West Ham will fear a potential new manager bounce as relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur close on a replacement for Igor Tudor after a U-turn from Roberto De Zerbi.
The Hammers and Spurs are locked in a relegation battle heading into the final seven games of the Premier League season.
Just one point separates West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur – and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side can climb above their rivals with a win over Wolves when the action resumes after the international break.
Tottenham’s woeful form since the turn of the year is in marked contrast to that of West Ham, who have closed a 12-point gap on the north Londoners to a solitary point in that time.
West Ham sweat over new manager bounce at Spurs
Igor Tudor has endured a disastrous spell as interim boss at Tottenham – so it is in West Ham’s interests that the Croatian’s tenure continues.
Now there is about to be a cat set amongst the pigeons in the relegation battle.
Where would West Ham be right NOW if we hadn’t sacked Graham Potter? 🤔
Let's here your views!
And West Ham will be sweating as Spurs are on the brink of appointing a new boss after a Roberto De Zerbi U-turn.
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Tottenham have reportedly agreed Tudor’s exit by ‘mutual consent’ after their 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest over the weekend.
Earlier this month there was concern among Hammers fans as Spurs closed in on free agent De Zerbi.
That turned to relief when the fiery and innovative Italian reportedly told Tottenham he would not consider the job until the summer – on the condition they remained in the Premier League.
However, a renewed push from Spurs for the ex Brighton boss resurrected West Ham’s worries that De Zerbi could come in and spark a revival at a pivotal moment.
It was claimed by Sky Sports News reporter Michael Bridge this week that De Zerbi was considering a new approach from Tottenham which included clauses that he could leave if they were relegated come what May.
Spurs on brink of new boss after fresh De Zerbi snub
In a new twist, though, De Zerbi has once again turned Spurs down – but West Ham’s rivals are banking on a new manager bounce from an alternative it seems.
Leading Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that De Zerbi will not be taking charge of Tottenham’s last seven games and will wait until the summer before finding his next job.
Is this the WORST prediction of the season? 😂
Rob Earnshaw predicts West Ham to get just 3 more points…
But West Ham will have more than one eye on whether Adolf Hutter will get a new manager bounce.
The Telegraph claims Austrian Hutter, formerly manager of Monaco, is expected to sign up to replace Tudor ‘in the coming days’.
Hutter has managed in Austria, Switzerland, Germany and France.
The big worry for West Ham will be Hutter getting any kind of honeymoon period given what is at stake.
West Ham will have to ensure they finish at least one point above Tottenham, Forest or Leeds if they are to survive.
Because all three teams effectively have a one-point advantage over the Hammers due to superior goal differences.
While Tottenham were losing 3-0 at home to Forest, West Ham were comfortably beaten 2-0 at Aston Villa.
A win against Wolves next time out will put the Hammers on 32 points, two above Tottenham, level with Forest and one behind Leeds.
That will pile the pressure on with Spurs facing a tough trip to Sunderland two days later, Forest playing Villa and Leeds away at Man United.
Jamie Carragher has sent West Ham a message of hope for survival.
But it seems increasingly like West Ham will need at least 39 points to have any chance of survival – meaning three wins and a draw, or the equivalent, is needed in the final seven games.
Relegation run-in remaining fixtures: