Ruben Amorim is being considered as a potential successor to David Moyes, even though he’s currently the Sporting Lisbon head coach and a top candidate to replace Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.
West Ham have initiated discussions with Ruben Amorim in a bold move to lure Liverpool’s prime managerial candidate to east London.
Despite being the frontrunner to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, the Sporting Lisbon manager is now in talks with the Hammers, amid speculation that David Moyes might depart when his contract ends this summer.
While Amorim is yet to make a decision about his future, West Ham aims to continue negotiations. Meanwhile, the club have also considered Julen Lopetegui, who departed from Wolves before the start of the season, although he is not their preferred choice for the role.
Moyes, who secured the club’s first major trophy in 43 years last season, mentioned in February that he had received a contract offer but preferred to gauge their performance before making a decision.
The technical director, Tim Steidten, is actively searching for a potential replacement, aiming for a seamless transition in case Moyes decides to leave.
Since then, West Ham have experienced a series of setbacks, being eliminated from the Europa League and witnessing their chances of securing qualification for the competition next season diminish.
Simultaneously, discontent among supporters has surfaced due to Moyes’ cautious approach to the game.
In the aftermath of Sunday’s 5-2 loss against Crystal Palace, Moyes candidly acknowledged the dismal performance of his team, stating, “so bad, I can hardly put it into words.”
On Saturday lunchtime, West Ham is scheduled to host Liverpool, desperately clinging to hopes of securing qualification for a fourth consecutive season.
However, their current standing has slipped to eighth in the table, with the possibility of dropping to 10th if Chelsea and Brighton win their respective games in hand.
At 39 years old, Amorim has garnered widespread admiration as a coach across the continent. With Xabi Alonso of Bayer Leverkusen ruling himself out of contention for the Liverpool managerial position in March, the Portuguese tactician has emerged as the frontrunner to assume the role.
In 2021, he led Sporting to their first league title in 19 years, establishing a comfortable 10-point lead over Benfica. Amorim previously stated that he would resign if Sporting didn’t secure the title, but he’s been vague about his intentions for the summer, confessing: “I can’t guarantee [I’ll stay].
“I gave my word and I can’t go back on it. If we don’t win titles, I’ll leave Sporting. It was clear from the start, it was the bet I passed on to the players. We have to win titles.”
In other Liverpool news, Liverpool Handed Positive Transfer Update with Fabrizio Romano’s FFP Claim