EXCLUSIVE: David Sullivan was ‘won over’ by Julen Lopetegui after meeting him for West Ham talks claims a journalist.
Hammers News brings you the very latest on the developing situation with Julen Lopetegui and West Ham.
It was a rare thing of beauty seeing West Ham fans so united when Ruben Amorim flew in for talks with David Sullivan last week.
This was the bright, young, innovative, attack-minded, modern manager Hammers supporters had craved to take over from David Moyes.
There were not too many misgivings about how the talks becoming public knowledge might impact Moyes. It was seen by most as a necessary, proactive move to try and land one of the most coveted managers around.
Sullivan and Tim Steidten were being hailed by a fanbase giddy with excitement. Although there were many of a certain vintage who were – rightly it seems – sceptical.
Fast forward a week or so and West Ham now allegedly stand on the brink of appointing Lopetegui.
Sullivan ‘won over’ by Lopetegui after meeting
If the club was brought together by the prospect of Amorim, it has been thrown into turmoil by Lopetegui.
Suddenly Sullivan – and even, rather ridiculously, Steidten to a degree in the eyes of some – are the villains by showing contempt and disrespect to a manager who brought the club its first major silverware for over four decades.
The truth, probably, is somewhere in the middle – as it so often is.
But fans have shown their displeasure at West Ham reportedly being on the verge of bringing in Lopetegui.
Some have even copied Milan by launching a petition against hiring Lopetegui, who is being labelled the “Spanish Moyes” by some.
There is hope among those against the appointment that Lopetegui might yet join Man United – with whom he is also being linked.
But according to journalist Graeme Bailey, the out of work former Wolves boss is the man of the majority owner’s choosing.
Speaking exclusively to Hammers News, Bailey has lifted the lid on how the situation has come about.
He says Sullivan was ‘won over’ by Lopetegui after meeting him for West Ham talks.
‘He is the chosen one’
And while ‘nothing is done until the contract is signed’ it does appear the ex Spain boss is on his way to the London Stadium.
Not that Bailey likes how Moyes has been treated.
“Lopetegui has been pushed hard by some agents but Sullivan met him and that really made an impact,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“He assessed him and was very impressed… and in some regards was won over by the Spaniard.
“I am told he is the man they are going forward with, obviously nothing is done until it is signed but as it stands he is the chosen one to succeed David Moyes, who it has to be said has been treated awfully by Sullivan and West Ham’s hierarchy.
“I am not his (Moyes) biggest fan but he deserves better than this.”
West Ham board insider Sean Whetstone ran a poll asking fans whether they would prefer Moyes of Lopetegui.
From nearly 5,000 votes, 56% of fans voted in favour of keeping Moyes.
A top Wolves expert has also warned West Ham fans are right to have reservations about hiring Lopetegui.
The man himself spoke out in a lengthy interview yesterday.
Lopetegui outlined what he would bring to his next club and dropped a big Steidten hint.
