- West Ham sit one point behind Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table
- Roberto De Zerbi has just been appointed Spurs manager
- Carlton Cole thinks this is bad news for the Hammers
West Ham United sit just a point from safety in their fight to stay in the Premier League. After spending much of 2026 chasing down Nottingham Forest, it is Tottenham Hotspur who sit above the Hammers in 17th.
Spurs, who have now sacked two managers this season in Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor, have just appointed their third coach of the campaign. Roberto De Zerbi, who initially turned the club down, has now joined the North London side on a long-term deal.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion boss has never managed in a relegation fight, something former West Ham captain, Kevin Nolan, says plays into the Hammers hands.
Unfortunately, Nolan’s comments are not echoed by another former Iron.
Carlton Cole says De Zerbi appointed is bad news for West Ham
Carlton Cole, who scored 63 goals for West Ham, believes De Zerbi’s arrival at Spurs only spells bad news for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men.
Speaking via talkSPORT, the 42-year-old stated that he thinks he could be the nail in the coffin on the Hammers survival fight.
“De Zerbi deserves his chance at a team like Spurs, It’s the right time for Spurs to have a manager like that
“I’m actually disappointed that Igor [Tudor] is going because I thought we’d have a great chance of making sure that you go down… It’s a great signing.”
Cole believes that the De Zerbi appointment takes Tottenham out of the relegation race and that West Ham must now catch another team. Nottingham Forest are that team, a further two points above Spurs and three above the Hammers.
“My heart is for Spurs to go down,” he added. “I think my head is saying Nottingham Forest.”
West Ham take on Leeds United in the FA Cup this Sunday, before returning to Premier League action in the following week.
The Hammers will host Wolverhampton Wanderers whilst Spurs head to Sunderland.
