Lampard to West Ham? Keys has ‘no sympathy’ for Irons as Chelsea icon leans towards replacing Lopetegui

Richard Keys and Jeff Stelling believe West Ham should consider Frank Lampard if they sack Julen Lopetegui.

Lopetegui replaced David Moyes at the London Stadium in the summer.

The decision not to renew Moyes’ contract was controversial in some quarters, although it was clear that the Hammers needed a change in manager.

Lopetegui was an interesting appointment due to his similar style of management to Scotland, and his start in east London was rather poor.

West Ham won three of their first 10 Premier League matches and kept just one clean sheet in the top flight.

Pressure on Lopetegui increases after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest.who currently occupy third place in the table.

The former Wolves manager was not helped by Edson Alvarez’s first-half sending off but his side suffered defeat at the City Ground and questions are being asked.

In his blog, beIN Sports presenter Keys highlighted the lack of sympathy for West Ham, whose “problems are of their own making”, and suggested former Chelsea and Everton boss Lampard as a potential replacement for Lopetegui.

“I give it credit – Forest played well. Well played by Chris Wood – again. What a season it is. Forest won’t get anywhere near the position they are in now, but for now they should enjoy what they are doing.

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“Lester continues to work. I always thought they might have enough, but Wolves and West Ham are clearly in trouble.

“All of West Ham’s problems are of their own making and I have no sympathy for them. It will get worse before it gets better.

“They are definitely going in a different direction after ousting David Moyes. It’s just not the one they wanted to use. Frank Lampard?

Former Gillette Soccer Saturday presenter Stelling also believes Lampard is a good option for West Ham to bring him “home”.

“I’m going to mention someone who might be divided,” he said. “Is it time for West Ham, if Lopetegui leaves, to bring Frank Lampard home? Just a thought.

“He’s available. He has been mentioned for his job at Roma, but West Ham would be ideal for him. I know there is a person on site at the moment, but this is just speculation at this point.”

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes West Ham’s biggest problem is that they don’t have a recognizable style under Lopetegui.

“West Ham are stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea this season, you don’t know what they are and that’s the problem,” Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“Looks like he’s a little stuck. He’s in the wrong movie.”

He added: “He needs time but you don’t really know what that is and he’s spent a fortune.”

Former Hammers manager Moyes also believes Lopetegui should be given time to turn things around.

“I’ve had a few defeats where we’ve lost badly at different times and that happens to all managers,” said Moyes, who led West Ham to the Europa Conference League title in 2023.

“But I just think the coach needs to be given an opportunity, a little time, to sort things out. Sometimes players need to perform too, they need to step up and show what they can do.”