Graham Potter: West Ham, Everton managerial developments expected to 'move quickly' within next 24 hours

Developments are expected within the next 24 hours over the future of Everton and West Ham bosses Sean Dyche and Julen Lopetegui, with Graham Potter in talks with both clubs.

Neither club wants to change their manager and had hoped to reassess their respective situations in the summer.

But poor results and a growing animosity from some supporters are forcing West Ham and Everton's hierarchies to rethink, with some urgency, with relationships already undermined at both.

Potter sits high up on the list of potential replacements for both Dyche and Lopetegui. The fact he is out of work, available and will not require compensation is further in his favour.

The 49-year-old has met with senior officials at both clubs on a number of occasions in recent months, and held talks with West Ham officials on Monday, although photographs in some newspapers showing Potter and West Ham's sporting director Tim Steidten together were taken some months ago.

Both Lopetegui and Dyche arrived at their respective training grounds on Tuesday morning.

Things are expected to move quickly over the next 24 hours at the London Stadium and Goodison Park regarding their managerial situations.

Further talks are expected between both sides and Potter, who will drive a hard bargain, knowing he is in a position of strength to choose between the two - or neither. It has been suggested either club may only make a change if they can convince him to join.

Potter has been determined to take his time in selecting his next role, feeling it is a crucial decision after the crushing disappointment of his time at Stamford Bridge.

He has been out of work for more than 18 months since being sacked by Chelsea in April 2023, and he has been determined to take stock after the first really significant setback in a managerial career which has otherwise been on a consistent rise.

Financially too, there has been no rush for Potter to get a new job, because he was entitled to a lucrative severance package from Chelsea which sustained him long after his sacking.

Nevertheless, he has been ready to get back into football for several months, and has been actively considering various options.

West Ham sit 14th in the Premier League with six wins from 20 games, while Everton are one point above the relegation zone on 17 points with three wins from 20 matches.

Potter turned down the chance to take over at Ajax when he was first choice with the Amsterdam club, and similarly distanced himself from opportunities at Leicester, Southampton and even AC Milan last spring, because he did not feel they were right for him.

What he wants from his next role is a project - and the patience and time from an owner to allow him to properly implement his philosophy. Potter feels that was what he was promised at Chelsea, before the bosses prematurely pulled the plug.

On the face of it, Everton would offer much of what Potter desires: a fresh start, ambitious new owners, exciting resources. A club on the up, with a bright future. You could offer similar analysis of the prospects at West Ham, who spent more than £100m on new talent in the summer and won a European trophy 18 months ago. It has been made clear to me that Potter is keen in principle with the opportunities at both clubs.

But there will be concerns for Potter too. Coming in mid-season would be far from ideal from his perspective, with a lack of coaching time between matches to impose his ideals. Likewise, the imperative for a speedy improvement in results means instant pressure to be pragmatic in his tactics, lest Everton - but also possibly West Ham - get embroiled in another relegation scrap.

In Everton's case, there would need to be a significant change in playing style, from Dyche to Potter, with real question marks over whether the current squad list contains enough of the type of players he would want to enact his plans.

PSR restrictions at both West Ham and Everton mean that whoever takes over as manager will be constrained by spending limitations.

VidSport Live pundit Jamie Carragher believes West Ham may finally be getting the manager they thought they were getting in Lopetegui, should Potter be appointed.

Speaking on Monday Night Football, he said: "The whole reason they moved away from David Moyes was not actually the results as such - the last season wasn't great, they had better seasons. In the main Moyes did a good job at West Ham. But I always felt West Ham wanted their 'Roberto De Zerbi', a guy who comes in and plays brilliant football.

"But don't forget it started with Graham Potter who came off the back of Chris Hughton who was a different type of manager and they [Brighton] wanted to change things. West Ham wanted to change things and be a team that's on the front foot and take the game to the opposition.

"We know Potter can do that. If he can unlock some of the attacking talents West Ham have got, it's a good move for both if the deal comes off."

Asked whether he would choose West Ham or Everton were he in Potter's shoes, Carragher said he would lean towards the Hammers.

"I think Everton are a bigger club than West Ham. That's probably just me going back to my childhood and seeing them win trophies and West Ham not really winning too much.

"Everton have been so poor for the last 10 years, West Ham have won a European trophy and they are in London, they've got the Olympic Stadium.

"I think it's more of a 50-50 decision now. And maybe right now you would veer more towards West Ham because they are probably more guaranteed to stay in the Premier League.

"The fact that I think Potter would choose West Ham over Everton, it's probably sad really that I'm saying it's a 50-50 because in my mind Everton are a much bigger club than West Ham."