West Ham identify target to replace Lopetegui after humiliating Arsenal defeat

West Ham are reportedly eyeing candidates to replace under-fire manager Julen Lopetegui, with the club losing patience with the Spaniard after Saturday's humbling 5-2 home defeat to Arsenal.

The Hammers were 4-0 down against Arsenal within 36 minutes and the fans poured out of the London Stadium in the first half.

That was their sixth league defeat of the season and they are now just six points above the relegation zone in 14th place in the Premier League.

The manner in which this latest collapse has occurred has put Lopetegui under renewed scrutiny as they prepare to take on Leicester on Tuesday – in Ruud van Nistelrooy's first game as Foxes boss.

There are also reportedly concerns at West Ham over the club's summer activities.

The club spent more than £100 million on players and they hoped this investment – ​​along with the change of manager from David Moyes to former Wolves boss Lopetegui – would take them to the next level.

That has not been the case and The Guardian reports that the Hammers are wasting no time in drawing up their list of successors should the club suffer defeat to the newly promoted side, with former Porto boss Sergio Conceicao at the top of their wish list.

The 50-year-old Portuguese has led Porto to three league titles, taken them to the quarter-finals of the Champions League twice and is currently out of work after leaving the club in the summer.

Conceicao is also believed to be attracted by the prospect of working at the London Stadium, although West Ham have not yet contacted him.

Other managers reportedly on West Ham's radar include former Juventus manager Max Allegri, who was recently photographed in London, and Graham Potter, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023.