West Ham denies Klopp approach

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has hit out at "nonsense" suggestions that the club had approached departing Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp about replacing Sam Allardyce.

Jurgen Klopp

Jurgen Klopp will leave Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. (Getty) Source: Getty Images

English Premier League clubs were put on alert last week by the news that the highly-rated German will end a seven-year spell as Borussia Dortmund manager this northern summer.

Klopp was immediately installed as favourite to replace the under-fire Manuel Pellegrini at Manchester City, although it would not be the only club looking to bring him in.

Reports emanated on Tuesday that West Ham had seen an audacious approach rebuffed by the Dortmund coach - talk vice-chairman Brady rejected out of hand.

"It is just nonsense," she told Sky Sports News. "Sam is the manager, we have talked to him about sitting down at the end of the season, which we will do.

"We have to see what he wants to do going forwards. That's how these things work.

"What sort of money does he want to invest in players? What positions does he want? Those are the conversation you always have, typically, at the end of the season and we make an arrangement going forwards. That's still our intention."

Few expect Allardyce to still be at the helm next season, with bookmakers making Sunderland a more likely destination than Upton Park.

The 60 year-old's contract expires at the end of the season and Brady insists no decision has yet been made on his future.

"I think we have, as a board, always made it clear that we sit down with Sam at the end of every season," she said.

"We've done that since he has joined us and we've done that when his contract has run out before.

"So nothing has changed in that respect. I think our performances - there has been one or two recent ones that haven't been great - overall have definitely improved.

"The team have done very well, we haven't been able to get the results we wanted but the performances have been good.

"Sam has had a good season, we've had a few recent disappointing results - he would be more disappointed than anyone.

"But, overall, the relationship with Sam is good. He has done what we have asked of him."

West Ham sits 10th in the standings after a bright start to the campaign petered out, with Monday's (AEST) 2-0 loss at Manchester City extending its poor recent run.

The Hammers have won only two league games since the turn of the year, with Brady recently saying Allardyce's side are "underachieving".

"I like him," she added. "I get on very well with him, we have a good relationship.

"He gets on with his job, he comes to me when he needs something.

"He is very collaborative, he has a very clear vision about what he wants to achieve and I have no complaints about working him at all."


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3 min read
Published 21 April 2015 11:59pm
Updated 22 April 2015 12:19am
By Simon Peach
Source: PA Sport

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