ reacts to job offer.

West Ham’s disappointing draw against Everton has left head coach Julen Lopetegui on the brink of losing his job.

According to sources close to the club’s ownership, the match was seen as crucial for Lopetegui, with the expectation that he would secure a win.

Although West Ham avoided defeat, the poor quality of their performance has put even more pressure on the club’s owners to consider a change in management.

One journalist noted that during a 21-minute pre-match press conference, the only time Lopetegui smiled was when asked about the prospect of returning to Spain.

Despite recent struggles, it seems Lopetegui believes his position is secure at West Ham, but insiders claim he has misread the situation.

The club’s leadership is expected to meet this week to discuss his future and determine if he has any time left to improve results.

Three weeks ago, following West Ham’s embarrassing 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, there were already signs that Lopetegui’s tenure might be nearing an end.

Sources close to technical director Tim Steidten hinted that the club had been actively considering replacements.

Sky Sports Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg reported that former West Ham assistant coach Edin Terzic had been “on standby” to take over from Lopetegui and was open to the challenge.

Terzic, who has a positive reputation within West Ham’s management, was initially approached by the club’s leadership before Lopetegui’s hiring but declined the offer to succeed David Moyes at that time.

Terzic is well-regarded by Steidten and sporting director Mark Noble and has made a name for himself at Borussia Dortmund, where he led the team to a Champions League final last season, with West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug playing a key role.

Terzic’s connections to West Ham date back to 2015 when he joined as an assistant coach under Slaven Bilic, contributing to one of the club’s most successful Premier League seasons during the Farewell Boleyn campaign.

As the search for a potential replacement intensifies, Terzic remains a prime candidate, though he recently turned down an offer from Roma, a club also seeking a new manager after the dismissal of Ivan Juric.

Juric, a Croatian manager, is ironically one of the eight names linked with the West Ham job.

Yet despite Roma’s interest, Terzic has indicated he is not interested in taking over at the Italian club, signaling he might still be available for West Ham if Lopetegui were to be dismissed.

Italian publication Corriere dello Sport reported that Terzic had informed intermediaries that he would not be taking the Roma position, choosing instead to keep his options open.

This development could be significant for West Ham, as it offers a viable replacement should the club’s leadership decide to part ways with Lopetegui.

With challenging fixtures against Newcastle United and Arsenal looming after the international break, Lopetegui faces a tough test to secure his role.

West Ham’s owners have openly expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the team’s performances are “not good enough” following the disappointing draw with Everton.

Fan sentiment is also reportedly low, with a substantial number of supporters leaving early in six of West Ham’s 13 games under Lopetegui’s management.

The club faced public embarrassment when Match of the Day presenters Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer commented on fans’ boredom during the game against Everton, even apologizing for airing highlights of what they described as “the worst Premier League game of the season.”

The pressure on Lopetegui is building as West Ham’s ownership evaluates the situation.

With Terzic now potentially back on the table, the club may soon decide whether to give Lopetegui a final chance to turn things around or bring in a new leader to revive the team’s performance and appease an increasingly disillusioned fan base.