West Ham's manager shortlist as David Moyes uncertainty continues

David Moyes' future at West Ham United remains in limbo after a poor run of recent results and disappointing January transfer window, with a number of managers earmarked as potential replacements.

The Hammers were thumped 6-0 by Arsenal on Sunday to extend the club's winless run in all competitions to seven matches, and hoards of supporters were seen exiting London Stadium at half-time with the game already out of sight.

West Ham have scored just four goals this calendar year - two of which came against bottom of the table Sheffield United - and have looked a shell of the side who scored impressive wins away at Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal in December.

Injuries to Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen, as well as Mohammed Kudus' absence through participation at AFCON, haven't helped West Ham's cause, but the decision to offload Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals to Lyon and Real Betis respectively appears to have left the club short of bodies.

Moyes had taken West Ham into the top six at the turn of the year to build on last season's Conference League success, and despite discontent from sections of the club's support over the playing style of the team, looked well positioned to earn a contract extension.

Indeed, 90min understands that Moyes viewed a new two-and-a-half-year deal as more of a formality after holding talks with chairman David Sullivan, but things have changed after West Ham's barren run of form.

West Ham made the decision to allow Benrahma and Fornals to leave - neither of whom were first-team regulars - but there were disagreements behind the scenes over to bring in as a replacement. Moyes wanted to sign former Celtic winger Jota, who is out of the picture at Saudi Pro League champions Al Ittihad, but technical director Tim Steidten and sporting director Mark Noble were more inclined to push for a deal for emerging 19-year-old Ibrahim Osman. A deal for Jota was also tricky to progress with anyway due to tax and wage issues.

Steidten and Noble's preference was to sign a player West Ham could develop into a first-team regular and they believe Brighton & Hove Albion's model is one ton replicate, whereas Moyes was keen to focus on the here and now, which is understandable given the pressure he's under and time left on his current contract.

Ultimately, a deal wasn't struck for either player - Osman will now join Brighton from FC Nordsjaelland in the summer transfer window - and right-back Ben Johnson was forced to play on the left wing against Arsenal with Paqueta and Michail Antonio absent.

Moyes' current contract runs out in the summer and, despite recent form, the indication is he could yet extend. However, West Ham also have a succession plan in place in case the 60-year-old does end up leaving, which is considered normal.

Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca and Stade Reims' Will Still are two potential candidates in France, sources have told 90min, both of whom have been linked with the job in the past. Former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter is also admired by the club's hierarchy and is currently a free agent after being dispensed with by the latter just seven months into a five-year contract.

Steve Cooper, who left Nottingham Forest in December after re-establishing the club as a Premier League outfit, would also be in the running were Moyes to leave West Ham.

Moyes often points to West Ham's journey under his management, from relegation battlers to European regulars, and said after the humbling against Arsenal: "I look back and when I came in we had to try and avoid relegation, and we avoided relegation. The journey we've all been on in the last three or four years trying to qualify for Europe, getting to a semi-final, and you all know the good times we had in Prague about six months ago.

"That will not make people feel too much happier with today's result, but I think it's just important that we remember that those good times in football can also be bad times."

The Scot will hope the good times return in upcoming games against Forest, Brentford, Everton and Burnley - all fixtures his coaching staff and fans will perceive as winnable - and performance levels in those games, and in West Ham's imminent return to Europa League competition, could ultimately dictate which direction the club go in this summer.

READ THE LATEST NEWS FROM 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM