West Ham’s 2025/26 campaign has started in disastrous fashion, and pressure is already mounting on Graham Potter.
The Hammers were dismantled 3-0 at Sunderland on the opening day and then suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home to Chelsea. Their EFL Cup hopes didn’t last long either, with Wolves eliminating them 3-2 in the second round.
There has been a glimmer of hope — a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest — and a flurry of late transfer window signings, including Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa, may yet provide some stability. But with three defeats in three league matches, Potter’s position looks precarious.
Now, reports suggest West Ham could already be lining up a potential replacement — and it’s someone the fans know well.
West Ham Touting Lampard
Frank Lampard. (Action Images/Matthew Childs)
Frank Lampard. (Action Images/Matthew Childs)
Sources have told Football Insider that West Ham have sounded out Frank Lampard about stepping in should Potter depart. Intermediaries reportedly reached out to the Coventry City boss ahead of the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday.
Lampard has enhanced his reputation since taking over at Coventry in November 2024, guiding them from just two points above the relegation zone to a fifth-place finish last season.
While he remains committed to the CBS Arena project, the former Chelsea and Everton manager is believed to be open to a Premier League return at the right opportunity.
Football Insider first reported last month that West Ham were exploring alternatives to Potter, and Lampard has now emerged as a key contender. Jose Mourinho has also been linked following his departure from Fenerbahce.
Lampard would be a familiar face at the London Stadium, having come through the Hammers’ academy. He made 187 appearances and scored 39 goals for the club, helping them win the Intertoto Cup in 1999 before moving to Chelsea in 2001.
With Potter’s future uncertain and West Ham desperate for stability, Lampard’s name could well remain front and centre as the club considers its next move.