Julen Lopetegui ‘has just TWO games to save his West Ham career’ after below-par start to the season – with the club ‘already holding talks over potential replacements for Spaniard’

Julen Lopetegui has two games to save his West Ham career, according to a report.

The Hammers boss has overseen a difficult stat to his time in charge of the club, with his side 14th in the Premier League table amid an underwhelming 11 games in the opening months of the season.

They have three wins from their matches so far, conceding 19 goals and suffering some damning losses, including 3-0 defeats by Nottingham Forest and Chelsea and also losing 5-1 to Liverpool in the League Cup.

The club invested heavily in the summer, signing the likes of Max Kilman for £40million and Crysencio Summerville for £25m, but are yet to see a return for their investment.

It was also over the summer that they opted to swap manager, with David Moyes, who won the club their first major trophy in 42 years when they lifted the Conference League, leaving.

He was replaced by Lopetegui, who could be already fighting for his job. And, according to The Guardian, he has two matches to save it, with the Hammers already sounding out replacements.

Lopetegui’s West Ham are 14th in the Premier League table and have struggled this season

He replaced David Moyes in summer but there is yet to be an improvement team’s showings

It is reported that those in senior positions at West Ham still have belief in the former Real Madrid boss, but that that belief is fading and he is facing the potential sack this month.

The Premier League is back on Saturday following the latest international break – the final until March – and West Ham will face Newcastle on Monday night at St James’ Park, live on Sky.

It is reported that any final decision will unlikely be made based off that game, but a heavy defeat could force the decision makers’ hands a game earlier than they may potentially plan to do.

If he does survive that match in the north east, he will take his side back to the capital for a home match against title challengers Arsenal.

That will be in front of home fans who are already losing their patience at the London Stadium, and two tough defeats, potentially finishing on November 30 against Arsenal, could be the end of his reign. 

It is reported that West Ham’s biggest shareholder, David Sullivan, is reluctant to make mid-season firings, but concern is growing over current performances and talks are understood to have been held over a potential change.

Who could be Lopetegui’s replacement is unclear, but a number of talks have been held previously, with former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic said to have been of interest.

Former Denmark man Kasper Hjulmand could also be monitored, while ex-Benfica manager Roger Schmidt and Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness could also be options.