• Lopetegui’s Wednesday press conference cancelled
• Potter close to finalising deal as manager to 2027

West Ham are poised to sack Julen Lopetegui after talks progressed positively with Graham Potter, who is close to agreeing a two-and-a-half-year contract to take over as the club’s manager.

A press conference with Lopetegui scheduled for Wednesday lunchtime was cancelled on Wednesday morning and, barring an unexpected hiccup, Potter will replace him before Friday’s FA Cup tie at Aston Villa.