Lopetegui could walk as West Ham struggling to land transfer targets

It looks as if lightning could be striking twice for new West Ham first-team coach, Julen Lopetegui.

The Spaniard quickly parted ways with Wolverhampton Wanderers once the club admitted that they wouldn’t be able to afford to land the targets Lopetegui had in mind, per The Athletic (subscription required).

Taking over at the London Stadium promised a new dawn in East London, but it seems as if things are quickly turning sour.

West Ham not backing Lopetegui in the transfer market

The club have already had bids rejected for Wolves captain, Max Kilman, and Nice’s brilliant former Barcelona centre-back, Jean-Clair Todibo.

Though the Daily Mail suggest that the club are considering a second bid for Todibo, the low-balling antics of chairman, David Sullivan, threatens to sever the relationship with Lopetegui before it starts.

If the Hammers do genuinely want to be considered as regular participants in European competition, and their aspiration remains to be in the Champions League, then the hierarchy need to start thinking and working as an elite club.

With a fanatical supporter base that follow the club through thick and thin, the East London outfit have everything in place to be successful but almost always fall short – due in no small part to a small-minded attitude that belies their apparent intentions.

As Lopetegui has shown previously, if he feels short-changed at any point he isn’t going to hang about, so West Ham need to think very carefully about their next moves.

Tim Steidten has shown his astuteness in the transfer market so also needs to be backed by Sullivan and his board.

This is a real crossroads for the club now. Make the right decisions and West Ham will continue on an upward trajectory.

Decide to keep saving the pennies and they’ll only continue to stagnate.