West Ham United may soon be on the look-out for a new manager
The issues facing Graham Potter at West Ham United in the early stages of the new season need no second introduction. Sitting in the bottom three of the Premier League, the Hammers have lost two London derbies at home emphatically and patience for Potter is already wearing thin.
Victory against a Nottingham Forest side with off-field issues themselves only papered over the cracks of a West Ham squad which is thin, ageing and short of much inspiration following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign.
Amidst the circumstances where all three newly-promoted sides are showing fight and Sunderland, in particular, have backed up their summer transfer business with successive home victories - including a 3-0 battering of the Hammers - there is little room for things to get any worse for Potter at the London Stadium.
Nuno Espirito Santo a leading candidate - but he may not be the ideal man
He is fresh out of a huge job at Forest - one that he should be very proud of, having led the club from being relegation candidates to qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years - and he most likely still feels resentful at how things ended at the City Ground. The Portuguese thought he was going to lead a club into the Europa League, and so, to arrive in a high-stakes relegation battle may not necessarily end well.
Furthermore, the squad and expectations are very different at West Ham. At Forest, Nuno had a very underrated squad with low expectations, similarly to that which he had at Wolves, and he was able to get the best out of them. At West Ham he will find an inferior squad with far higher expectations.
When the 51-year-old tried his hand managing the Irons’ London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, he was out of his depth and lasted just a few months. This move may end in a similar way and not be the right fit for either club or manager.
Jose Mourinho at West Ham would be pure cinema
The first fact to consider is that Mourinho’s most recent roles have been at clubs of a similar stature in recent times to the Hammers. As a club who won European silverware just two years ago, Mourinho will be confident that he can not only make sure the east London club survive relegation, but challenge for a cup trophy or two while they are at it. He would not consider taking the job otherwise.
Reports by Football Insider have stated that Mourinho would like to move back to London and “will want the West Ham job” - and, not only does the Portuguese have substantial pedigree, his return would be great for the Premier League.
Potter has at times been criticised for not having the ‘personality’ to manage at a club such as West Ham, an issue which would not be shared by management icon Mourinho. His presence would also likely re-engage players who may have been clocked out for some months now.
The unlikely marriage between Mourinho and east London may only last a couple of years and would certainly not lead to a miraculous title challenge, reminiscent of his Chelsea days. But whatever happens, he would make the Hammers a stronger defensive unit, more difficult to beat, and help to inspire a rise up the table - and it would be a whole lot of fun to witness, too.
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