West Ham are losing faith in Julen Lopetegui with a clear shift in stance over the Head Coach’s future at the club.

Lopetegui joined the club in the summer to replace David Moyes at the helm, with it understood that the Spaniard interviewed well as he set out his vision for the side that he’s been studying since leaving Wolves a year earlier.

However it’s fair to say that the plan has simply not worked and shows no signs of improving, with West Ham enduring a torrid season thus far which leaves the club staring a relegation battle in the face despite an outlay of £130m on new players during the summer.

To date, the noise from the club has been one of patience, in wanting to allow Lopetegui more time to turn the situation around, however the position has now changed over the official stance on summer signing Guido Rodríguez – who wants to exit the club and return to Spain.

Rodriguez is a Lopetegui signing – a player he instructed the club to appoint as he was one he knew well from his time in Spain. Not only that, but he’s player regularly in Lopetegui’s starting 11 since his arrival, despite huge concerns over his suitability to the pace of Premier League football.

The message now from the club that they will allow the player to depart as early as January, paints a very clear picture that Lopetegui is heading towards the exit.

The recent update from Jacob Steinberg on the matter even suggests that the sacking could come as early as next week, with the club spending the international break looking at options – with Edin Terzic appearing to be the favourite at this stage.

Although the official line is that the club still want to see Lopetegui succeed, it’s clear that is more wishful thinking as the reality hits that he was simply the wrong appointment from the outset.