Nuno Espirito Santo could jump before he is pushed by West Ham following an extraordinary leak concerning a potential return to Wolves.
Speculation is rife that Nuno Espirito Santo could be the third managerial casualty at West Ham in just over a year.
Especially in the wake of the club’s worst defeat in 19 years at the hands of woeful Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After impressing with Wolves and Forest previously, Nuno has struggled to make any impact in east London.
It was a year ago this week that West Ham sacked another former Wolves boss, Julen Lopetegui.
It says everything about West Ham’s decline that Lopetegui’s record is actually far better than both the managers who have followed after Graham Potter and Nuno flopped spectacularly.
Nuno on course to be worst West Ham manager ever
The fact four managers, including David Moyes in his last six months, have not been able to arrest West Ham’s slide in the last two years suggests it is not only the man in the dugout who is to blame.
Supporters of both West Ham and Wolves have been protesting against their owners as both clubs appear nailed on for relegation from the Premier League.
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The gap between basement boys Wolverhampton Wanderers at the bottom of the table and West Ham in 18th place is the same seven points as the gap between the Hammers and safety.
Although given their horrific -21 goal difference, it is actually more like eight points for the Irons.
There has been intense speculation that Nuno could be sacked both before and since the defeat to Forest in midweek, which stretched the club’s winless run to 10 games.
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The likes of Michael Carrick, Kieran McKenna, Slaven Bilic and others have been linked as potential replacements.
West Ham’s spending on Nuno targets has muddied the water.
The Portuguese, who led Wolves and Forest into Europe, signed a three-year deal when he was appointed and the Hammers have spent £47m on two strikers for him since the January window opened.
West Ham are also trying to bring former Wolves winger Adama Traore in from Fulham as well as new defenders and a goalkeeper.
That suggests the Hammers are planning to keep Nuno in post.
Nuno could jump before he is pushed after Wolves leak
But now it has emerged that Nuno is open to a West Ham departure after an extraordinary leak about a Wolves return.
The revelation will intensify speculation around Nuno’s future and adds yet another destabilising layer to an already volatile situation.
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Now it seems Nuno could leave the Hammers before he is pushed if a return to Wolverhampton Wanderers becomes available.
There have been claims that West Ham agreed a deal with Nuno that they would not have to pay him any compensation if he is sacked this season.
Whatever the truth behind that, it may be that West Ham don’t have to worry either way.
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The Daily Mail’s Tom Collomosse is one of the leading reporters on Midlands clubs.
In an exclusive, Collomosse has claimed that Nuno will walk out on the Hammers if Rob Edwards is sacked or leaves.
Collomosse has revealed that Nuno has ‘always been open to a second spell at Molineux’ and that remains the case, even with Wolves heading for the Championship.
In fact it is claimed that had Wolves sacked Vitor Pereira before Nuno took the West Ham job, there is a decent chance he would be back there now rather than at the London Stadium.
Collomosse also states there is a feeling in Nuno’s camp that a return to Wolves would be best for all parties with his Hammers tenure in tatters and a feeling that it is ‘destined to end in tears’.
Nuno would leave West Ham for Wolves, claims journalist
While circumstances are clearly different, Nuno’s win ratio at Wolves compared to West Ham is chalk and cheese.
Across his spell at Molineux, Nuno won an impressive 38 per cent of his matches in all competitions.
By contrast, his win ratio at West Ham has been significantly lower, at an abysmal 12.5 per cent – winning just two of his 16 games in charge so far.
The disparity reflects contrasting circumstances: a settled, purpose-built Wolves side versus a West Ham squad still struggling for identity, consistency and cohesion under his management.
But Nuno may be a problem for West Ham next season if he does leave for a Wolves return – it is likely they will be serious contenders to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
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