West Ham United are reportedly lining up former Chelsea boss Graham Potter as a potential managerial candidate, while midfielder Lucas Paqueta faces a potential two-year suspension from football over alleged involvement in spot-fixing.
The Football Association (FA) has been investigating suspicious betting patterns surrounding Paqueta's yellow cards in certain matches. If found guilty, the Brazilian playmaker could be handed a lengthy ban, dealing a major blow to the Hammers' squad.
Potter in Frame for West Ham Hot Seat
With current manager David Moyes under increasing pressure following a mixed start to the season, West Ham's hierarchy are believed to be considering Graham Potter as a potential replacement. The English tactician has been out of work since his sacking by Chelsea in April but remains highly regarded in Premier League circles.
Paqueta's Career in Jeopardy
The FA's investigation into Paqueta centres around unusual betting activity connected to yellow cards he received in specific games last season. While the player denies any wrongdoing, the governing body is reportedly preparing to bring formal charges that could see him banned from all football-related activities for up to two years.
Such a suspension would not only rule Paqueta out of West Ham's plans but could also scupper a proposed £85 million move to Manchester City that was in the pipeline earlier this summer.
What This Means for West Ham
The potential double whammy of managerial uncertainty and losing one of their star players presents significant challenges for West Ham:
- A need to potentially accelerate their search for a new manager
- The loss of a creative fulcrum in midfield if Paqueta is banned
- Financial implications from both a potential compensation payout and lost transfer fee
- Damage to the club's reputation from association with a betting scandal
As the situation develops, all eyes will be on the FA's next move regarding Paqueta and whether West Ham's board decide to make a change in the dugout.
