Many West Ham fans may get their wish for Graham Potter to be replaced by sacked Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo with others pushing for Jose Mourinho.
The first murmurings that Graham Potter could be sacked as West Ham boss have begun.
And former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo is a name being demanded by many of the club’s fed-up Hammers fans along with his fellow Portuguese Jose Mourinho.
Nuno has been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest, ironically after the shock 3-0 defeat to West Ham before the international break.
The ex Wolves boss fell out with Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis and new sporting director Edu, and the writing had been on the wall over his future.
Nottingham Forest losing to West Ham before the break gave Marinakis an excuse to wield the axe on a manager who had transformed the Tricky Trees from relegation candidates to Champions League contenders.
Many Hammers fans call for Nuno or Mourinho to replace Potter
He is not the only high-profile Portuguese manager out of work, though, after Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce.
Mourinho was actually linked with taking over from Nuno at Nottingham Forest before Ange Postecoglou was appointed.
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There have been links with the Hammers too, especially after Mourinho’s comments, in a press conference where he stated: “If any club in England from the bottom of the table needs a coach in two years then I’m ready to go.”
Potter is under mounting pressure after a dismal 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Spurs.
The Englishman has now won just six of his 24 games in charge of West Ham since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January.
Lopetegui was billed as a disaster after the Hammers spent £155m on signings for him last summer.
But Potter has somehow managed to outdo his predecessor with the lowest win ratio of any West Ham boss since the hapless Avram Grant.
West Ham head coach Graham Potter shakes hands with Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo before his sacking
Photo by Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
The Israeli took West Ham down without a fight and many fans fear the same fate will befall the team this season if Potter remains in charge.
Supporters justifiably place the majority of blame for West Ham’s sorry state at the feet of the owners.
But Potter’s tactics, team selection and a perceived lack of strong leadership have a growing number calling for his head after West Ham’s defeat to Spurs at the London Stadium on Saturday night.
It was the latest meek surrender from Potter’s side, who have won just twice at home during his time in charge – against Leicester and Fulham.
Social media is awash with Hammers fans calling for Potter to be replaced.
West Ham eye ex-Forest boss Nuno after Mourinho verdict
Now West Ham are eyeing ex-Nottingham Forest boss Nuno after their Mourinho verdict but potential snags have been revealed.
Last month former Hammers hero Joe Cole stated Mourinho and West Ham would be ‘fireworks for all the right reasons’.
Cole backed the idea if West Ham are to hold their hands up on Potter.
But in the wake of Cole’s comments Hammers News revealed Mourinho will never manage West Ham while David Sullivan remains in charge.
Responding to Cole’s comments about Mourinho becoming West Ham manager last month, a spokesman for Hammers chief David Sullivan said: “NEVER.”
Adding: “What has he done in years? And it would be HARD WORK.”
Nottingham Forest chief Evangelos Marinakis has strong words for Nuno Espirito Santo on the pitch
Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images
While Mourinho can be almost categorically ruled out, West Ham are, it is now claimed, considering Nuno after his sacking by Nottingham Forest.
Journalist Alan Nixon claims Sullivan admires Nuno, has fancied him before and may go for him again.
Nixon claims Potter’s job was in the balance when West Ham won at Forest.
Now Nuno’s availability has put him in West Ham’s thoughts, the reporter claims.
Nixon says West Ham have added Nuno to their managerial shortlist if Potter continues to fail to deliver.
Potential snags to West Ham appointing Nuno revealed
However, it has been revealed there are two potential snags to the potential appointment which Sullivan must make peace with.
The first being Nuno Espirito Santo’s personal demands to have a say on all signings.
And the second is Nuno’s demands to bring in a sizeable backroom staff.
It has been claimed previously West Ham have a break clause in Potter’s contract which kicks in midway through this season.
The validity of that claim has been questioned and Sullivan is known for not wanting to pay out compensation for sacking managers.
It is now clear the game at home to Crystal Palace becomes huge for Potter next weekend.
As will every game while Nuno remains out of a job unless Potter can, in the words of Nixon, keep winning consistently.