Liverpool job favourite Ruben Amorim holds shock talks with West Ham
- Amorim considered frontrunner for Liverpool job after Xabi Alonso passed on job
- Sporting CP boss has hinted he'll leave Portugal at the end of the season
- West Ham United exploring alternatives to under pressure David Moyes
West Ham United have held talks over a shock move for Sporting CP manager Ruben Amorim, who is unlikely to be Liverpool's preferred candidate to Jurgen Klopp, according to reports.
Amorim has been considered by many to be the frontrunner to replace Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, stemming from Xabi Alonso's decision to commit to Bayer Leverkusen.
The 39-year-old is closing on a second Primeira Liga title with Sporting - having ended the club's 19-year wait to topple Porto and Benfica from their perch in 2020/21 - but has been non-committal about his long-term future at the club.
The Athletic report that Liverpool's interest in Amorim has waned - to the extent that he's unlikely to be the club's number one choice to replace Klopp, who is leaving after eight-and-a-half years in charge - and he's now being targeted for an ambitious move by West Ham.
The Hammers are still deciding what to do with David Moyes, whose contract at London Stadium is up in the summer, but are exploring their options after winning just four games across all competitions in 2024. Talks are said to have taken place with Amorim to gauge his interest in joining, but it's 'unclear' whether or not he sees West Ham as a viable landing spot.
Sunday's heavy 5-2 defeat to Crystal Palace was a particularly dismal reverse for West Ham, and came just three days after they put in a rousing performance to push Alonso's unbeaten Leverkusen all their way in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
"Certainly the 30 minutes was as bad as I can remember any of my West Ham teams playing. It was more than 30 minutes but the first 30 minutes really was atrocious," a dejected Moyes admitted after the final whistle at Selhurst Park. "We got we deserved and we just didn't really turn up."
The Telegraph add that former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Julen Lopetegui is a 'serious contender' to take over from Moyes in east London, with various other reports suggesting that the 60-year-old's time at the club is coming to an end.
The Scot has already etched his name into West Ham history, having ended the club's 43-year trophy drought last season with a memorable victory in the Conference League.
READ THE LATEST NEWS, TRANSFER RUMOURS AND MATCH REACTION
feed