Ex-Chelsea manager would be a better appointment for West Ham than Lopetegui

West Ham United are gearing up for a new era, with the club scouring the market for a long-term successor to manager David Moyes.

Moyes is poised to end his seven-year spell with the Hammers when his contract runs out this summer, although he is still expected to sit down with the board to discuss his future at the end of the season.

Nevertheless, plenty of names have already been floated around as potential candidates to succeed the Scottish manager at London Stadium.

We’ve certainly endured a turbulent campaign thus far, and the prospect of ending the season on a high is bleak, considering we still have to face Chelsea and Manchester City in two of our final three games.

Moyes has come under intense scrutiny for our recent struggles, and rightly so, considering we’ve won just four of our 22 games this year (D9, L9). 

There’s a decent chance he wouldn’t be in the dugout next season, with former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopegui considered the front-runner to replace the Scotsman.

However, reports from Italian news outlet TMW claim West Ham are also interested in former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri.

While we’re expected to face strong competition from Newcastle United, who have reportedly tabled an offer, Sarri would be a better managerial appointment for us than Lopetegui.

West Ham must beat Newcastle to Sarri’s signature

Lopetegui is considered the favoured candidate to succeed Moyes, but he’s hardly an upgrade on the Scottish manager.

Despite previously working at top clubs across Europe, including Real Madrid, Sevilla, and Porto, the Spanish manager can only boast a solitary Europa League trophy in his cabinet.

He may have rescued Wolves from the threat of relegation in his only Premier League adventure, but his brand of football is no different from Moyes’ system.

Both managers favour a defensive, rigid system, which the Hammers faithful have repeatedly condemned during Moyes’ tenure, so it is difficult to view Lopetegui’s potential appointment as a step forward.

We would be better off luring Sarri to East London as a long-term successor to Moyes, and his attacking brand of football would give the fans something to be excited about.

Sarri led Juventus to the Serie A title in 2019/20 and finished third during his only Premier League stint with Chelsea. He parted ways with the Blues as a Europa League winner after thrashing Arsenal in the final.

The 65-year-old is an exceptional manager and has already proven he can compete at the highest level in the Premier League. We must ensure he ends up at London Stadium if Moyes leaves this summer.