Danny Dyer urges West Ham’s Julen Lopetegui to build team around Jarrod Bowen

Danny Dyer has recorded a welcome voicenote for incoming West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui as part of Sky Sport’s ‘messages of hope’ for all 92 EFL clubs ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season.

The actor is a diehard Hammers fan and a regular attendee at the London Stadium, and Dyer’s interest in the club has only ramped up in the wake of the relationship between Dyer’s daughter Dani and West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen.

As such, Dyer is no doubt looking forward to the beginning of the Lopetegui era with the start of the new season, after David Moyes called time on his second stint at the east London club.

Lopetegui joined the club in May following the departure of Moyes and has since embarked on an efficient spending spree during the summer transfer window.

But Dyer was keen to let the new head coach in on the heady expectations of the fans via Sky Sport’s campaign, telling ‘Jules’ that he was looking for his team’s players to ‘die for their shirt’.

‘This is a message for West Ham’s new gaffer,’ Dyer said in the clip, which showed the former Eastenders star sipping tea as he recorded the pep talk. ‘Can I call you Jules?

‘You’re the manager now, of my one true love. I love West Ham more than me kids, and I just wanted to congratulate ya.

‘You are about to embark on an incredible journey with the West Ham family. We’re the most powerful, passionate fans that the world has ever seen.

‘We’re European champions. We want exciting football. No fear. I want every player to die for the shirt.’

Keen to mention his son-in-law to-be, Dyer said that Lopetegui had been ‘blessed with’ Bowen in his squad.

‘What a player,’ Dyer continued. ‘What a man. The team needs to be built around him.

‘I love you Jules. Don’t let me down. God bless ya.’

Dyer and his fellow West Ham fans will be feeling the excitement building ahead of their first Premier League clash against Aston Villa on the opening weekend of their campaign, due to the arrival of a number of eyecatching signings.

The east London side have added former Leeds winner Crysencio Summerville to their ranks alongside Wolves defender Max Kilman and Borussia Dortmund striker Niclas Fullkrug.

Dyer is joined in Sky Sports’ campaign by fellow celebrity fans including Stockport County fan and darts star Nathan Aspinall, and comedian Josh Widdicome, who has high hopes for Plymouth Argyle following the appointment of Wayne Rooney as head coach.

The ‘message of hope’ campaign comes on the heels of research conducted by the broadcaster which found that 65 percent of fans felt hopeful for their club’s chances across the divisions ahead of the season’s start.

Fans of Manchester City (89 percent) and (85 percent) were the most hopeful of those clubs in the Premier League, with Southampton fans least optimistic on their post-promotion chances, with just 35 percent of fans feeling positive.