Liverpool’s move for Ruben Amorim hijacked by Premier League rivals looking set to axe long-serving manager

WEST HAM have held talks with Ruben Amorim over succeeding David Moyes in East London.

The Hammers have begun speaking to potential new managers with Moyes out of contract at the end of the season and likely to leave the club.

Amorim, currently in charge at Portuguese league leaders Sporting Lisbon, would prove a huge coup having become the favourite to succeed Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool.

The 39-year-old, is the favourite choice of Hammers technical director Tim Steidten who has led talks with potential candidates.

Amorim would be open to taking the job and has a release clause in his Sporting contract but is taking his time over making a decision given the vast interest in his services next season.

Former Wolves and Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui is also being considered having been put forward for the role.

West Ham have admired Lille boss Paulo Fonseca in the past as well as former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier.

Galtier was close to becoming Hammers boss a year ago but is now in charge of Qatar Stars League club Al-Duhail.

Former Bayern Munich and Germany manager Hansi Flick has also attended a game at the London Stadium this season.

No contracts have been formally offered to any potential managers at this stage.

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Moyes has shown irritation at questions over his future in recent weeks, while club sources insist no final decision will be made on his future until the end of the campaign.

The club had offered the ex-Everton manager a new two-and-a-half year deal in December after wins over Manchester United and Arsenal but talks stalled after a dip in form in January.

Moyes has insisted he is relaxed about the situation, while players have also said they will remain focused on the games and not the manager’s future.

However, if Moyes were to stay club bosses wanted to see a rally in terms of results following their exit from the Europa League last week.

With that in mind, Sunday’s 5-2 defeat to Crystal Palace will have not helped his case.

The Scot turned on his players following the defeat and said he did not want to talk about his future.

Moyes said: “I am giving no excuses whatsoever. The players got praised for their performance on Thursday night. But today was so bad I cannot put it into words.

“I am so disappointed for supporters who came in today and in truth I am embarrassed to sit here and be speaking on behalf of the team and the way they have performed today but I am the manager.

“Maybe we’ve lost a wee bit of the tough culture that we’ve had, the pride in making sure that we didn’t concede and were hard to play against and difficult opposition.”

A late run into the European spots for West Ham could salvage Moyes’ position, though West Ham are currently eighth with all their rivals having at least two games in hand.

Should Manchester City win the FA Cup, seventh place will be the lowest any side can finish to qualify for the Europa Conference League.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk