WEST HAM are down to their final two candidates to replace David Moyes this summer, with Julen Lopetegui in advanced talks.
No contract has been finalised but with Moyes expected to leave at the end of his contract next month, the club are pursuing new managers – with the ex-Real Madrid man leading the way.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim has also held talks with the Hammers, with some senior figures still pushing for the 39-year-old to be the top choice.
Amorim making the move hangs on whether West Ham will pay his release clause, thought to be under £10million, with some at the club viewing this as a rare chance to land an elite coach.
Unai Emery’s success at Aston Villa has been used as an example of what could be achieved under the Portuguese.
However, former Wolves boss Lopetegui remains the preferred candidate to takeover in East London, having also met the club for talks with an agreement close to being finalised.
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No final decision will be made on Moyes until after the final game of the season, when talks will be held with co-chairman David Sullivan.
However, the decision – made after talks with Moyes – to keep technical director Tim Steidten away from the first team changing room has not helped his cause.
Steidten has been a regular presence on the touchline and in the tunnel ahead of and after games this season.
Ahead of the Europa League fixture at home to Bayer Leverkusen the German was on the pitch with a ball at his feet, while he also embraced opposition boss Xabi Alonso, whom he worked with at the club.
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Moyes insists there has been no falling out, but warned that he has his boundaries.
He said: “Have there been distractions? No, not at all. I’ve said before that Tim has his job to do but managers have their boundaries and I have my boundaries.
“We don’t want any distractions, we keep our eye on the ball.
“Tim’s got his job to do, I’ve got my job to do. We’ve got three games to play and we want to keep focused on those.
“We’re just going about our jobs. My job is to win the games and I’ll do everything I can to do that.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
