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Breaking: West Ham 'ask Chelsea' to for £39m loan but face Crystal Palace challenge | Getty Images
Graham Potter is hanging to his job at West Ham by a thread as two names emerge as possible contenders to replace him.
The Irons boss is a man under pressure and what doesn’t help his cause is an experienced manager with proven Premier League success being out of work and available for a new project.
Two names emerge as candidates if West Ham sack Graham Potter
Ironically, it was West Ham’s only win of the campaign so far that saw Espirito Santo sacked, even if it was a falling out behind the scenes that was the real reason for his departure.
According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon writing on his Patreon page, should Potter be unable to turn his side’s form around, there are two names on David Sullivan’s wanted list to replace the former Chelsea gaffer: “Nuno Espírito Santo has gone on to West Ham’s managerial short list … if Graham Potter fails to deliver.
“The Portuguese coach is admired by owner David Sullivan who has fancied him before and may go for him again. Ironically Nuno lost the Nottingham Forest job after Hammers beat him 3-0 on his home patch in a game when Potter’s future was on the line.
“However Nuno’s exit was down to other reasons and his availability puts him in West Ham’s thoughts. Frank Lampard is a clear and strong candidate for the post after impressing with Coventry City in the back of his previous experience.
“Potter needs to keep winning as West Ham assess whether to back him in the next transfer window. The snags with Nuno are his personal demands to have a say on signings and the size of his backroom staff.”
Wny Frank Lampard might not be welcomed at West Ham
The Frank Lampard debate is an interesting one. After a good start to his managerial life at Derby, he was given what with hindsight looks like a promotion too quickly in his fledgling career in the dugout when he was appointed at Chelsea.
A less-than-impressive spell at Everton saw Lampard take stock before re-emerging at Coventry City and taking them from being threatened with relegation to promotion candidates. They currently sit in sixth place in the Championship with an average of three goals scored per game.
He would play more entertaining football than Espirito Santo, however, his past relationship with West Ham might be an issue. Born from his time as a player, Lampard wrote in his autobiography about the abuse he received as a player at Upton Park and how his affinity with the club isn’t quite what it once was, via Sky Sports: "Now I have won The Premiership with Chelsea and was runner-up to Ronaldinho as World Player of the Year it has become harder for the critics to handle," he said.
"I remember when Joe Cole first came to Chelsea he would turn away in disappointment if West Ham lost. I would smile. That's how deeply I felt. I wanted West Ham to lose. Now I don't even look for their results."
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