EXCLUSIVE: A journalist has named one manager West Ham fans should keep a very close eye on after a David Sullivan development.
Speculation abounds over the future of David Moyes at West Ham beyond this season.
Back at the end of February journalist Graeme Bailey exclusively told Hammers News there’s only one way Moyes will still be Hammers boss next season.
And that is by winning the Europa League.
Even the most optimistic of West Ham fans would concede that now looks exceedingly difficult.
The 2-0 defeat at Bayer Leverkusen has left West Ham a mountain to climb to make the Europa League semi-finals.
That’s not to say this has not been a good season for West Ham.
A Europa League quarter-final and top 10 Premier League finish surely goes down as a more than decent campaign when all is said and done.
Journalist makes claim after Sullivan development
But in the context of what we could have achieved with better squad planning and a different approach, fans are left thinking what might have been.
A couple of weeks ago a source close to West Ham majority owner David Sullivan told Hammers News that no decision will be made on Moyes’ contract until the end of the season.
Well now Bailey has provided an update on the situation.
The journalist has named one manager West Ham fans should keep a very close eye on after a Sullivan development.
Bailey has reiterated that a number of the club’s hierarchy have made it known to Sullivan that they believe it is time to move on with a fresh approach, and numerous names have been put to the majority owner.
Bailey tells West Ham fans to keep an eye on Silva
And speaking to Hammers News, Bailey says West Ham fans should keep a close eye on Fulham boss Marco Silva.
“Basically no decision has been made by Sullivan yet,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“A few names have been mentioned and one I am told to keep a close eye on is Marco Silva.
“It’s just his release clause that might be an issue.”
Hammers News has been separately informed that Moyes only has one major backer in the West Ham boardroom.
So what is Silva’s release clause at Fulham?
Well earlier this month The Sun revealed it to be a whopping £8.6m.
Given West Ham are facing a big rebuild this summer with as many as 10 players needed against the backdrop of restrictive new PSR rules, Silva’s reported release clause may well prove prohibitive as Bailey suggests.
Can West Ham afford to spend on players and a new manager?
Then there is the issue of whether fans would see Silva as a marked improvement on Moyes.
There is no doubt the Portuguese plays a more attacking style of football.
He does have a career win percentage of just under 49%.
That is over 8% higher than Moyes – albeit with less longevity given the Hammers boss has managed 684 more games.
In a previous exclusive with Hammers News, Bailey made it clear Moyes and Tim Steidten won’t both be at the club next season.
“It doesn’t take a genius to realise it’s going to come to a head in the summer,” Bailey said previously.
“Steidten and Moyes won’t both be at West Ham next season, I think that’s fair to say.
“West Ham want to push forward. You brought Steidten in for a reason, to push the club on, that foothold in Europe to have the eyes, nose and ears in Europe to sniff out that young talent as well as the big names who he can attract.
“When you appoint someone like that, you have to back them. And we know that Steidten is hoping to have that opportunity to pick the next manager. So time will tell.”