Former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo appears to have been pictured at a restaurant near David Sullivan’s Essex mansion after reported talks with West Ham.
The sighting has sparked fresh speculation over the Hammers’ managerial situation.
Graham Potter is under mounting pressure to keep his job at West Ham.
The Englishman has failed to turn things around in east London since taking over from Julen Lopetegui.
In fact things have got worse for West Ham under Potter with just six wins from his 24 games in charge over the last eight months.
Many Hammers fans have an element of sympathy with Potter given their main beef is with the club’s majority owner David Sullivan, vice-chair Karren Brady and the rest of the Hammers board.
Potter on the brink as West Ham line up replacements
Others would argue Potter knew what he was signing up to having watched how the tenures of David Moyes and Lopetegui were handled before ultimately ending.
Potter cannot escape the fact most supporters feel he could and should be doing better at West Ham.
It has been claimed Potter could be sacked if West Ham lose to Crystal Palace this weekend.
The match comes against the backdrop of fan protests against the owners.
It also comes amid intense speculation over potential replacements being lined up to replace Potter should he be axed.
Nuno Espirito Santo is out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest after a falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis.
The Portuguese is reportedly at the head of West Ham’s managerial shortlist which also includes Kieran McKenna, Slaven Bilic, Gary O’Neil and Sean Dyche.
Nuno Espirito Santo was first to be added to West Ham’s list after the 3-0 defeat to Spurs last weekend.
Of the names linked, many Hammers fans are leaning more towards the ex Spurs and Wolves boss than the other candidates should Potter be axed.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s stance on the West Ham job was also revealed last weekend, as it was reported he is open to the move.
Nuno pictured near Sullivan’s mansion after West Ham talks
Hammers News exclusively revealed on Friday that West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady held talks with Nuno Espirito Santo and his representatives this week.
Now there has been a potentially significant revelation.
Because Nuno Espirito Santo appears to have been pictured near Sullivan’s Essex mansion after West Ham talks.
Chief Football Correspondent Graeme Bailey revealed to Hammers News that Brady had met with the ex Forest boss and his representation to discuss the possibility of him becoming the new West Ham manager.
Brady championed the appointment of her husband Paul Peschisolido’s close friend Potter after the sacking of Lopetegui.
Now she has been working on his replacement behind the scenes.
Although there is a sense of deja vu over reported talks with Nuno – especially for Potter.
Ahead of Lopetegui being sacked by the Hammers, pictures leaked showing Potter holding a meeting with then West Ham technical director Tim Steidten.
That meeting allegedly took place after West Ham’s defeat at Leicester last season, a result which proved to be the beginning of the end for Lopetegui.
Now it seems Potter is on the other end of that unsavoury situation.
Amid the claims Brady met with Nuno – which have since been reported elsewhere – pictures have now emerged showing Nuno in the upmarket Essex village of Theydon Bois – not far from Sullivan’s sprawling mansion.
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Sullivan’s Birch Hall is described as a neo-classical mansion and was built in 1992 to his design, situated on approximately 12 acres of land.
Images published on social media by West Ham site Hammers Bytes appear to show Nuno with another party at Lot 14 At Theydon.
The bar-restaurant is just 0.9 miles from Sullivan’s mansion, a short drive or walk away.
Many feel it cannot be a coincidence given the revelation that Nuno met with the club amid the pressure on Potter.
While the clash with Palace is seen as a must-not-lose, Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol says the writing could be on the wall for Potter even if the Hammers boss survives the weekend.
Solhekol states Potter faces a tough task to turn things around with Everton and Arsenal – both away – up next after the Eagles.
You can view the images of Nuno in Theydon Bois on Hammers Bytes and come to your own conclusions.
But it appears the plot has thickened as all eyes turn to the Palace game.
