West Ham are reportedly lining up a sensational swoop for Italy manager Roberto Mancini to replace David Moyes at the London Stadium.
What’s the latest on Roberto Mancini to West Ham?
According to Calciomercato.it, the Hammers are interested in a summer swoop for the highly esteemed and sought-after coach, who is assessing his options amid a potential return to club management.
The report details that the east London outfit wants to poach the former Galatasaray coach they should consider offering a proposal of a ‘multi-year contract worth at least €10m (£9m) per year, accompanied by a clear project’ that would include ‘prestigious’ and ‘well-defined’ objectives.
West Ham is not the only side in this race, as Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain are also tracking this opportunity as Christophe Galtier’s future becomes increasingly precarious.
The verdict for Mancini’s next move would have to wait until at least after the Nations League in late June, and the possibility of the former Inter Milan boss leading the Azzurri in the 2024 World Cup can also not be ruled out.
Should West Ham break the bank to secure Mancini?
Even if the Hammers manage to beat the dreaded drop zone in this tumultuous season, Moyes’ erratic West Ham tenure could be set to finish for a seemingly unmissable opportunity in Mancini.
The former Sampdoria forward has amassed a phenomenal CV, across a stunning 20-year managerial career. This includes winning three consecutive Scudettos with the Nerazzurri between 2005 and 2008, that infamous last-second title win with Manchester City in 2012, as well as the UEFA European Championships with Italy in 2021 that crushed English hearts.
Perhaps it’s, therefore, little surprise to have seen talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent laud Mancini, 58, as a “winner” during the summer of 2022.
It is a tempting and outlandish opportunity for the West Ham hierarchy, which is supposedly considering moving on the Scot, regardless of what position they end up in this season.
The ex-Everton stalwart had directed the club to back-to-back top-seven finishes, before a massive decline in form this campaign sees them currently in 14th place and only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.
There are rumours circulating that there is a toxic atmosphere at the London Stadium and Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg has previously revealed that some players have been questioning the manager since the end of last season.
West Ham’s summer outlay of over £160m has heaped increased pressure and produced significantly worse results as the spotlight intensifies on Moyes.
Mancini would represent an unbelievable coup for last season’s Europa League semi-finalists and his previous odyssey across the channel heralded some unforgettable memories, which he undoubtedly remembers fondly.