Manuel Pellegrini might be in charge when West Ham United welcome a struggling Spurs side to London Stadium this weekend, but a run of six league games without a win has now put his place at the club under the radar.
An exclusive from The Mirror claims that the bosses at West Ham are losing patience and are lining up Rafa Benitez as a replacement for Pellegrini if the Chilean fails to arrest the slump.
The former Newcastle United manager is a long-term target for West Ham, who wanted him even in 2015 but is this is the right time for this move?
Pellegrini’s Struggles
The Santiago-born manager took charge of the club in May last year, but has been less than impressive, even as he was backed in three transfer windows.
Pellegrini spent over £150 million in this time signing some exciting players, but the lack of progress since David Moyes is surely unsettling.
In the 57 matches under the 66-year-old, the Hammers have lost 24 games and won just 22 (38.6%) which remains the worst return for Pellegrini as a manager.
After a decent start to the current season, West Ham have now lost Burnley, Newcastle United, Everton and Crystal Palace in their last five games, all teams they have to beat for a chance to qualify for Europe next season.
They also crashed out of the League Cup to Oxford United away from home and a loss to Spurs on Saturday could push him things over the edge.
Pellegrini’s side will face Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool in the coming weeks, and if not much changes quickly, they could easily be humiliated in a couple of those games.
As a Premier League-winning manager, Pellegrini certainly deserves more respect but considering the quality, in the squad, West Ham have, the manager’s place is rightly in danger.
Rafa Benitez The Right Man For West Ham United
Currently earning big in Dalian Yifang in the Chinese Super League, Benitez is open to a move back to the Premier League, a competition he is yet to conquer.
West Ham are no title challengers, but they do have a squad that can compete with the best on their day and Benitez will certainly help get the best out of the side.
Pellegrini’s quality as a manager is undeniable but it is evident that he is struggling to get the team playing good football.
Benitez may not be able to make West Ham’s football attractive, but he has the tactical ability to push the side up the points table, as he has shown in his time with Newcastle United recently.
Languishing in the 16th place in the points table, the Hammers are still just four points away from Arsenal in 6th. So, they still have an outside chance to beat one of the ‘Big 6’ in the league to a place in Europe next season.
And if Pellegrini cannot get things done, it might just be time for Rafa, a long-term target for the club, to try his hand again in England.