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Eddie Howe has emerged as a serious contender for the West Ham job.

Bournemouth boss Howe, currently challenging for automatic promotion to the Premier League, is highly regarded at Upton Park, where the Irons are considering their options.

Current West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is out of contract at the end of the season and has yet to even open talks over a new deal.

Sunderland, however, have him as their no.1 choice to take over in the summer from interim boss Dick Advocaat, appointed this week following the sacking of Gus Poyet.

West Ham have been keen on David Moyes for some time, but the former Manchester United boss - taken on by Real Sociedad last autumn - has indicated he is ready to stay on at the Spanish side next season if he gets backing in the transfer market this summer.

If that remains the case, the Hammers could turn to Howe, who has done an outstanding job at Dean Court.

Should he secure promotion from the Championship, the 37-year-old will have taken Bournemouth from the bottom four of the Football League in 2008 to the promised land of the Premier League.

Forward-thinking Howe has shown himself able to assert his authority and impressed his staff and players with his training methods.

His contract at the club runs until the summer of 2018 and Howe has always had the full backing of owner Maxim Demin.

It remains to be seen, however, whether he would be willing to move on, having steered the club into the money-spinning riches of the top flight.

Allardyce meanwhile has insisted he wants to stay on at Upton Park.

He said: “I understand why the speculation is there. Of course I do. Everyone knows my contract expires at the end of June and, as yet, nothing further has been decided.

“I would stress that, providing everyone is happy, I would like to stay at West Ham.

"They are a great club, moving in the right direction and a lot is now in place for sustained improvement.

“I suppose, if a new contract has been signed and sealed, my name wouldn’t have been mentioned in connection with any other club or job.

“While the owners and I have always been comfortable with waiting until the end of the season, the downside has always been that it fuels speculation - 'Are they going to give him one? Are they going to get rid of him? Does somebody else want him because he is out of contract so there is no compensation?'

“Finding a new manager revolves around the whole package — how good is the manager, what are the financial implications and what is the compensation?”