David Moyes sack latest: West Ham meeting revealed as board debate key question about two manager targets
West Ham have considered two potential replacements if they give David Moyes the sack, TEAMtalk understands, after a meeting was held this week about the manager’s future.
Moyes has been coming under pressure after a difficult start to the season for West Ham. He was a big inspiration for them qualifying for Europe in two consecutive seasons. After finishing seventh last term to reach the Europa Conference League, the club invested heavily in the transfer market to progress further.
For example, considerable transfer fees were spent on the likes of Lucas Paqueta, Gianluca Scamacca, Nayef Aguerd, Thilo Kehrer, Emerson Palmieri, Flynn Downes and Maxwel Cornet.
However, the strategy hasn’t exactly paid off. Indeed, it could be argued that West Ham have regressed rather than progressed. Although they qualified for the Conference League knockout stages, their domestic form has been much more shaky.
Halfway through their season, West Ham are in the Premier League relegation zone. They have only won four of their first 19 games in the top flight in 2022-23.
Therefore, Moyes is at risk of getting the sack, since something needs to change.
Now, TEAMtalk can confirm that West Ham’s decision makers have been discussing the manager’s future. Although safe for now, the Scotsman is in a race against time to keep his job.
Our insider, Graeme Bailey, told us: “West Ham held a meeting this week and it was to discuss David Moyes’s future. They kept him, but he is going to have to have some turnaround to still be in a job by the end of January.
“West Ham spent a huge amount of money on Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca, and they were bought to help push West Ham towards the top six, even the top four – but things have gone horribly wrong.
“The signing of Danny Ings is not a panic buy as they always wanted another striker, but he could be key not just to West Ham’s hopes of staying up but to Moyes keeping his job.”
Moyes knows West Ham speaking to other candidates
Ings recently arrived from Aston Villa to give Moyes another option to work with up front. The striker will be hoping to make an impact at the London Stadium. Indeed, Moyes needs him to.
If not, the 59-year-old could be on his way out. According to Bailey, that may already have been the case if West Ham knew who the best man to replace him would be.
But as things stand, they are wondering if their two main options as his successor are too similar.
Bailey added: “Moyes has not given up yet but he does know West Ham are speaking to others about the job.
“Rafa Benitez and Sean Dyche are amongst those who would be considered, but the worry with them is are they any different to Moyes? Could they get Paqueta and Scamacca in the team and playing well? They are not sure.
“Indeed it is fair to say and assume that had there been a standout candidate to replace Moyes, he probably would already be out of a job.”
Benitez and Dyche are both out of work after leaving Everton and Burnley in January and April 2022 respectively. They each have Premier League experience and their own merits, but it seems West Ham want to make a considered decision.
For now, Moyes is still fighting. On Saturday, he has a crucial game coming up against his former club Everton, who are also in the bottom three and have an under-pressure manager of their own in the shape of Frank Lampard.
