West Ham’s efforts to find Sam Allardyce’s successor have reportedly hit a snag today. The Telegraph reports that the Hammers have missed out on capturing many of their high profile targets including David Moyes, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez, who has taken over at the Bernabéu to manage Real Madrid.
The Telegraph suggests that Seville coach Unai Emery will soon join the list of people who have turned down the job. Despite West Ham’s best efforts to lure him to East London, including a ‘lucrative offer’, talks seem to have stalled with interest in him coming from Napoli and also the option to stay at Seville, with whom he has just achieved Champions League qualification for next year.
Slaven Billic has reportedly remained one of Gold & Sullivan’s targets throughout the process and seems to be the most likely of appointments. Billic of course is a former West Ham player and has expressed his interest in managing the club. The club are said to be keen to appoint someone who would be able to have an affinity with the fans, following the reign of Sam Allardyce which left relationships between the manager and some sections of fans, fractured.
With interviews taking this weekend, the board is hopeful to appoint the new man by the end of next week. This then would allow whoever the new man is, to get on and shape his squad in preparation for the early start to the season due to the European conquest the Hammers are set to embark on.
