Tim Steidten and David Sullivan’s first pick makes room for a West Ham transfer….

David Sullivan and Tim Steidten’s top choice to replace David Moyes has opened the door for a West Ham move with a new admission.

There has been a significant development in West Ham’s search for a new manager today.

David Sullivan and Tim Steidten have been doing extensive due diligence on a host of potential replacements for David Moyes.

That all points to the Scot parting ways with the Hammers when his contract expires at the end of the season.

For many it makes sense given West Ham face a major rebuild this summer requiring between 10-12 new signings.

With that in mind it is very much in West Ham’s interests that they get the manager situation sorted as soon as possible.

The Irons have been linked with no fewer than 14 different managers in the last week.

Paulo Fonseca, Ruben Amorim, Julen Lopetegui, Thomas Tuchel, Kieran McKenna, Steve Cooper, Sebastian Hoeness, Hansi Flick, Vincent Kompany, Gary O’Neil, Abel Ferreira, Maurizio Sarri, Marco Silva and Eusebio Di Francesco are the names linked.

Fonseca has definitely made West Ham’s shortlist

Claims that Sebastien Hoeness and Julen Lopetegui have made West Ham’s final shortlist look well wide of the mark.

Hoeness has just signed a new long-term deal with Stuttgart and has insisted he will be going nowhere.

Meanwhile Lopetegui looks set to take over at AC Milan.

A journalist has revealed the real reason Amorim’s move to West Ham hit the buffers.

On Friday we reported on claims from reliable reporter Ben Jacobs that Lille boss Fonseca has made the final cut.

Then came news that Sullivan and Steidten are in agreement over Fonseca replacing Moyes at the London Stadium.

Sullivan and Steidten’s top choice opens the door with admission

Sullivan and Steidten’s top choice has opened the door for a West Ham move with a big admission.

Like the man he might replace, Fonseca’s contract at Lille is up this summer.

He is on the cusp of leading his exciting young side into the Champions League after a 2-1 win at Metz on Sunday.

Reports had suggested Lille making Europe’s top competition might persuade Fonseca to stay.

But he has given West Ham serious encouragement by admitting he is trying to stay calm as his mind is not yet made up on his future.

“I’m handling the situation calmly and completely focused on the last matches,” Fonseca said, as reported by GFFN.

“I have already said that my future is not important now. Lille’s future is the most important thing in these last matches.

“I have not decided (on my future),” said Fonseca in a press conference on Saturday, who added that talk of his future is not a topic of conversation in the Lille dressing room either.

Has non-committal Fonseca hinted at move?

If Fonseca had any inclination to stay, then he would surely have sorted it by now.

Especially with his team doing so well. You don’t leave the door open to leaving if you fully intend to stay.

For West Ham fans, Fonseca is one of the more universally appealing names on the alleged shortlist.

And it is a move that has been six years in the making after he was interviewed by Sullivan back in 2018 but failed to get the gig.

He could be perfect for the Hammers given his penchant for bringing through young players. Fonseca talks about how and why he does that in the fascinating video below.