West Ham stick with Moyes for now… but former Liverpool and Everton boss Benitez is on standby

David Moyes will remain in charge of West Ham against Nottingham Forest this Saturday, but Rafa Benítez is on hold and wants the job.

West Ham’s owners will be forced to make a choice if they lose at home to Forest, with a growing number of supporters already on the ‘Moyes out’ pitch but unsure where to turn.

Sportsmail has been told that the club’s hierarchy do not have a clear ‘Plan A’ regarding potential successors which they see as upgrades, their ambitious targets of Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel having turned down the chance to enter into talks.

Nuno Espirito Santo was also considered, but the cost of removing him from his current job running Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia would be prohibitive, close to £6 million.

According to sources, the lack of an overwhelming favorite to succeed Moyes is emerging as a major factor as the club ponders the future.

David Moyes will remain as West Ham boss but his future is not certain amid his team’s poor form.

The Hammers are in the relegation zone and were beaten by rivals Tottenham on Sunday.

However, Sportsmail can reveal that Benítez is interested, as the former Liverpool and Everton manager is currently out of work.

West Ham would have to come to terms with the 62-year-old Spaniard who would like a long-term deal, while the club is more likely to offer an 18-month contract, similar to the one signed by Moyes in December 2019.

West Ham decision-makers are wary of the situations at Leeds and Southampton, who remain managerless after sacking Jesse Marsch and Nathan Jones respectively earlier this month.

Without a clear strategy for life after Moyes, the club has been left in a difficult situation. Sources close to the board have always maintained they are backing their boss to reverse this slump, but West Ham have won only once in the Premier League since October: a 2-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Everton, which was described as as ‘El Sackico’ due to the pressure on the two managers. Lampard was fired two days later.

Former Liverpool and Everton boss Rafa Benítez is set to take charge of West Ham

With West Ham already 18th in the table, defeat to Forest would leave the club in an even more dangerous position.

In an exclusive interview with Sportsmail, published in Saturday’s paper, Benítez said he wants to go back to work and has received ‘around 20 offers since I left Everton’. He has been waiting for the best opportunity where he feels he can oversee a ‘construction’, so he wants a long-term contract.

Benítez is not currently interested in the Leeds project, while West Ham would if they were open to a longer deal.

The West Ham team returned to their Rush Green training ground yesterday, the morning after losing 2-0 at Tottenham.

Moyes was furious after that performance and said he wants to see proof of ‘fight’ from his players when they report for duty this week.