Graham Potter’s stint at West Ham looks increasingly doomed as the pressure mounts on the under-fire manager.

Since taking charge in January, Potter has struggled to steady the ship at the London Stadium, and the Hammers now find themselves sitting 19th in the Premier League with just three points from their opening five fixtures. Criticism has been relentless, and Wayne Rooney has even highlighted a recent decision that he believes could prove disastrous for the manager’s future.

With Potter’s tenure hanging by a thread, talk of a possible successor is already intensifying. Among the names being floated, Nuno Espirito Santo appears to be a leading candidate. Recently relieved of his duties at Nottingham Forest earlier this month, the Portuguese coach is currently without a club, giving West Ham a free shot if their hierarchy believes he is the right man to spark a revival.

Club captain Jarrod Bowen may welcome such a move. While on England duty earlier in September, Bowen spoke highly of Nuno’s Forest side, even backing them to go deep in the Europa League before Ange Postecoglou replaced him at the City Ground.

Nuno is no stranger to difficult situations. When he arrived at Forest in December 2023, the team were languishing in 17th place after a run of one win in 13 matches. Under his guidance, results improved dramatically, and the fanbase began to dream of European nights. His track record of stabilising clubs and building defensive resilience could be exactly what West Ham need right now.

If appointed, Nuno’s task would also include maximising Bowen’s influence. The skipper has been West Ham’s standout performer again this season, scoring twice in five games while operating predominantly from the right flank. Nuno showed last season how he could get the best out of wide forwards, with Anthony Elanga recording 17 goal contributions despite inconsistent finishing and competition from Morgan Gibbs-White.

With Bowen carrying the bulk of West Ham’s attacking burden, a similar system under Nuno could unleash even greater productivity from the England international.

For now, Potter remains in charge, but with mounting pressure, his days in East London may be numbered.