We’re approaching the halfway mark of January 2026, and two Premier League managers have already received the pink slip, as Chelsea replaced Enzo Maresca with Liam Rosenior, while Manchester United have appointed Darren Fletcher as the caretaker head coach after Ruben Amorim’s departure. And with Xabi Alonso receiving his from Real Madrid, it’s safe to say that no one is irreplaceable in their work.
There could be more on the way as the 2025-26 campaign progresses, especially for the teams that are in the lower half of the English top-flight standings. According to the latest Premier League 2026 odds, Nuno Espirito Santo, Thomas Frank, and Oliver Glasner are among the top sack candidates, given their poor run of Premier League 2026 results.
Of course, nobody wants to see people lose their jobs, but it’s a harsh reality in football. Without further ado, SBOTOP details why these gentlemen are the top sack candidates.
Nuno Espirito Santo, West Ham United
West Ham United have already changed managers this season, as they replaced Graham Potter with Nuno Espirito Santo last September. However, with the Hammers deep into the relegation mix, the pressure has significantly ramped up on the Portuguese manager.
Since their two-game winning streak back in November, West Ham United have been winless in their last 10 Premier League games (D4, L6). This includes disappointing losses against Wolves (3-0), who are at the bottom of the league, and Nottingham Forest (2-1), also a relegation candidate. Calls of Nuno’s head have simmered down temporarily, following the Hammer’s 2-1 win over QPR in the FA Cup third round last Sunday, though they needed extra time to take down their Championship counterparts. Overall, Nuno has won only three of his 17 games since arriving at the London Stadium.
Besides Nuno’s precarious situation, the Hammers are also facing a major transfer dilemma involving one of their best players. Lucas Paqueta is reportedly keen on leaving West Ham United to join Flamengo for at least £35 million, but the London side seems reluctant to let the Brazilian midfielder go. On the bright side, their key winter acquisition, Taty Castellanos, has kicked on, as the Argentine scored the winning goal against QPR.
Thomas Frank, Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham started well under Thomas Frank and were even being tipped as outside contenders at one point. However, that optimism dissipated after a run of only four wins in 17 across all competitions (D4, L9). Now, the Spurs are closer to where they were last season than in the European football places. Tottenham are also out in cup competitions after losing to Newcastle United (2-0) in the EFL Cup fourth round and Aston Villa (2-1) in the FA Cup third round.
Injuries didn’t help Frank’s cause, as James Maddison (knee) and Dominic Solanke (foot) had been out for stretches. Solanke just returned to the squad against the Villans and came off the bench for about 15 minutes. The shocking sale of Brennan Johnson to Crystal Palace this month hasn’t helped either, because the 24-year-old attacking midfielder was one of the team’s best players last term.
To be fair to Frank, Tottenham’s front office is doing all it can to mitigate their situation. The Spurs recently acquired Souza from Santos to bolster their full-back depth, while poaching Conor Gallagher from Atletico Madrid for €40 million to add to their midfield.
The Spurs may be 13 points adrift of the drop zone, but they are winless in their last four. The hope for the North London club is that their new guys will kick on, while hoping that their absentee list will ease up.
Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace
Like West Ham United and Tottenham, Crystal Palace continue to fall in the Premier League table. Because the Eagles are winless in their last nine games across all competitions, including five in the league and their shocking defeat at the hands of Macclesfield in the FA Cup third round, head coach Oliver Glasner has been put on the hot seat.
Since arriving at Selhurst Park in 2024, Glasner has done wonders for Crystal Palace, even saving them from relegation at one point. Under the Austrian, the Eagles won the FA Cup and the Community Shield. As a result, the Eagles were beset by unrealistic expectations that are hard to achieve.
Crystal Palace are also dealing with a transfer dilemma involving captain Marc Guehi, making a turnaround in form even more difficult. The 25-year-old centre-back was again linked to Liverpool, with Manchester City, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich on the radar.
●●●
CHEC OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
