Hammers News

The stars look to be aligning for Nuno Espirito Santo and West Ham after relegation rivals Leeds United confirmed injuries to six players.

West Ham are still reeling after Leeds United denied them an FA Cup semi-final place and trip to Wembley by beating them on penalties last weekend.

Paul Merson believes Leeds did West Ham a huge survival favour as a result of their victory in east London.

Now it looks like the stars really are aligning for West Ham as Leeds have lost six key players to injury – and three of them for at least the rest of April.

Major West Ham boost as Leeds lose six stars after Spurs blow

While nobody likes to see players get injured, at this stage of the season the news comes as a monumental boost to West Ham’s hopes of Premier League survival – potentially at the expense of Leeds.

It comes hot on the heels of news that former Hammer Mohammed Kudus will miss the rest of the season for Spurs after a serious injury setback.

Sorry Pablo, but this team (if fit) are beating Wolves 👍

Any changes?

West Ham actually face Leeds at the London Stadium again on the final day of the season.

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Many believe that game could well dictate who stays in the Premier League in the four-way battle between the two clubs as well as Spurs and Forest.

If a point is enough to keep both the Hammers and Elland Road outfit safe on the last day, many predict Nuno Espirito Santo and Daniel Farke will be happy to settle for a draw.

West Ham will climb out of the relegation zone with a win over Wolves on Friday night, pushing Tottenham into the bottom three in the process ahead of their trip to Sunderland.

The Hammers will also go one point behind Leeds, who face a tough trip away to rivals Man United on Monday night.

That match has just got even tougher for Leeds too after Farke revealed Anton Stach, Joe Rodon and Daniel James will miss the rest of April.

Key Leeds trio to miss the rest of April and six out for Man United

Meanwhile another Leeds trio – Jaka Bijol, Noah Okafor and Gabriel Gudmundsson – are also doubtful for the trip to Old Trafford.

It means if West Ham take care of business against basement boys Wolves on Friday night, they can feel confident of remaining within a point of Leeds with six games to go.

The Hammers have a score to settle… ⚒️ v 🐺

What do YOU want to see in Friday's six-pointer?

Stach (ankle), Rodon (ankle) and James (adductor) will now miss Premier League games against Wolves and Bournemouth and may be touch and go for Burnley on May 1st.

Leeds face Spurs after that, meaning points are guaranteed to be dropped by at least one of West Ham’s relegation rivals.

So it is imperative the Irons remain in and around Leeds and Tottenham to take full advantage when that fixture rolls around.

The Hammers will want to know they have survival in their own hands going into that final day scenario against the team who cost them a first FA Cup semi-final for 20 years.

But it seems that match may have actually come at more of a cost to Leeds themselves.

The Hammers need to tread carefully, though.

Because West Ham’s media team have risked firing up Wolves with comments made ahead of the crunch survival clash.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

Premier League table ahead of relegation battle:

There may have been a huge twist to the Premier League relegation battle after West Ham were ironically boosted by a fresh setback suffered by Tottenham Hotspur’s Mohammed Kudus.

West Ham could have the last laugh over bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur when it comes to Mohammed Kudus.

The Hammers were taunted by Tottenham when they signed Kudus in a £54.5m deal last summer – but now he could be a big factor in Spurs being relegated.

West Ham and Tottenham are locked in a four-way relegation battle with Leeds and Forest to avoid joining Wolves and Burnley in the Championship.

West Ham boost as Kudus is ruled out for the season after Spurs setback

The Hammers will climb out of the bottom three with a win over Wolves on Friday night, pushing Spurs into the danger zone in the process.

Tottenham then face a difficult trip to Sunderland for Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge.

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

West Ham have mixed feelings about Tottenham appointing De Zerbi, with the hope being the Italian takes time to get the team going.

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There have also been concerns in east London that Kudus will help turn Tottenham’s fortunes around as he makes his way back from a long-term injury.

Kudus had been pencilled in for a potential return at Sunderland having been back in training.

But now there has been an ironic boost for West Ham as Spurs suffer a serious new Kudus blow.

Kudus had hardly been setting the world alight with Tottenham since they goaded the Hammers about taking the Ghanaian winger off their hands.

He was however one of Tottenham’s better performers, highlighted by the fact they haven’t won a game since he suffered his injury.

How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟

It seems Spurs won’t be able to bank on Kudus helping them to survival in the final seven games, though, because he has suffered a setback which could require surgery – ruling him out for the rest of the season and possibly the World Cup too.

The 25-year-old has been out since January with related quad and hamstring injuries.

The Sun claims the new issue is related to Kudus’ quad again and sources suggest he may have to go under the knife.

It is reported that Kudus is ‘gutted’ by the setback as it could impact his chances of helping his club in the Premier League and his country at the World Cup.

Not that he will find much sympathy at his former club West Ham, where he has been christened ‘Judus’ for pushing to join the club’s rivals before declaring ‘he only wanted Spurs’ and has ‘Tottenham in his heart’.

Kudus had scored just three goals in 26 appearances for Tottenham following his move from West Ham.

The Hammers were open to selling the talented winger after a poor second season with the club in which he registered just five goals from 35 appearances.

Whatever one’s stance on Kudus as a player, there is no doubting he can be a match-winner on his day.

West Ham fans know that as well as anyone after a scintillating first season with the club following his £38m move from Ajax.

So his absence can only improve West Ham’s chances of Premier League survival and have the opposite effect on Tottenham.

Pundit Clinton Morrison was adamant when asked if West Ham will stay in the Premier League and it will sound a warning to relegation rivals Spurs and co.

West Ham, bitter foes Tottenham Hotspur, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United are locked in a battle for Premier League survival heading into the last seven games.

The Hammers have the chance to climb out of the bottom three and above Spurs with victory over Wolves on Friday night.

That would pile pressure on new Tottenham boss Roberto De Zerbi from the get-go as he takes charge for the first time away at Sunderland two days later.

Morrison says West Ham have momentum and X-factor for survival

West Ham would also go level on points with Forest, who take on Aston Villa on Sunday, and one point behind Leeds, who have a tough game away at Man United on Monday night.

Victory over Wolves is vital for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as it represents the most winnable game the Hammers have in their final seven.

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

Given Tottenham, Forest and Leeds all have far superior goal differences to West Ham, the Hammers will likely have to ensure they finish at least one point ahead of one of their relegation rivals.

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The goal difference issue is worth a point to the other three teams and could well become a factor given how tight things are looking for the run-in.

Despite their vastly improved form since January 6th, Opta’s Supercomputer still makes West Ham favourites for the drop out of Tottenham, Forest and Leeds.

But that’s not how Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison sees things.

Morrison is adamant about West Ham in a warning for Spurs and their other relegation rivals.

The former Premier League striker was discussing the battle for survival and believes the Hammers will be staying up, possibly at Tottenham’s expense.

Morrison does not buy into claims West Ham have the hardest run-in. He has singled out Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville and Callum Wilson as the key to survival for Nuno’s side.

And he says Spurs were his nailed on pick for relegation until De Zerbi’s appointment given they are yet to win a league game in 2026.

Spurs were Morrison’s nailed on pick until De Zerbi appointment

“I did probably six, seven weeks ago (think West Ham were down), but if you look at all the teams that are in and amongst that bottom, they’re the team that’s got momentum,” Morrison said on Sky Sports News.

“They are the team that you can see are playing together and everyone’s on the same page, and Nuno’s been in this situation before and he’s got the experience, and they’ve got X-factors in their team. We just alluded to it, Summerville. They need Summerville back, though. He was outstanding before he picked up the calf injury. They need him back for Friday (then there is) Jarrod Bowen (too), experience like Callum Wilson in a team who will get you goals.

The Hammers have a score to settle… ⚒️ v 🐺

What do YOU want to see in Friday's six-pointer?

“So they’ve got the experience, and that’s why I look at them and think West Ham have a good chance. And everyone can say the run-in is tough. And it is tough, but the Premier League’s tough, so there’s no easy games in the Premier League anyway. But I think the momentum they’ve got at this moment in time, I do believe West Ham can get out of trouble.”

When pressed on who will drop into the Championship instead, Morrison suggested the appointment of De Zerbi has muddied the water.

“I knew you were going to ask that. I can’t predict that now,” Morrison added.

“Listen, if he (De Zerbi) hadn’t have come in, it would have been Tottenham. I’m being honest. Tottenham have not won a game in 2026. That is bonkers, by the way. It really is.”

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

West Ham can make relegation rivals Spurs crumble despite the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi – that’s according to leading pundit Paul Merson.

Tottenham’s appointment of Roberto De Zerbi has driven almost as much debate in east London as it has the north of the capital.

With one point and one place separating Nuno Espirito Santo’s Hammers and Spurs, West Ham have more than a vested interest in the Italian tactician taking over from the hapless Igor Tudor in the Tottenham hotseat.

Had Tudor continued in the post, the Irons would have felt confident of overhauling Tottenham Hotspur in the battle to stay in the Premier League.

Merson says West Ham can have De Zerbi sinking from the start at Spurs

The arrival of De Zerbi threatens to change that with many feeling his passion and demanding nature will be enough on their own to secure the three wins that are likely needed in the last seven games for Spurs to finish above the Irons.

West Ham’s owners reacted to Spurs appointing De Zerbi, admitting they are left hoping it goes a certain way.

How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟

But Paul Merson says West Ham can still make Spurs crumble despite the De Zerbi factor.

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The Sky Sports pundit believes De Zerbi is a top class manager but points out Tottenham have had several of those in the past.

And he says West Ham could plunge the new Tottenham boss into a situation that is hard to get out of – before his side have even kicked a ball in anger.

“They can’t afford to go down,” Merson said of Spurs on Sky Sports News, which you can see in the post below.

“If they go down, it’s just unthinkable. So you’ve got to take that chance. And whatever the bonus is (a reported £10m to De Zerbi), it’s a cup of tea in football terms if he keeps them up.

“Because if he doesn’t keep them up, everything goes out the window. You know, they’re a business now. You know, they get concerts, they’ve got go-karting, they’ve got American football. You know, you’ve got to throw another four home games on top. Then all of a sudden, you can’t be booking, you know, Robbie Williams to do a concert because you might be in the (Championship) playoffs. It (the difference financially) is huge.

Merson: West Ham win vs Wolves changes everything for Spurs

“This lad is a top, top manager that a lot of clubs would have, they would have him. But they’ve had good managers, they’ve had very good managers – and look where they are, 17th in the league.

“When they play Sunderland (next on Sunday April 12th), the worst thing that could ever happen to them is if West Ham beat Wolves (on Friday April 10th).

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

“Because when they drop into that bottom three, it’s a different game, a very different game then.

“And then the pressure is severely, severely on them.”

Merson is spot on, the Hammers will climb out of the bottom three for at least 48 hours for the first time since November if they beat Wolves in that must-win clash at the London Stadium a week on Friday.

That will pile even more pressure on Spurs and De Zerbi – who many feel may take too long to get the team playing how he wants.

Sunderland is not the easiest place to go at the best of times, let alone with the season they are enjoying.

West Ham would be getting their heads above water at just the right time – while forcing Spurs under at the worst possible moment.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

How should West Ham United feel about the impending appointment of Roberto de Zerbi at Premier League relegation rivals Tottenham Hotspur?

Well, on the downside, things surely can’t get any worse for Spurs.

Then again, as Igor Tudor’s seven-game, post-Thomas Frank reign showed, sometimes the floor of ‘rock bottom’ can give way; Tottenham slipping into the sewers beneath.

In De Zerbi, Tottenham are hiring an ex-Brighton coach who took the Seagulls to a best-ever, sixth-place Premier League finish in 2022/23. As a spokesman for the West Ham United board told Hammers News, ‘let’s hope [De Zerbi] needs time’ to get his methods across.

How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟

Time is certainly something Tottenham don’t have a lot of. The Italian has agreed a five-year deal, per Sky Sports, but his spell could conceivably end after just seven games if he fails to arrest the slide.

The positive, from a West Ham perspective, is that De Zerbi hardly came flying out of the blocks at Brighton.

West Ham United will hope Tottenham don’t start well under Roberto de Zerbi

Replacing Graham Potter after he was headhunted to lead Chelsea’s Clearlake project in late-2022, it took De Zerbi five games to record a Premier League victory.

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An enthralling 3-3 draw with Liverpool on his debut was a sign of the excitement to come, admittedly. But it was followed up immediately by 1-0 and 2-0 defeats by Spurs and Brentford, then a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest, and eventually a 3-1 loss at Manchester City.

West Ham have picked up 12 points more than Tottenham since Callum Wilson netted the winner in North London two months ago. If De Zerbi makes the same start at Spurs as he did at Brighton, the reigning Europa League winners will go into matchday 36 with only 32 points to their name.

As Joe Cole pointed out last week on the Dressing Room podcast, West Ham will knock Tottenham into the bottom three if they beat Wolves in their matchday 32 curtain-raiser at home to Wolves next week.

There is a very real chance, then, that De Zerbi will start life in the Spurs dugout in a worse position than either Frank or Tudor. For all their many, many faults, Tottenham are yet to slip into the relegation zone this season.

“If I am being honest, the first couple of weeks were horrendous,” Brighton captain Lewis Dunk said in a 2023 interview with The Telegraph, reflecting on that difficult start under De Zerbi.

“[The changes he made] were baffling. The first meeting when he went in, I was so confused; who to look at, what to listen to. [But] you slowly pick up.

“Training changed dramatically. We worked on a lot of different stuff and the first couple of weeks were a really hard transition. It was a carnage two weeks.”

Where would West Ham be right NOW if we hadn’t sacked Graham Potter? 🤔

Let's here your views!

Marseille impact offers hope for 17th-place Spurs

From another perspective, De Zerbi’s principles were clear to see from the very start. That 3-3 draw with Liverpool offered a tantalising glimpse into the high-pressing, rotational football with which Brighton would secure Europa League qualification a few months down the line.

If a slow start, points-wise, at Brighton gives West Ham hope of avoiding the drop at Tottenham’s expense, a more recent, more explosive start at Marseille may set claret and blue nerves jangling.

L’OM finished a lowly eighth in 2023/24. But, with De Zerbi at the helm, they picked up 12 of the first 15 points available en route to a second-place finish.

The fate of Tottenham, and West Ham for that matter, may depend on which version of De Zerbi they get.

With a personality as spiky as his VO5-styled hair and patience thinner than Tomas Repka’s, De Zerbi seems as likely to light the fuse at Spurs as he is to chuck the dynamite at the dressing room wall in a fit of rage and blow everything up.

West Ham United’s relegation rivals from North London have a new head coach; Roberto de Zerbi officially appointed as Igor Tudor’s replacement at Tottenham Hotspur.

And if you are wondering how Spurs managed to convince such a highly-regarded manager to take over a team hovering nervously above the relegation zone with only seven games remaining, well, we can offer you 12 million reasons as to why.

It is claimed that Tottenham agreed a £60 million package with Roberto de Zerbi.

How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟

The former Brighton and Hove Albion boss was initially reluctant to take over a club in such a desperate state – ex-West Ham United assistant Edin Terzic had reservations about the Spurs job for similar reasons – but a mammoth, £12 million-a-year, five-season contract was enough to assuage those concerns.

The Mail now reveal that there is no relegation clause in De Zerbi’s deal.

As West Ham know all too well, following the Avram Grant-led relegation of 2010/11, a failure or a refusal to prepare for the drop can have sizeable financial results.

West Ham United’s relegation rivals Tottenham bet the farm on Roberto de Zerbi

Avram Grant’s West Ham finished rock-bottom in 2011. According to The Guardian at the time, his refusal to walk away before their relegation was confirmed eventually saw Davids Gold and Sullivan hit with a pay-off bill totalling £3.5 million.

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Three-and-a-half million for finishing bottom of the Premier League. Nice work if you can get it.

Club legend Tony Cottee felt West Ham paid the price for not sacking Grant far sooner, when survival was still possible. There were presumably big financial reasons why the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss remained in situ until the final day, departing literally moments after the final whistle.

The absence of a relegation clause in Roberto de Zerbi’s Tottenham contract, then, leaves Spurs in danger of having to fork out an eye-watering pay-off themselves if the Italian cannot arrest an alarming slide. A £12 million manager hired on a five-year deal; Daniel Levy would be quaking at the prospect of having to buy out the remainder of such a contract.

De Zerbi’s Tottenham reign could be over after two months

Speaking to the official Tottenham website, De Zerbi insisted that he arrives with a ‘long-term’ vision in mind. Such promises, in football, are so frequently only paper-thin.

If Spurs do go down – West Ham have accumulated 12 more points than them since Callum Wilson’s winner on January 17th – it would be very hard to imagine a coach as ambitious and highly-regarded as De Zerbi spending a Friday night in a Preston branch of Premier Inn.

It is also hard to imagine Tottenham retaining £15 million-a-year manager in the Championship.

As BBC Sport point out, their revenue could fall by a staggering £250 million in the second-tier. Add in a potential De Zerbi pay-off – he immediately becomes one of the best-paid managers in the whole of the Premier League – and Tottenham’s prospective annual losses could take a sharp turn towards the £300 million mark.

Whatever happens, Roberto de Zerbi is set to become an extremely wealthy man.

Tottenham Hotspur look set to add a new dimension to the Premier League relegation battle by appointing Roberto De Zerbi – and now West Ham’s owners have delivered their reaction.

West Ham are just a point and a place below bitter rivals Tottenham in the fight for Premier League survival.

With seven games to go, every big decision matters with the Hammers and Spurs battling one another – as well as Leeds and Forest – for survival.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham side have been transformed since the turn of the year, closing a 12-point gap on Spurs to just one.

West Ham owners ‘hopeful’ but clearly concerned about Spurs appointing De Zerbi

And the Hammers will climb out of the bottom three, and push Tottenham into it, if they beat Wolves at home a week on Friday.

There is no love lost between West Ham and Spurs at the best of times – but the stakes have never been higher than they are right now.

How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟

That’s why there is so much interest at the London Stadium when it comes to Tottenham appointing Roberto De Zerbi to replace the hapless Igor Tudor for the run-in.

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Now West Ham’s owners have reacted to relegation rivals Spurs appointing De Zerbi – admitting they are ‘hopeful’ it goes a certain way.

De Zerbi’s appointment has divided opinion across the board and even among Hammers fans.

Some feel the combustible, strong-willed and fiery Italian could be akin to pouring more fuel on the Spurs flames in north London, which would obviously be good news for the Irons.

Others believe those characteristics – and his demanding nature – will spark a response that could keep Tottenham up – very possibly at West Ham’s expense.

Given the two old rivals are in a direct battle to avoid demotion to the Championship, Hammers News put it to West Ham’s board whether they were worried by Spurs hiring De Zerbi.

The top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News that they can only hope it goes one of two ways for Tottenham.

West Ham owners: Let’s hope De Zerbi needs time at Spurs

“Some managers hit the ground running,” the most senior spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.

“Others do need time, though.

“Let’s HOPE he (De Zerbi) needs time!”

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

It’s clear to see West Ham’s board have concerns about the potential uplift the appointment will have for Tottenham.

Whether De Zerbi can make an instant impact in a relegation scenario has been at the heart of most debates.

That’s why a club president’s claim on new Spurs boss De Zerbi raises concern for West Ham with the last man to employ the ex Brighton boss lavishing him with praise.

Another worrying factor for West Ham is the fact De Zerbi will get a whopping £10m bonus if he keeps Tottenham up.

Both clubs have difficult fixtures in their last seven, with West Ham’s a touch tougher than Tottenham’s – on paper at least.

De Zerbi is in line to be in charge for the trip to Sunderland after the international break and he will be starting life in the Tottenham hotseat in the relegation zone if West Ham do the business against Wolves two days before.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

If West Ham are not concerned about relegation rivals Spurs appointing Roberto De Zerbi, then they should be.

That’s if comments from the last man to employ him are anything to go by.

West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur are locked in a fight for Premier League survival heading into the last seven games of the season.

One point separates the Hammers and Spurs and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side know victory over Wolves next Friday night will see them climb out of the drop zone, dumping their rivals into it at the same time.

President’s claim about De Zerbi impact raises concern for West Ham

Given his dismal record, it was in West Ham’s interests that Igor Tudor continued as Tottenham manager for the run-in.

After his departure, the Hammers will clearly have more than one eye on his replacement, which is now expected to be fiery tactician Roberto De Zerbi.

How worried should we be about De Zerbi joining Tottenham? 😟

The appointment has divided opinion, even among Hammers fans with some feeling the combustible Italian could prove to be a flop, therefore helping their bid for survival.

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Another train of thought at West Ham is that De Zerbi will get Tottenham working hard and capable of picking up the wins needed to stay in the Premier League at their expense.

So a club president’s claim on new Spurs boss De Zerbi will raise serious concern for West Ham.

Marseille chief Pablo Longoria was the last man to employ De Zerbi until his departure by mutual consent earlier this season.

What Longoria said about De Zerbi will be gravely concerning for the Hammers and music to the ears of Spurs.

Because he says De Zerbi made an immediate and astonishing impact at his club.

New Spurs boss De Zerbi made immediate and unprecedented impact says last man to employ him

“In the summer I congratulated him, because I’ve never seen a club and a team completely change on the pitch in so little time,” Longoria said.

Somewhat ironically, De Zerbi was on West Ham’s shortlist to replace David Moyes.

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

But he ended up joining Marseille instead for a tumultuous spell in charge.

Those comments will understandably ring alarm bells in the West Ham boardroom given Spurs were the team they had pinned their hopes on finishing above.

There will also be worries over the whopping £10m bonus De Zerbi will receive to keep Spurs up.

Obviously every club and their circumstances are different, so looking at De Zerbi’s record in his first seven games at previous clubs has limited value.

It does however give an idea of the type of impact he makes.

Much has been made of the fact he struggled initially for results at Brighton, with Lewis Dunk admitting the first few weeks were ‘carnage’.

But what of De Zerbi’s record in his first seven games of his last job?

Those statistics also don’t make great reading for the Hammers – and very much the opposite for Tottenham, who will be comfortably safe if he pulls off a repeat.

Because De Zerbi won four, drew two and lost just one of his first seven games as Marseille manager.

Do the same at Tottenham and they will end up on 44 points.

West Ham will clearly focus on what they can control – which is beating Wolves at home next time out in the Premier League.

Do that and De Zerbi will feel the pressure instantly with Spurs in the bottom three ahead of a difficult-looking trip to Sunderland two days later.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

West Ham have suffered a potentially huge blow in the battle for survival as rivals Spurs close in on a £70m deal to land Roberto De Zerbi with a record clause.

Staying in the Premier League may about to become a lot more difficult for West Ham after major developments at Tottenham Hotspur overnight.

The Hammers and their bitter rivals Tottenham are separated by just one point heading into the final seven games of the relegation run-in.

So West Ham have more than a passing interest in Tottenham’s managerial situation after the departure of the hapless Igor Tudor.

West Ham blow as Spurs hand De Zerbi a huge survival bonus

Spurs’ on-off move for fiery and enigmatic coach Roberto De Zerbi looked dead in the water last week when the Italian snubbed the north Londoners, making Adolf Hutter the favourite.

But there has been a big blow for West Ham as Spurs are now closing in on a staggering £70m deal to land De Zerbi and it contains a record clause which will worry the Hammers.

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

Tottenham have been trying to convince De Zerbi to take the job for the last seven games but the former Brighton boss has been reluctant, wishing to wait to see if the club stays in the Premier League.

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De Zerbi was actually on West Ham’s shortlist to replace David Moyes but ended up joining Marseille instead.

A passionate presence on the touchline and tactically innovative, Spurs landing De Zerbi would legitimately worry anyone connected with West Ham.

Any new manager bounce could condemn the Hammers to the Championship.

It gets worse for West Ham too.

Because widespread reports, including from respected sources in Italy such as Gianluca Di Marzio, claim De Zerbi is on the brink of agreeing to join Tottenham after being offered a record £10m survival bonus.

Tottenham’s £10m survival carrot is bad news for West Ham

That is on top of a whopping £12m annual salary on a five-year contract – making his move to Spurs worth £70m, according to the likes of Goal.

Ten million English pounds is some carrot to dangle to keep Tottenham up.

Is this the WORST prediction of the season? 😂

Rob Earnshaw predicts West Ham to get just 3 more points…

So West Ham will – and should – be concerned.

Should, as is expected, De Zerbi accept the offer then he will be the highest paid manager around bar Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta.

West Ham can actually dump Spurs into the bottom three if they beat Wolves at the London Stadium after the international break.

So De Zerbi could take charge of Tottenham for a difficult trip to Sunderland with the club in the relegation zone.

While West Ham have been on an upward curve and have been showing plenty of fight, Tottenham’s biggest problem has been a lack of it.

De Zerbi does not accept anything less than 100 per cent effort from his players and is known to be ruthless.

West Ham can expect to be taking on a rejuvenated Spurs in the last seven games on that basis alone.

Danny Murphy believes Tottenham are at a big disadvantage to West Ham in the relegation battle.

But he did state a change of manager for Spurs could be the key to them staying up.

Leeds and Nottingham Forest are not out of it by any means so it is still a four-way fight for now.

The Hammers just need to make sure they don’t rely on Tottenham being as bad as they have been this year because things could be about to change.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures:

Danny Murphy has predicted the outcome of the Premier League relegation battle and named the major disadvantage facing Spurs in the fight with West Ham.

Just one point is separating West Ham and bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur going into the final seven games of the Premier League relegation run-in.

The fight for survival has been between the Hammers, Spurs, Nottingham Forest and Leeds of late.

But after defeats to Aston Villa and Forest respectively last time out, many believe it may now be a straight shootout between West Ham and Tottenham to avoid dropping into the Championship.

Murphy: West Ham’s togetherness will keep them up over Spurs

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will climb above Tottenham Hotspur with a win over Wolves when the action resumes after the international break.

That would mark some turnaround which highlights the big difference between the Irons and their rivals from north London.

This team stays up ahead of Spurs 😎

Only debate is Dinos or Todibo….

While West Ham have been on the up with just three defeats from their last 13 games, Tottenham have fallen off a cliff and are yet to win a domestic game this year.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

That has seen Nuno’s Hammers close a 12-point gap on Tottenham to a solitary point with seven games to go.

While Spurs potentially being relegated for the first time in half a century has been making all the headlines, most feel the north Londoners will find the wins needed to survive.

But Danny Murphy has named the major disadvantage facing Tottenham in the relegation fight with West Ham.

Murphy has stated he feels Spurs will be the ones to drop, highlighting the fact West Ham and Forest have togetherness, organisation and ‘a bit about them’ whereas ‘capitulating’ Tottenham simply do not.

“They (Tottenham) look all over the place,” Murphy said on talkSPORT.

“They showed a bit of resilience second half of Liverpool. Other than that, the games I’ve seen have been pretty woeful. And they don’t look together…

‘Capitulating’ Tottenham destined for drop over West Ham says Murphy

“When you’re fighting down on the bottom, the one thing you’ve got to have is a resilience and togetherness and a desire to defend. The really worrying thing (against Forest) was the capitulation. The energy didn’t go the other way, which it should do when you’re 1-0 down in terms of your reaction. They shrunk. They shrunk and it looked, there was a bit of fear in them, which is understandable because they’ve struggled at home so badly. And the expectation of the crowd is there, the disgruntlement’s there and it takes a strong mindset to play through that.

“Defensively, you have to be clued up, switched on, do the basics right. And they don’t. They don’t. And that’s the coach’s fault..

Is this the WORST prediction of the season? 😂

Rob Earnshaw predicts West Ham to get just 3 more points…

“I don’t know, I’ve got a feeling no (Spurs won’t stay up) at the minute…

“When I watch Forest second half against Tottenham, they didn’t half have a good shape without the ball. Really good shape.

“West Ham now under Nuno. They’ve got a good shape, good platform. I know Villa beat them. Villa are a good side. You know, you can go to Villa when you’re playing well, never mind when you’re (down the bottom) and get beat.

“But that was only West Ham’s second defeat in seven. So they’ve got a bit about them. They’re having a go. And the reason I think Tottenham, if they keep the manager, will go is because I don’t see anybody who’s just about to get fit or sitting on the bench waiting in the wings who’s got the capability of grabbing a game and calming everybody down and getting them playing…

“I’ve looked at all the teams’ fixtures down there and I think they (Tottenham) are struggling.”

Murphy was keen to stress a change of coach from Igor Tudor could give Spurs the spark to turn it around.

Adolf Hutter looks set to become Tottenham boss, according to reports this week after Roberto De Zerbi turned them down.

West Ham will have more than one eye on who is appointed with fears a new manager bounce could condemn them to the Championship.

Relegation run-in remaining fixtures: