15 January 2023 , 19:38
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West Ham are reportedly considering hiring Rafa Benitez to replace David Moyes.
The Hammers are enduring a poor season under Moyes. They are 18th in the Premier League table - one point from safety - and no team in the division has lost more fixtures this season (12). They have also picked up just one point from their last seven league games.
Moyes is facing the sack as a result of West Ham's poor form and it's believed the club's hierarchy are struggling to decide whether to stick or twist. Moyes has been a successful manager at the London Stadium, but the Hammers are now in a relegation scrap.
According to The Telegraph, Moyes still has the backing of West Ham's board, but they are considering their options. They are reportedly looking at short-term and long-term options, with Champions League winner Benitez falling into the former category.
Another potential short-term option is Nuno Espirito Santo, while Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino are viewed as 'dream' options. Neither Tuchel nor Pochettino would be willing to accept an offer from West Ham - not in the immediate future, at least.
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Furthermore, neither Nuno nor Benitez are expected to be popular appointments with West Ham's fanbase - but the club's board may have no choice but to bring in a short-term boss. That's because the Hammers could be in serious danger by the end of February.
Rafa Benitez is being considered as David Moyes' successor (Getty Images)Do you think West Ham should sack David Moyes? Let us know in the comments below!
West Ham face a nightmare run of fixtures. Next up is a home match against relegation rivals Everton before tough fixtures against European hopefuls Newcastle, Chelsea and Tottenham. They finish February with another six-pointer against Nottingham Forest.
If West Ham are still in the relegation zone by the end or February - or they simply lose to Everton on Saturday - the club's board may have no choice but to sack Moyes. That's not ideal, as the Scot has done a good job during his two spells in charge.
Moyes was first appointed by West Ham on a short-term basis in November 2017. He kept them in the Premier League but was replaced by Manuel Pellegrini at the end of the season, later returning to the position in December 2019 to keep them up again.
West Ham finished sixth in the Premier League during Moyes' first full season in charge to qualify for the Europa League. They then reached the semi-finals of that competition last season and qualified for Europe again by achieving a seventh-placed finish.
Despite his achievements at the London Stadium, Moyes could be soon out of a job. Benitez would be a decent appointment, as he's won 12 trophies and coached some of the biggest clubs in Europe - including Chelsea, Liverpool and Real Madrid.
Benitez has been out of work since he was sacked by Everton 12 months ago. Nuno, meanwhile, is currently the manager of Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad and hasn't coached in the Premier League since he was dismissed by Tottenham 14 months ago.