A strange new Chelsea twist is great news for Tim Steidten’s reported West Ham plan as big decisions loom for both clubs.
West Ham and Chelsea play one another on Saturday in what is usually a big London derby.
But there is more focus and interest around the managerial situation at both clubs right now.
And those major decisions for West Ham and Chelsea may actually be intrinsically linked.
There is an added layer of intrigue around the Hammers’ trip to face Chelsea. Purely because of the speculation surrounding both dugouts.
David Moyes is now widely expected to depart West Ham when his contract expires this summer.
Meanwhile talk refuses to go away that Mauricio Pochettino may follow Moyes in the unemployment queue soon.
The fact both clubs could be looking for new managers inevitably puts them on a potential collision course.
Many West Ham fans were giddy with excitement when Sporting boss Ruben Amorim was pictured boarding a plane for London last week.
The 39-year-old is said to have had talks with majority owner David Sullivan.
Photo by Rita Franca/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Chelsea rivalling West Ham for Amorim?
There has been claim and counter claim since with reports the talks did not go well.
But Amorim offered no guarantees over his future when he held an apologetic press conference on Saturday. In fact he only conceded the timing of his meeting with West Ham was regrettable rather than the actual talks themselves.
Then came fresh reports from Portugal that Chelsea had paid for Amorim’s flight as they wanted to have secret talks about him replacing Pochettino, using the Hammers as a distraction tactic.
Chelsea came out denied those claims. But the Blues have been linked with the coveted manager too.
Hammers hopes were raised this week when a Sky Sports journalist made an exciting claim that Amorim is still top of West Ham’s shortlist.
Also on that West Ham shortlist is former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel as he prepares to leave Bayern Munich.
Tuchel has kept his house in London from his time at Stamford Bridge. And, perhaps crucially, is close friends with Hammers technical director and fellow German Tim Steidten.
The problem for West Ham is that Tuchel has also been linked with a return to Chelsea.
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Strange Chelsea twist is great news for Steidten’s plan
Two top West Ham managerial targets – both on Chelsea’s supposed secret wishlist too.
Regardless of their poor performances this season, the Blues gig may be a more attractive proposition than West Ham given the huge, young squad they have put together and their spending power.
But some good news appears to have arrived from Italy for the Hammers.
A strange new Chelsea twist is great news for Steidten’s reported West Ham plan.
Because La Repubblica claims Chelsea are seriously interested in bringing Antonio Conte back for a second spell and have been in close contact in recent days.
Not only that but Todd Boehly has reportedly proposed a lucrative offer to try and convince Conte to return.
If Conte accepts the offer then it will give Steidten a clear run at trying to convince Amorim or Tuchel to join West Ham.
The other top target on Steidten’s list is said to be Paulo Fonseca.
As things stand it is looking like the Portuguese is third choice on Steidten’s list behind Amorim and Tuchel.
This summer is going to be anything but dull.