David Moyes is currently one of the leading candidates to replace Manuel Pellegrini at West Ham on a short-term contract until the end of the season.
The Independent understands the club, who’ve been scouring potential replacements for a number of weeks, were ready to sack Pellegrini and make a formal approach for Moyes had they suffered defeat against Southampton.
Sebastian Haller’s winner ended a miserable run of form for the club, with Pellegrini now expected to remain in charge over Christmas.
Senior figures at West Ham still hope Pellegrini can resurrect the team’s form, however, unless there is a dramatic uplift, the Chilean’s departure is seen as inevitable with the club just four points clear of the relegation zone.
Moyes previously stepped in on a short-term contract during the 2017/18 season when he replaced Slaven Bilic and guided the club to safety with two games to spare before Pellegrini was appointed on a three-year contract.
1/19 Hot seat rankings
Which Premier League managers are facing the sack?
Getty
2/19 18. Jurgen Klopp
Preventing the Kop’s adoration of the Kop inadvertently lifting him directly to heaven, Klopp will not be departing Anfield anytime soon.
EPA
3/19 17. Pep Guardiola
The best manager in the world and personal friends with the board, the only way Pep departs will be out of his own volition. However, things aren’t quite as rosy at the moment, after losing significant ground on Liverpool in the title race. Regardless, his departure won’t come before the end of this season and, even if then, it’ll be his decision.
Action Images via Reuters
4/19 16. Brendan Rodgers
Amid an initial circus of doubters, Rodgers has revived Leicester’s vein of title-winning form. The Foxes are flying in second, and have shown no signs of slowing. Jamie Vardy is still rewinding the years, James Maddison is one of the league’s outstanding creative players, Wilfried Ndidi the militant enforcer at the base of midfield and Caglar Soyuncu allowing fans to quickly move on from Harry Maguire. Together, they form arguably the strongest spine in the league, and Rodgers has brought them to their best.
Getty Images
5/19 15. Frank Lampard
Under enforced conditions, Lampard has reignited a rare sense of positivity at Stamford Bridge. Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James have all broken through, results are continually improving and there’ll be a long degree of leniency for a hometown manager operating under such restraints.
Getty Images
6/19 14. Graham Potter
The perfect partner to Dan Ashworth’s technical revolution, the bedding-in period has remained slightly topsy-turvy. However, steadily Potter’s brand of football is taking hold and, with an exciting group of new signings growing in stature along with Lewis Dunk’s towering presence in defence, they should avoid another relegation battle – has just signed a new six-year contract, bizarrely, despite only joining last summer.
Getty
7/19 13. Chris Wilder
The sturdiest of the newly promoted clubs, Wilder has countered a lack of resources with invention, a frugal defence and a series of fearless performances against the big six. A team better than the sum of their parts, and looking like a side that can maintain a consistent challenge that has taken them as high as fifth this season.
PA
8/19 12. Nuno Espirito Santo
After a stuttering start, as the club managed their Europa League campaign, Santo’s side are now undefeated in the league since mid-September. That run of form has pushed Wolves up into fifth and qualification for the knockout stages in Europe.
Getty
9/19 11. Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has arrived as the spotlight and, for now, after defeating West Ham it’s beaming intensely. The aura surrounding Mourinho turning sour is always a danger, but this early in his tenure, it feels the only way is up for Spurs.
Reuters
10/19 10. Sean Dyche
Like a fine claret, Burnley’s success comes in cycles and, after Europa League qualification and the dreary season which followed, Dyche’s side are having another solid go of things this time around. There is a habit of following a run of wins with a run of defeats, but Burnley remain entrenched in the middle, and that is plenty enough to keep Dyche safe and the murmurings of an opportunity elsewhere consistent.
AFP/Getty
11/19 9. Eddie Howe
Howe is as much a part of Bournemouth’s furniture as the seafront. However, his side have continued in mixed form, consistently inconsistent and thus always in that mid-table muddle. Yet it still remains hard to imagine Howe ever departing until a bigger club finally decides to throw their weight behind him.
AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
12/19 8. Steve Bruce
Regarded by some as dead on arrival at St James’ Park, Newcastle are quietly finding a groove of sorts under Steve Bruce. They have lost just once in their last six games, and Allan Saint-Maximin is starting to prove a difference-maker in the front three. Bruce is not entirely comfortable in his post, but he is doing a solid job.
Getty
13/19 7. Dean Smith
While a new contract is seemingly a move towards securing Smith on a long-term basis, Aston Villa’s form is a little bit concerning. They are a side that has largely been languishing towards the bottom, and Smith has not yet been truly able to get the best out of his new players.
Getty
14/19 6. Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson entered the season as the old face ready to meet the axe of time. Instead, the 72-year-old began by defying the grandfather clock, soaring into the top-six. A run of worse tidings followed as defeats began to pile up, and while consecutive wins have Palace back in the top half, Hodgson has neither the positive brand of football nor particularly strong tie to the club of others in similar boats elsewhere. A more extended slide and Palace could just look to move on.
PA
15/19 5. Nigel Pearson
Freshly hired until the end of the season in a bid to turn around Watford’s fortunes, and yet, given the club’s record, almost immediately under pressure if he fails to improve results. Nigel Pearson did a fine job in setting up Leicester’s Premier League triumph, but this will be a different challenge.
Getty Images
16/19 4. Ole Gunner Solskjaer
Solskjaer is something of a curiosity, with Manchester United now sixth and yet the Norwegian still very much in danger of losing his job. Mauricio Pochettino’s availability should worry Solskjaer, with United perhaps keen to beat the other European heavyweights to the punch, but the situation is so changeable at Old Trafford that their plans are not entirely clear.
Getty
17/19 3. Daniel Farke
The Canaries started with a wild chirp of victory, inflicting defeat on Newcastle and Manchester City, but a meeker tweet has followed. A win over Everton and credible draw against Arsenal are two solid results, but Norwich remain buried in the bottom three. Farke is well-liked and encourages an exciting style of football – aspects which might buy him breathing room – but their vulnerable defence is showing few signs of stemming the downward flight.
Getty Images
18/19 2. Ralph Hasenhuttl
Hasenhuttl arrived as the ‘Austrian Klopp’ but has been characterised by a glacial slide, but a recent uptick in form has boosted his hopes. Two wins over fellow bottom-three battlers Norwich and Watford have lifted Southampton out of the relegation zone, but the Saints could easily be dragged back down into the mire and Hasenhuttl is far from safe.
Getty
19/19 1. Manuel Pellegrini
One step forward, two steps back for Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham. Victory over Chelsea brought a stay of execution, but a horribly flat performance against Wolves means the axe is being sharpened again. He no longer appears to be in truly imminent danger, but another poor run could see Pellegrini go.
Getty
1/19 Hot seat rankings
Which Premier League managers are facing the sack?
Getty
2/19 18. Jurgen Klopp
Preventing the Kop’s adoration of the Kop inadvertently lifting him directly to heaven, Klopp will not be departing Anfield anytime soon.
EPA
3/19 17. Pep Guardiola
The best manager in the world and personal friends with the board, the only way Pep departs will be out of his own volition. However, things aren’t quite as rosy at the moment, after losing significant ground on Liverpool in the title race. Regardless, his departure won’t come before the end of this season and, even if then, it’ll be his decision.
Action Images via Reuters
4/19 16. Brendan Rodgers
Amid an initial circus of doubters, Rodgers has revived Leicester’s vein of title-winning form. The Foxes are flying in second, and have shown no signs of slowing. Jamie Vardy is still rewinding the years, James Maddison is one of the league’s outstanding creative players, Wilfried Ndidi the militant enforcer at the base of midfield and Caglar Soyuncu allowing fans to quickly move on from Harry Maguire. Together, they form arguably the strongest spine in the league, and Rodgers has brought them to their best.
Getty Images
5/19 15. Frank Lampard
Under enforced conditions, Lampard has reignited a rare sense of positivity at Stamford Bridge. Tammy Abraham, Fikayo Tomori, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James have all broken through, results are continually improving and there’ll be a long degree of leniency for a hometown manager operating under such restraints.
Getty Images
6/19 14. Graham Potter
The perfect partner to Dan Ashworth’s technical revolution, the bedding-in period has remained slightly topsy-turvy. However, steadily Potter’s brand of football is taking hold and, with an exciting group of new signings growing in stature along with Lewis Dunk’s towering presence in defence, they should avoid another relegation battle – has just signed a new six-year contract, bizarrely, despite only joining last summer.
Getty
7/19 13. Chris Wilder
The sturdiest of the newly promoted clubs, Wilder has countered a lack of resources with invention, a frugal defence and a series of fearless performances against the big six. A team better than the sum of their parts, and looking like a side that can maintain a consistent challenge that has taken them as high as fifth this season.
PA
8/19 12. Nuno Espirito Santo
After a stuttering start, as the club managed their Europa League campaign, Santo’s side are now undefeated in the league since mid-September. That run of form has pushed Wolves up into fifth and qualification for the knockout stages in Europe.
Getty
9/19 11. Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho has arrived as the spotlight and, for now, after defeating West Ham it’s beaming intensely. The aura surrounding Mourinho turning sour is always a danger, but this early in his tenure, it feels the only way is up for Spurs.
Reuters
10/19 10. Sean Dyche
Like a fine claret, Burnley’s success comes in cycles and, after Europa League qualification and the dreary season which followed, Dyche’s side are having another solid go of things this time around. There is a habit of following a run of wins with a run of defeats, but Burnley remain entrenched in the middle, and that is plenty enough to keep Dyche safe and the murmurings of an opportunity elsewhere consistent.
AFP/Getty
11/19 9. Eddie Howe
Howe is as much a part of Bournemouth’s furniture as the seafront. However, his side have continued in mixed form, consistently inconsistent and thus always in that mid-table muddle. Yet it still remains hard to imagine Howe ever departing until a bigger club finally decides to throw their weight behind him.
AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images
12/19 8. Steve Bruce
Regarded by some as dead on arrival at St James’ Park, Newcastle are quietly finding a groove of sorts under Steve Bruce. They have lost just once in their last six games, and Allan Saint-Maximin is starting to prove a difference-maker in the front three. Bruce is not entirely comfortable in his post, but he is doing a solid job.
Getty
13/19 7. Dean Smith
While a new contract is seemingly a move towards securing Smith on a long-term basis, Aston Villa’s form is a little bit concerning. They are a side that has largely been languishing towards the bottom, and Smith has not yet been truly able to get the best out of his new players.
Getty
14/19 6. Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson entered the season as the old face ready to meet the axe of time. Instead, the 72-year-old began by defying the grandfather clock, soaring into the top-six. A run of worse tidings followed as defeats began to pile up, and while consecutive wins have Palace back in the top half, Hodgson has neither the positive brand of football nor particularly strong tie to the club of others in similar boats elsewhere. A more extended slide and Palace could just look to move on.
PA
15/19 5. Nigel Pearson
Freshly hired until the end of the season in a bid to turn around Watford’s fortunes, and yet, given the club’s record, almost immediately under pressure if he fails to improve results. Nigel Pearson did a fine job in setting up Leicester’s Premier League triumph, but this will be a different challenge.
Getty Images
16/19 4. Ole Gunner Solskjaer
Solskjaer is something of a curiosity, with Manchester United now sixth and yet the Norwegian still very much in danger of losing his job. Mauricio Pochettino’s availability should worry Solskjaer, with United perhaps keen to beat the other European heavyweights to the punch, but the situation is so changeable at Old Trafford that their plans are not entirely clear.
Getty
17/19 3. Daniel Farke
The Canaries started with a wild chirp of victory, inflicting defeat on Newcastle and Manchester City, but a meeker tweet has followed. A win over Everton and credible draw against Arsenal are two solid results, but Norwich remain buried in the bottom three. Farke is well-liked and encourages an exciting style of football – aspects which might buy him breathing room – but their vulnerable defence is showing few signs of stemming the downward flight.
Getty Images
18/19 2. Ralph Hasenhuttl
Hasenhuttl arrived as the ‘Austrian Klopp’ but has been characterised by a glacial slide, but a recent uptick in form has boosted his hopes. Two wins over fellow bottom-three battlers Norwich and Watford have lifted Southampton out of the relegation zone, but the Saints could easily be dragged back down into the mire and Hasenhuttl is far from safe.
Getty
19/19 1. Manuel Pellegrini
One step forward, two steps back for Manuel Pellegrini and West Ham. Victory over Chelsea brought a stay of execution, but a horribly flat performance against Wolves means the axe is being sharpened again. He no longer appears to be in truly imminent danger, but another poor run could see Pellegrini go.
Getty
Moyes is also being considered for the Everton job, however, Carlo Ancelotti is believed to be their first-choice target, while caretaker manager Duncan Ferguson taking charge of their League Cup tie against Leicester on Wednesday.
Joint-chairman David Sullivan’s son, Jack, has been acting as technical director and leading transfer negotiations for the club with West Ham’s current director of football, Mario Husillos, expected to depart with Pellegrini.
The club expects to be busy in January with a first-choice defensive midfielder being prioritised.
