TBR Football understands that Julen Lopetegui is set to be confirmed as West Ham United manager after the club announced David Moyes will leave at the end of the season.

TBR exclusively revealed earlier this month that Lopetegui was set to take charge at the London Stadium, but the deal could not be concluded until Moyes’s departure was confirmed.

West Ham made the announcement after a 5-0 hammering at rivals Chelsea, with Sullivan paying tribute to Moyes – whose contract was due to expire at the end of the season.

Now majority owner David Sullivan told the club’s website: “On behalf of everyone at West Ham United, I would like to offer our sincere thanks and gratitude to David for the contribution he has made to the Football Club during his time as manager.

“David has been responsible for a period of great progress and success in our history, and we are extremely grateful for all of his hard work, commitment and dedication to the role.

“David has been an absolute professional to work with and he will leave with our greatest respect and good wishes – he deserves to be held in the highest esteem for the service he has given to West Ham United, and we wish him every success in the future.

“By making this announcement now, it allows David to get the send-off he deserves from the West Ham supporters and for us all to show our appreciation to him at our final home fixture of the season against Luton Town on Saturday.”

David Sullivan made decision on Julen Lopetegui last month

West Ham have claimed that the search for a new boss has now begun, but TBR can reveal that Sullivan has already finalised the details of Moyes’s successor.

TBR understands that a host of names were put to Sullivan and the club’s hierarchy including technical director Tim Steidten had put together a list of options that included the likes of Lille’s Paulo Fonseca, Fulham’s Marco Silva and Wolves’ Gary O’Neil – whilst there was also the high-profile pursuit of Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim.

Steidten also pushed the claims of German duo Hansi Flick and Thomas Tuchel, but TBR has been told by well placed sources that Sullivan was the one who made the final choice and he opted for Lopetegui.

TBR can confirm that after a personal meeting between Sullivan and Lopetegui last month, the decision was made at that point by the Hammers chairman to bring in the former Real Madrid and Wolves boss.

Terms were never a problem, but West Ham had been concerned by interest from the likes of Bayern Munich and AC Milan, so they had pushed in recent deals to finalise terms – which TBR understands they now have.

Sullivan wanted his new man in place before confirming Moyes’s exit and that has now come to pass.

On his exit Moyes added: “I have really enjoyed working with everyone at West Ham, and I would like to thank the Board for giving me the opportunity to manage this great Club.

“I wish my eventual successor, the Directors, the players, the staff, the fans, and everybody at West Ham, all the very best for the future.”