West Ham United know that Rafa Benitez is ready to take over as their next manager right away should they sack David Moyes. The Irons will ponder his future if they lose at Fulham.
That is according to The Guardian, which reports that Moyes faces a must not lose London derby this Saturday. West Ham will give serious consideration to a change in head coach if they fail to take at least a point at Craven Cottage. Yet Moyes could still stay on with a loss.
West Ham sense there is a lack of suitable replacements available to take over if they sack Moyes. But the Scot faces increasing pressure to retain his job after Wednesday night’s 5-1 defeat to Newcastle United. The result has now set off alarm bells at the London Stadium.
Sullivan’s faith in Moyes remaining the manager of West Ham has started to fade
David Sullivan has been Moyes’ biggest backer amongst the hierarchy at West Ham in him remaining their manager. But their defeat to Newcastle has seen the Hammers co-owners’ total support fade. Now, Moyes must avoid West Ham losing at Fulham or the axe may fall.
The manner of West Ham’s defending against Newcastle raised concerns among the club’s leaders that their players are no longer responding to Moyes or believing in his tactics. But the Hammers are reluctant to part with their coach due to a lack of suitable replacements.
The Hammers know Benitez is ready to come in and replace Moyes right away
West Ham know that Benitez is willing to come in as their next manager right away should the Irons sack Moyes. But the London Stadium hierarchy do not want to give the Spaniard a long-term contract. The 62-year-old would likely seek assurances over his long-term role.
Benitez signed a three-year contract to become the manager of Everton in June 2021. Yet he only saw out six-and-a-half months of his terms before the Goodison Park natives fired the coach. He has remained out of work since leaving the Merseyside club in January 2022.
Everton fired Benitez – who Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp called ‘one of the best managers in the world’ in March 2018 – having lost 11 of their 22 games under him. The Toffees also only won seven games across all competitions. They also conceded 47 to 38 goals scored.
Now, Benitez is ready to return to work as the next manager of West Ham if the Irons sack Moyes. But the Hammers are reluctant to give the Madrid native, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2004/05, the long-term contract he is likely to want to take over.
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