West Ham United are reportedly set to name former Chelsea manager Graham Potter as their new boss, following the dismissal of Julen Lopetegui after just six months in charge.
Potter, 48, has agreed to a two-and-a-half-year contract and will be officially unveiled at a London Stadium press conference on Thursday morning.
Lopetegui, appointed in May and taking charge on July 1, oversaw a disappointing tenure in which the Hammers secured only six Premier League victories.
Read Also: West Ham sack Lopetegui, Potter poised to take over
The Spaniard’s dismissal came after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City, marking the club’s ninth loss in 20 league games and leaving them 14th in the table, seven points above the relegation zone.
In a statement, West Ham acknowledged that “the first half of the 2024-25 season has not aligned with the club’s ambitions,” and confirmed the departure of Lopetegui’s backroom staff, including assistant Pablo Sanz and other key personnel.
Sources indicate Potter chose West Ham over other opportunities due to the club’s stable ownership and reputation for giving managers time to develop. The former Brighton manager was also drawn to the Hammers’ squad, which he believes has strong potential compared to other teams near the lower end of the Premier League.
For West Ham, Potter’s track record of developing players and his proven Premier League experience made him an attractive choice, especially as the club seeks to maximize the impact of their summer signings—a challenge where Lopetegui fell short.
West Ham will look to Potter to stabilize their season, with the club hopeful he can help realize their ambitions after a rocky start to the campaign.
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