Slaven Bilic is under pressure and it won’t help that a Barcelona star has tipped someone else for his job at West Ham United.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic
For most Hammers fans, what has been a disappointing season can’t end quick enough.
The Hammers have endured a torrid second season under Bilic after their record breaking farewell campaign at Upton Park.
Knocked out of the Europa League, EFL Cup and FA Cup in embarrassing fashion, the East Londoners then lost star player Dimitri Payet after he forced through a return to Marseille.
Bilic turned things around after Christmas as the club pulled away from the relegation zone but results have dipped again of late with no win in five and three defeats on the bounce.
The majority of fans are still behind their manager but reports in the press claim he is walking a tight rope over his future with the East Londoners recently linked with Reading boss Jaap Stam – as reported by The Sun.
Now, in a rather random mention, Barcelona and Turkey star Arda Turan has tipped his compatriot Abdullah Avci for the Hammers job, as reported by Fanatik.
Avci has helped to transform the fortunes of Istanbul Basaksehir, with the club currently in second place in the Turkish top flight, two points adrift behind leaders and Bilic’s former club Besiktas.
Abdullah Avci
And Turan said: “Abdullah Avci is a genius, I believe he will get his shot outside of Turkey.
“His tactics would probably be better appreciated abroad and he is one of the best coaches I have worked with.
“He would do a great job at West Ham, put him in charge of West Ham and nobody would be disappointed.”
But could there be more to Turan’s comments between the lines and is the player himself looking at a potential new destination given how difficult it is for him to hold down a regular place in the Barca team.
That’s despite some impressive stats this season where he has scored 13 goals in 29 games and provided six assists.
Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan
Turan would be just the sort of high profile signing the Hammers should be looking to make and he has the necessary quality to replace Payet.
At 30-years-old the Hammers may not have to break the bank, and they have significant funds available should co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold sanction it.
Regardless of whether Avci would be considered as a replacement for Bilic or not, Turan could well now be on the Hammers radar and what a message that would send out to other potential signings about the direction the club is heading in their new 60,000 seater Olympic Stadium home.
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