Leeds United relegation rivals latest: Igor Tudor sack update as Nottingham Forest receive major boost

While attention turns to the FA Cup this weekend, Leeds United will still be focusing most of their thoughts on the fight for Premier League survival.

The Whites have been slowly climbing toward safety over the last few months, but have hit a stumbling block with consecutive 1-0 home defeats to Manchester City and Sunderland.

With nine games to go, Leeds are now just three points above West Ham in 18th, with the East Londoners picking up numerous positive results since the turn of the year - most recently beating Fulham 1-0 away. Between the two sides are Nottingham Forest and surprise strugglers Tottenham Hotspur, who are in freefall right now despite advancing to the Champions League last 16.

So, while Daniel Farke’s players prepare to face Norwich City in the cup, let’s take a look at the latest headlines from Leeds United’s closest relegation rivals.

Spurs already considering Igor Tudor sack

Spurs are the most shocking name in the relegation battle right now. Sure, they finished 17th last season, but that was partially as a result of Ange Postecoglou effectively abandoning the Premier League in favour of winning the Europa League and ending the club’s trophy drought - which he succeeded in doing.

Thomas Frank was sacked last month, but things haven’t improved at all under Igor Tudor, who has lost all three of his games in charge so far against Arsenal (1-4), Fulham (1-2) and Crystal Palace (1-3). Altogether, that means the Lilywhites have lost their last five, and are winless in their last 11 league matches.

Spurs are just a single point above the drop zone ahead of their next league match away at Liverpool, while they still have to host Forest and Leeds before the end of the season. However, Tudor may not be given the opportunity to oversee those matches, with the Telegraph reporting that the club hierachy is already considering sacking Tudor.

Roberto De Zerbi has been touted as a possible permanent manager in the summer, but Tudor may not even last until then, with some fans and pundits mentioning former bosses Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood as possible replacements to try and avoid what would be the most shocking relegation in Premier League history.

Alongside De Zerbi, Edin Terzic is another name doing the rounds, while former boss Mauricio Pochettino is also a rumoured target, though he would only be available after the United States’ World Cup campaign on home soil this summer.

Nottingham Forest receive fitness boost ahead of vital run

Nottingham Forest received a much-needed confidence boost after a string of damaging results as they twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Manchester City last time out - a result that just about keeps them outside the relegation zone.

The Tricky Trees have two Europa League ties against FC Midtjylland to negotiate now, either side of hosting Fulham in the Premier League, before they travel to Spurs in what is one of the most important games in the relegation battle between now and the end of the season.

Vitor Pereira has been given a huge boost ahead of that run of fixtures, with Lorenzo Lucca expected to be back in action.

The Italian striker arrived on loan from Napoli in January and scored on his debut as Forest lost 3-1 to Leeds at Elland Road. However, he missed the 2-1 defeat at Brighton and the aforementioned draw against Man City with an ankle problem that was initially feared to be quite serious.

However, according to journalist Gaetano Brunetti, a two-hour assessment back in Rome has revealed that no surgery is required on Lucca’s injury, which is not as serious as first feared. The 25-year-old is now expected to be back in action “as quickly as possible”, meaning he’s almost certain to face Tottenham in a clash that will have huge implications for Leeds United.

Harry Redknapp: West Ham creeping above Tottenham and Leeds

As mentioned, the bottom appears to have fallen out from underneath Spurs, while Leeds have lost their last two games. Simultaneously, alongside Forest getting that point at City, West Ham have lost just two of their last eight Premier League matches, winning on four occasions and picking up 14 of their 28 points during that time.

Former Hammers and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp now believes Tottenham could be ‘favourites’ to go down, while Leeds are also anything but safe, with both at risk of being leapfrogged by a resurgent West Ham.

Redknapp told talkSPORT: “Four or five weeks ago, I really couldn’t see Tottenham being involved in a relegation scrap. Every week that’s gone by and it’s got worse. West Ham are now playing very well, which is great.

“Forest picked up a big point the other night, you know. The only other side getting sucked in now is Leeds. Yeah, they’ve got sucked into that battle as well.

“I thought they were clear because they played very well. They’ve had a good season, played very well. But Tottenham are bang in it now, I must be truthful. They’re looking like, you know, they could even be favourites out of the four to go. I mean, it’s that desperate.”

West Ham host Brentford in the FA Cup on Monday, before a vital triple-header that sees them host Man City and Wolves, either side of a trip to Aston Villa.

Your next Leeds United read: Leeds latest: PL survival target set and FA Cup disaster predicted