Jamie Carragher believes it is “sad” Everton’s plight has seen them fall behind West Ham.
Both the Toffees and the Hammers are being linked with a move for former Brighton and Chelsea manager Graham Potter.
Standard Sport understands Potter is considering an offer from West Ham to replace Julen Lopetegui, who is on the cusp of being sacked.
The Spaniard has struggled to convince since replacing David Moyes at the start of the season, with Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester City increasingly looking like his final game in charge.
Potter has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April 2023 and recently confirmed his role as a course co-director for the certificate in Football Psychology, Emotional Intelligence and Leadership with the PFA.
Everton, who recently confirmed their takeover by The Friedkin Group, have also been credited with an interest in the 49-year-old.
Sean Dyche has kept the Merseyside club in the Premier League since joining in January 2023 but is under pressure this season, having won only three times in their opening 19 games.
“In my head, I think Everton are a bigger club than West Ham,” he told Sky Sports.
“That’s maybe me going back to my childhood and watching Everton win trophies and West Ham not really winning too much.
“But Everton have been so poor for the last ten years. West Ham have won a European trophy, they’re in London, they’ve got the Olympic Stadium. Everton have got the stadium coming.
“I do think that is more of a 50/50 decision. Maybe right now, you’d probably veer more towards West Ham because they’re probably guaranteed to stay in the Premier League next season.
“So I think he’d probably go for West Ham.”
He added: “It’s probably sad really that I’m saying that’s a 50/50 decision because in my mind, Everton are a much bigger club than West Ham.”
Jamie Carragher has claimed that Graham Potter is more likely to choose West Ham United over Everton for his next managerial role.
The former Chelsea and Brighton manager has been out of action since being sacked by the London club in 2023 after spending just seven months at the helm.
Having bided his time away from the limelight, he has been linked with a move to the London Stadium in recent days following the rumours that Julen Lopategui is on borrowed time after winning just six games in the league this season.
The same can be said for Sean Dyche who has been heavily criticised for his side’s form and lack of attacking and creative quality. Everton have netted just 15 goals – which is the league’s second-lowest – while they’ve managed just three wins in 19 games which has cast serious doubt over his future.
Given the recent takeover by the Friedkin Group, coupled with the fact that Dyche’s deal is set to expire at the end of the season, it means we could see a new manager in charge of the club in the near future – and Potter could be one potential option.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher was quizzed over which club Potter would be more likely to choose if both Everton and West Ham offered him the manager role.
“In my head, Everton are a bigger club than West Ham and maybe that’s just me going back to my childhood watching Everton win trophies and West Ham not really winning too much.
“Everton have been so poor for the past 10 years, West Ham have won a European trophy, they’re in London they have the Olympic Stadium, Everton have got the stadium coming.
Potter made an appearance on the same programme on September 30 last year, where he was quizzed over his managerial future, to which he gave a non-committal answer about his next job preference.
“I’m open to anything, I had 12 years and a fantastic journey from the fourth-tier of Swedish football to the last eight of the Champions League, and I’d really like to spend the next 12 years in the same sort of position developing players, teams and trying to make a difference, wherever that is.”
