Sergej Jakirovic, head coach of Hull City, has replied to reports in Croatia that he could join Premier League strugglers West Ham United if Nuno Espírito Santo leaves.

The Bosnian’s comments on the situation were shared in a recent in-depth interview with Croatian publication Sportske Novosti, as the Tigers prepare for their FA Cup third round clash against fellow Championship side Blackburn Rovers at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The 49-year-old Bosnian has led the East Yorkshire side to a remarkable turnaround this season, with City owner Acun Ilicali awarding Jakirovic a two-year contract in June, just weeks after the Turkish media mogul decided to part ways with Ruben Selles following a last-day survival escape in 2024/25.

As has become the standard during Ilicali’s four-year time in the boardroom, which will end later this month, Jakirovic experienced turbulence in HU3 just weeks after his move was confirmed.

The English Football League (EFL) imposed a transfer fee embargo on the Tigers in early July due to previously delayed payments to other clubs.

As a result, the guy who had previously worked under even stricter constraints during a brief stay with Turkish Super Lig team Kayserispor last season was limited to completing free transfers and loan transactions with no additional payments required.

However, such adversity has only strengthened the bond between the head coach, his players, and the MKM fans, with some in the terraces dreaming of a surprise return to the Premier League for the first time since May 2017.

Hull are currently only outside the Championship play-off places on goal difference, since their crucial match against Watford last Sunday was postponed only 18 minutes before the scheduled 3PM kick-off due to player safety concerns.

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

Sergej Jakirovic responds to Hull City and West Ham United’s management conversation

The Hammers have had a miserable Premier League season thus far, with a 2-1 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night leaving them with only 14 points after 21 games.

West Ham began the season under former Chelsea manager Graham Potter, but he lasted only a few weeks into his first full season in charge before being replaced by Nuno, who was given a three-year contract in September, shortly after leaving the City Ground in rather controversial circumstances.

Despite previously worked wonders with Forest, the Portuguese has won only two of his first 16 games in charge, with recent defeats to Forest and the division’s worst team, Wolverhampton Wanderers, proving especially damaging.

Regardless of those setbacks, it has been stated that the 51-year-old will be supported by the Irons’ board, while rumors in Croatia say that if he departs, Jakirovic might take his place.

In response to such rumours, the confident Bosnian indicated that this may be the result of his short-term job at the MKM, on which he stays completely focused.

“I’ve obviously done a good job here when I’m mentioned in the context of a big English club like West Ham,” Jakirovic told reporters.

“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 told me.

Hull City will hope Sergej Jakirovic is committed in the long haul, following prior managerial change.

Tigers supporters will be relieved to know that Jakirovic’s head has not been turned, as they expect he will remain committed to his current project for the foreseeable future.

Hull has had a number of managers and head coaches come and go throughout Ilicali’s tenure as owner, a trend that has been widely regarded as unsustainable.

That featured the dismissal of Liam Rosenior in May 2024, with the former Hull full-back and head coach taking over as Chelsea manager following an outstanding spell in Ligue 1 with RC Strasbourg.

At the moment, however, there is still a potential that Hull and West Ham may be in different divisions next season, with City continuing to defy expectations, behind only Middlesbrough by five points.