West Ham’s struggle to identify a suitable replacement for David Moyes could save the manager from the sack, even if they lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Defeat to Tottenham on Sunday combined with other results over the weekend meant West Ham dropped into the bottom three and increased the pressure on Moyes, who came close to being fired last month.
However, while the visit from Forest is viewed as a pivotal fixture in the fight for survival, it is understood the club remain reluctant to make a change. The hierarchy is concerned, but a shortage of available candidates could delay a decision over Moyes’s future. There are doubts over Rafael Benítez, who is out of work while Carlos Corberán, who has signed a new long-term deal at West Brom, is also viewed as a future target.
Sources have said West Ham are desperate not to have to sack Moyes, who had overseen an improvement in his side’s form before losing at Spurs. The 59-year-old was braced for the worst if West Ham had lost at home to Everton last month, but they won that game convincingly and followed it up with draws against Newcastle and Chelsea.
There remains a desire for Moyes, who has guided West Ham into Europe in successive campaigns, to turn the situation around. At the same time there is disgruntlement within the club over their poor form after they spent more than £160m on new signings last summer. They strengthened in attack by signing Gianluca Scamacca for £35.5m, but have scored 19 goals in 23 games and Moyes’s cautious tactics have caused disquiet within the dressing room.
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West Ham, who are 18th before facing Forest, used a defensive lineup at Spurs and were punished for their lack of ambition in the second half. Declan Rice, the club captain, later appeared to question the approach. He is expected to leave this summer, with Arsenal leading the race to sign the midfielder.
Forest are five points above the bottom three and West Ham, who are a point below 17th-placed Bournemouth, then visit Manchester United in the fifth round of the FA Cup before league games against Brighton, Aston Villa and Manchester City heading into next month’s international break. They are also in the last 16 of the Europa Conference League.
West Ham will take injuries into account when they judge Moyes. Their defence has improved since the return of Nayef Aguerd, but Kurt Zouma is out. In attack Scamacca has just returned from a knee injury and Maxwel Cornet has been out since October. Lucas Paquetá, the Brazil midfielder, missed the Spurs game with a shoulder injury.
