'Big teams have him on their radar' - 'Top' Premier League side waiting to hire ex-West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui as South American coaching role ruled out

Lopetegui was sacked less than eight months into his West Ham tenure, with former Chelsea head coach Graham Potter going on to succeed him. However, El Chiringuito journalist Julio Suarez claims a "very big" Premier League club wants to recruit him but he will not become the new coach of Rayados in Mexico, following Martín Demichelis' sacking.

He said on El Chiringuito TV: “What we have, from Julen Lopetegui’s entourage, is that right now, Julen Lopetegui’s plans don’t involve managing Rayados. Right now, Julen Lopetegui’s main goal is to coach in the Premier League. He still has that idea in mind; he wants to continue coaching in the league he loves so much. His goal is to manage a top Premier League team, where he continues to have a very good reputation, where there are clearly some big teams who have him on their radar, and Julen’s plans include finding a new opportunity in the Premier League. Uh, there’s a team, but I can’t say, I can’t say the team. I know there’s a team that would be very excited. Is the team big? It’s very big, it’s big, it’s top, it’s top, but no, no, no, I can’t say.”

Lopetegui was given a summer transfer war chest of £130 million ($168m) in 2024 but he won just six of his 20 Premier League games in charge and left West Ham 14th in the division. Despite this underwhelming stint, the 58-year-old appears to still have options thanks to his work at Sevilla, FC Porto, and more.

Former Wolves boss Lopetegui may have to be patient before another Premier League job becomes available. But by the sounds of it, he will not be short of managerial offers across the globe.