West Ham manager Graham Potter could be sacked just nine months after taking over from Julen Lopetegui, and former Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is a top contender to replace the Englishman.

While credible reports suggest that Nuno Espírito Santo is in pole position for the potential West Ham job after talks with both David Sullivan and Karren Brady (ExWHUemployee), Bilic is said to be another firm favourite.

Potter has recorded one of the worst win percentages of any West Ham manager in Premier League history, second only behind Avram Grant, who infamously guided the east Londoners to relegation at the end of 2010/2011.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

26.1%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

A 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace last Saturday, with Tyrick Mitchell the unlikely Eagles hero after his sensational winning goal on the volley, has piled even more pressure on Potter, who is now facing two career-defining games against David Moyes’ Everton and title-chasing Arsenal.

Nuno is said to be considering West Ham’s offer, if they do indeed sack Potter, while it is reported elsewhere that Bilic is open to returning to West Ham after a solid spell in charge from 2015 to 2017.

The latter guided West Ham to one of their highest ever Premier League finishes at the end of his debut campaign (7th), which earned the club a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds, only for Bilic’s men to be dumped out by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu.

Sullivan and co sacked Bilic early on in 2017/2018 with West Ham sitting 18th in the table, but his return could be on the cards if they pivot away from Nuno.

What Slaven Bilic's "first move" at West Ham would be if appointed

Club insider ExWHUemployee has now shared that Bilic is already making some interesting plans, in the event he is appointed to replace Potter.

After speaking to the tactician himself, Ex claims that Bilic’s “first move” at West Ham would be to bring Mark Noble in as an assistant coach, and he’s plotting a few other backroom hires already.

“The other strong contender is former West Ham player and manager Slaven Bilic,” Ex started.

“I will talk a lot more about this on the podcast, but I have been in touch with Slaven throughout the weekend about this. He believes he can make the club more united because he understands and loves the club.

“One of his first moves would be to try to bring in the likes of Mark Noble (as an assistant that he can develop up to potentially be manager), James Collins to sure up the defence and Julian Dicks back at a possible later date. As well as a few other ex players. Slaven would be prepared to take the job on a short term basis with an option to extend and provides an interesting alternative.”

Noble, a West Ham legend and their current sporting director, exemplifies exactly the type of spirit needed to lift the club from their ongoing slump and resurrect some much-needed positivity around the London Stadium.

The move would make sense, but the jury is out on whether Bilic really is the right man to move West Ham forward.