Leeds United are 15th in the Premier League table, four points clear of the relegation zone and have seven games to secure their safety.
The Whites are in the middle of a poor run of form after going six league games without a win and more than 400 minutes without scoring a goal.
However, the teams below them have not done enough to push Leeds into the drop zone, and they have continued to enjoy a buffer over the teams in the bottom three.
Tottenham’s terrible form makes them more of a viable candidate to drop into the bottom three than Leeds. However, Spurs sacked Igor Tudor on Sunday and are keen to make a move that could threaten Leeds’ survival.
Leeds wary as Tottenham look to bring in Roberto De Zerbi
Tottenham are yet to appoint a manager, but they have time as they won’t be in action until the Premier League returns in the second weekend of April.
They dismissed Tudor without a successor in place, but they already know exactly who they want next.
Spurs want to bring in De Zerbi as their new manager, and while the Italian is interested, he only wants to take charge at the end of the season if Tottenham survive in the Premier League.
The north London club are trying to tempt him now and have offered a hefty survival bonus if he manages to keep them in the Premier League.
Tottenham’s financial offer has made a difference, and according to talkSPORT, De Zerbi is seriously considering becoming Spurs manager immediately.
While his Marseille tenure ended in turmoil, the Italian enhanced his reputation at Brighton and was offered the Manchester United job in 2024
De Zerbi’s potential arrival could inspire Tottenham to get out of trouble and potentially sucking Leeds back into the quagmire.
The Whites need to take charge of their fate
Defeats for West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the break meant Leeds United finished the previous weekend exactly where they began – 16th, still four points above the drop.
But the margins are razor-thin at the bottom, and there’s little room for slip-ups. Daniel Farke has already hinted that they may need around seven more points to stay up.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Leeds United | 31 | 7 | 12 | 12 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 33 |
| 16 | Nottingham Forest | 31 | 8 | 8 | 15 | 31 | 43 | -12 | 32 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 31 | 7 | 9 | 15 | 40 | 50 | -10 | 30 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 31 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 36 | 57 | -21 | 29 |
| 19 | Burnley | 31 | 4 | 8 | 19 | 33 | 61 | -28 | 20 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 31 | 3 | 8 | 20 | 24 | 54 | -30 | 17 |
With key home games against Wolves and Burnley, plus a trip to Spurs still to come, those fixtures could define their survival push.
De Zerbi’s arrival could really catapult Tottenham away from the bottom three. However, Leeds need not worry if they get the required results.
The Whites have to stop depending on Spurs to remain as bad as they have been and take charge of the survival race with a couple of wins soon.
