Karen Brady urges West Ham to sign interesting successor Julen Lopetegui

West Ham United the vice president Karen Brady advocates that the club appoint an “interesting” replacement for Julen Lopeteguiwith the Spaniard’s dismissal still very important during this festive period.

Julen Lopetegui under pressure despite surviving West Ham ax

Lopetegui managed to keep his job after reigning in El Sackik against Wolves on Monday, but the 58-year-old is still hanging in the balance ahead of Christmas.

Lopetegui’s early reign has been one of real disappointment after the club spent over £120m on new signings in the summer, winning just five times in the top 15. Premier League games.

There are also suggestions that Lopetegui clashed with key West Ham players behind the scenes, so it’s been far from easy for the former Real Madrid and Spain boss, who faces weeks of speculation swirling around his position in the dugout.

Former head of FC Porto Sergio Conceicao has privately expressed his preference over joining West Ham above the likes of Everton and Wolves, and there are a number of other suitors linked with the potential vacancy.

One of them is the former boss of Chelsea and Brighton Graham Potterwho has been out of work since his dismissal until mid-2023.

Potter is one of the West Ham manager’s favouritesaccording to reports in the last two weeks, with the former Ostersund boss also open to taking the job on a short-term deal until the end of the season.

Karen Brady is pushing Graham Potter for the West Ham manager’s job

That’s according to trusted journalist Ben Jacobs, who also writes for TEAMtalk Baroness Brady is pushing Potter for the West Ham manager’s job behind closed doors.

Jacobs claims there is still a very real possibility of West Ham sacking Lopetegui in the next fortnight, depending on results, with Potter remaining high on the shortlist alongside other names such as Matthias Jaisl, Massimiliano Allegri, Edin Terzic and Conceicao.

What could give Potter an edge over fellow contenders is his willingness to take on the role on a short-term, temporary basis, a requirement that both Terzic and Allegri aren’t too keen on.

The tactician has taken a very different route to most other elite English managers – first attracting the attention of fourth-tier Swedish minnows Ostersunds FK to the last 32 of the Europa League – but this should not be seen as a deal breaker.

“I spoke to Graham last year,” he said Wayne Rooney about Potter in 2022, via an interview with The Times. “I had a few hours with him on Zoom, and he went through his journey with me. He was good, interesting.

“Look at Graham or Arsene Wenger who went to Asia. (Jose) Mourinho has been in different places. Fergie started with small clubs in Scotland. Patrick Vieira managed here (at New York City FC) and went to France.

“Everyone has a different path, but they all did what they did to educate themselves and improve.” Sometimes as a manager you just take the job that’s there and work your way from there.”