The countdown is on to the big Premier League clash between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham and it’s not the only clock that might be ticking.
If Karren Brady had her way, Ange Postecoglou might be managing West Ham right now instead of Tottenham.
The Hammers vice-chair made it very clear who she thought should replace David Moyes were he to depart the summer before last.
Brady wrote a column waxing lyrical about Postecoglou and the job he had done at Scottish giants Celtic.
The West Ham chief also predicted Postecoglou’s unique style would be a massive hit in the Premier League.
The jury is still very much out on that as Spurs get ready to welcome bitter rivals West Ham to north London next Saturday.
Ahead of the game there has been a shift in which manager the glare of the media spotlight is shining on.
Julen Lopetegui has found himself under immense early pressure in east London.
The Spaniard had only tasted victory once in six Premier League games before West Ham’s 4-1 win over Ipswich last weekend.
Manager spotlight shifts from West Ham to Spurs
That has breathed some life into the Lopetegui era. Meanwhile some of that has been well and truly sucked out of Tottenham after they blew a 2-0 half-time lead at Brighton to lose 3-2.
Footage of Postecoglou standing crestfallen and staring into the distance on the pitch at the Amex has gone viral since.
It means the pressure is weighing more heavily on Postecoglou and Spurs than it is West Ham and Lopetegui next weekend.
And that’s saying something given the scrutiny the Hammers’ new head coach has been under.
Now a journalist’s big Eddie Howe claim gives West Ham a major boost for the Premier League match against Spurs.
The vultures have started to circle at Tottenham it seems.
According to Alan Nixon, Newcastle boss Howe is going to be at the centre of a battle between Tottenham and England for his signature.
Nixon says Howe has ‘told pals’ he is reluctant to take the England job because he enjoys club football too much and is ‘too young’ to consider the change.
Nixon has claimed Howe could be in line for the Tottenham job with Amanda Staveley being linked with buying in to West Ham’s next opponents.
Staveley has also been linked with West Ham having put together a £500m fund for investment in another Premier League club.
Big Howe claim gives West Ham a boost for Spurs clash
“Staveley is a massive supporter of Howe from Newcastle days and he would be top of their wish lift if things do not improve for Ange Postecoglou,” Nixon states on his Patreon.
“The projected buy-in by Staveley and her money men is taking some time to happen and that project still appears weeks from completion.
“But Howe could be a wanted man by both a club and country in the coming months as his stock remains high.”
If Postecoglou wasn’t already under mounting pressure, he certainly is now.
And it could be great news for West Ham.
As the Australian fights to prove he is the right mane to end Tottenham’s long trophy drought, now he has the spectre of Howe looming large over him.
Pressure can do funny things to teams.
So this news may raise the stakes in West Ham’s favour for next Saturday.
To make matters worse, Tottenham could also be without their best player for West Ham.
Spurs have a slight edge over West Ham in terms of overall victories in fixtures between the two clubs.
Of 155 competitive matches between them, Tottenham Hotspur have 67 wins to West Ham’s 52 and there have been 36 draws.
It sounds like only a win will do for Postecoglou as speculation swirls.
And Lopetegui will be hoping to take advantage.
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