Sergej Jakirovic to replace Nuno at West Ham? Hull City boss drops update on situation | OneFootball

The Tigers boss has issued an update on reports linking him to the East London strugglers

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has responded to claims in Croatia linking him with a potential switch to Premier League strugglers, West Ham United, should the East London outfit part ways with Nuno Espírito Santo.

The Bosnian's thoughts on said predicament come through a recent in-depth interview with Croatian outlet, Sportske Novosti, with the Tigers preparing for their upcoming FA Cup third round tie against fellow Championship side, Blackburn Rovers, at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

It has been a remarkable turnaround under the 49-year-old Bosnian for the East Yorkshire side this term, with Jakirovic initially handed a two-year contract by City owner, Acun Ilicali, in June, just weeks after the Turkish media mogul made the decision to part ways with Ruben Selles after a last-day survival escape in 2024/25.

As has become the norm throughout Ilicali's tenure in the boardroom, which will reach the four-yeark mark later in the month, Jakirovic initially saw drama ensue in HU3 just weeks after his move was confirmed.

Indeed, the Tigers were placed under a transfer fee restriction from the English Football League (EFL) in early July as a result of previously delayed payments to other clubs

As such, the man who had previously worked under even tighter restrictions during a short stint with Turkish Super Lig side, Kayserispor, last season, was restricted to only completed free transfers and loan deals in which no added payments were required.

However, such adversity has only fostered a strong unity between the head coach, his players and the supporters at the MKM, with those in the stands starting to dream of a potentially unexpected return to the Premier League for the first time since May 2017.

At present, Hull are only outside the Championship play-off places on goal difference, due to the fact their critical encounter against Watford last Sunday was postponed just 18 minutes prior to the scheduled 3PM kick-off as a result of player safety concerns.

Although Jakirovic began the season as a relative unknown despite managerial success in both Bosnia and Croatia, which included a league and cup-winning season at Dinamo Zagreb, he has now emerged as one of the potential managers of the season, with reports in the Balkans suggesting he could be on his way to the London Stadium, as West Ham are currently under threat of returning to the EFL for the first time in 14 years.

Sergej Jakirovic responds to Hull City, West Ham United managerial talk

The Hammers have endured a dismal season in the Premier League thus far, with a 2-1 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night leaving them on just 14 points after 21 matches played.

West Ham began the season with former Chelsea boss, Graham Potter, at the helm, although he would last just a matter of weeks into his first full season in charge, eventually being replaced by Nuno, who was handed a three-year contract in September, shortly after he exited the City Ground in rather controversial circumstances.

Despite previously working wonders with Forest, the Portuguese has won just two of his first 16 games in charge, with their recent defeats to Forest and the division's bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, proving to be particularly damning.

Regardless of those defeats, it has been claimed that the 51-year-old will be backed by the Irons' board, although reports in Croatia suggest that, if he is to depart, Jakirovic could be the man to take up the post.

Responding to such rumours, the confident Bosnian stated that this could a result of his short-term work at the MKM, which he still remains fully focused on.

"I've obviously done a good job here when I'm mentioned in the context of a big English club like West Ham," said Jakirovic.

"That interest and stories like that are always flattering, but I'm fully focused on every next Hull City game, and no one knows what will happen in the future," he explained.

It will be reassuring to Tigers supporters that Jakirovic's head has not been turned, as they will hope he remains commited to his current project for some time.

Hull have seen plenty of managers and head coaches come and go in Ilicali's spell as owner, a theme which has largely been dubbed as unsustainable.

That included the sacking of Liam Rosenior in May 2024, with the former Hull full-back and head coach now taking over as Chelsea boss after an impressive stint in Ligue 1 with RC Strasbourg.

At present, though, there is still a chance that Hull and West Ham could be a division apart next season, with City continuing to prove the doubters wrong, as they are just five points behind second-place Middlesbrough.