Michael Carrick and Kasper Hjulmand among favourites to replace West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui as odds slashed on sacking

Imago

Former West Ham academy graduate Michael Carrick could be primed for a Premier League return. But Sky Deutschland reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand is also in contention to replace Julen Lopetegui as West Ham manager.

The news follows Lopetegui’s odds to be the next Premier League manager to be sacked being slashed overnight, from 6/4 to 1/2 with Bet Victor, in the wake of West Ham’s loss to Leicester on Tuesday. 

The West Ham boss’ future has been under scrutiny, having lost half of their 14 league games this season. And the rumour mill has been churning out potential replacements for the former Real Madrid and Spain manager in the Hammers' dugout.

Former Hammers man Michael Carrick is among the favourites at 20/1 with Betano. He has been at the helm of Championship side Middlesbrough since October 2022. 

However, it's Hjulmand that has now been installed as the 2/1 frontrunner to replace Lopetegui with Betano after Plettenberg's announcement on social media platform X earlier today. 

Porto boss Sergio Conceicao is second in the running at 4/1 after guiding the Portuguese giants to three Primeira Liga titles.

Former Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic at 5/1 third favourite could also be under consideration. He could be primed for a return to the club after serving as assistant manager between 2015 and 2017 during Slaven Bilic’s time in charge at West Ham. Terzic’s credentials have been bolstered by taking an unfancied Dortmund side to the 2024 Champions League final as well as winning the DFB Pokal in 2021. 

Elsewhere, former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter (12/1) could also be in the frame alongside another ex-Chelsea gaffer in Maurizio Sarri (16/1) and even a sensational Premier League return for former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag at 33/1.

A return to club management with West Ham for former England boss Gareth Southgate is chalked up at 25/1. 

Next permanent West Ham manager - outrights *Betano

Odds correct at time of writing.