Surprise candidate as Irons step up boss hunt

West Ham have aggressively stepped up the hunt for their new boss and have a range of candidates in their sights.

ClaretandHugh has discovered today that whilst David Moyes is a serious target he is only one of the club’s top several and we were assured that Jurgen Klopp remains a serious target.

The former Everton and Manchester United manager was last night named by The Telegraph as being set for a straight approach from the club but we were told this afternoon that he was simply one of various candidates.

Among them – we were told- are Slaven Bilic and a surprise name Michael Laudrup who has suddenly catapaulted back into the frame.

Rafa Benitez is also in the Irons collective mind but so far has given little encouragement he’s ready for an interview as he prepares for talks at Napoli.

Eddie Howe is liked and admired but as revealed in the past is considered high risk given his lack of top level experience.

However, he would be at – or close to the top – of the back-up list of candidates should the club fail in all its efforts to attract one of those they fancy.

It begins to look bleaker and bleaker for Sam Allardyce with the only likelihood  of a new deal being offered were every candidate fancied by the club were to not materialise.

And he scored a massive own goal earlier today in an interview with London24.com when explaining why he woas reluctant to play the younger players at the club .

Insiders were shocked at what the manager had to say with one saying: “To be honest it made little or no sense given the league position. Nobody could make head or tail of it.”