Former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic has declined West Ham United’s approach to replace Julen Lopetegui at the helm, as reported by Bild. West Ham reportedly reached out to Terzic on Wednesday to explore his interest in a Premier League return, but he turned down the offer.
Terzic, described as “incredible,” previously served as an assistant to Slaven Bilic at West Ham for two years, leaving alongside the Croatian manager during the early months of the 2017/18 season. With Terzic out of the picture, West Ham will now look into other candidates to replace Lopetegui, who is under increasing pressure ahead of a crucial match against Wolves on Monday.
Lopetegui, who took over from David Moyes in the summer, has overseen just four Premier League victories, with West Ham sitting 14th in the standings, only six points above the relegation zone after 14 matches. The team’s form has been disappointing, including a 3-1 loss to Leicester City, which marked their seventh defeat of the season. Only bottom-placed Wolves and Southampton have lost more matches this term.
As the club assesses potential managerial replacements, West Ham is reportedly considering several candidates. Among them is former Porto boss Sergio Conceicao, who remains available after leaving Porto at the end of last season and is said to have supporters at the London Stadium. Former Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand and ex-Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri are also rumored options, although Allegri’s hefty salary demands could be an obstacle.
Lopetegui’s future may hinge on the outcome of Monday’s match against Wolves, who sit in 19th place. The Spanish manager, who signed a two-year deal in June, replaced David Moyes after the Scotsman led West Ham to a ninth-place finish last season.
In more positive news for the Hammers, striker Niclas Fullkrug has returned to action after a three-month injury layoff and scored a consolation goal in the defeat to Leicester.
