Lopetegui on the brink as four favourites emerge in Premier League sack race

The Premier League sack race is heating up, with plenty of teams struggling to find form in the early stages of the 2024/25 campaign.

After the arguable favourite Erik ten Hag was relieved of his duties as Manchester United boss, the race is on to see which top-flight club part ways with their manager next.

See below the favourites amongst the bookies to be the next Premier League manager sacked.

Julen Lopetegui

Hammers’ gaffer Julen Lopetegui is currently leading the Premier League sack race after his side’s torrid start to this season.

The Spaniard took over West Ham following the departure of David Moyes at the end of the last season, who left big boots to fill following Moyes' relatively successful tenure, having won the Europa Conference League.

The bubble has burst early on this season at the Olympic Stadium, with the London club having picked up just ten points out of a possible 33.

Following an impressive financial backing again in the summer, including the signings of Max Kilman, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crysencio Summerville, West Ham fans believe their squad on paper is capable of achieving much more.

Most bookies have him posted at around 15/8 to be the next manager fired, and may soon be in the market for a new one.

Russell Martin

Saints boss Russell Martin is the current second favourite to be sacked despite his side picking up their first Premier League win this season, when they beat Everton 1-0 this weekend.

The free-flowing football Southampton fans became accustomed to in their previous Championship season hasn’t translated into the top flight, and the owners may not be too far away from pushing the panic button.

There are a host of teams who look like they could possibly make the drop this season, and the club may believe they could take a chance on a new man and try to claw onto their Premier League status.

Martin sits just below Julen Lopetegui, with most bookies having him placed at around 9/4.

He may be the next to go, especially with solid managers like David Moyes being available. He looks an attractive proposition for any dwindling Premier League side.

Gary O’Neill

Wolves have made for interesting viewing this season under the management of Gary O’Neill.

Fans at Molyneux were treated to a fantastic campaign last time out, and all seemed to be going so well under O’Neills’ rule. This season, they’ve struggled to register many points, despite performing fairly well at times.

They sit rock bottom as it stands, picking up just three points this season, all from draws. They have scored plenty this campaign but just can’t seem to keep them out of their own net - potentially feeling the loss of Max Kilman to fellow strugglers West Ham.

One point registered from five games this season doesn’t really suffice, and Wolves’ hierarchy may choose to break glass in case of emergency, and seek out a defensive manager in hope of solidifying their Premier League place.

Most bookies have him placed at around 3/1 and could easily be the next sacked manager should he fail to turn Wolves’ fortunes around soon.

Oliver Glasner

Palace boss Oliver Glasner looked like a coup when the Eagles swooped in last season and secured his signature after the departure of Roy Hodgson.

He recorded six wins in Palace’s last seven games last season, impressive in itself, but he also oversaw wins against Liverpool, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

This season hasn’t been so successful. They currently sit in 16th having picked up just two points. They have scored 7 goals and have conceded a whopping thirteen.

Last season saviours Jean-Phillipe Mateta and Eberechi Eze have been relatively quiet, and the losses of centre-half Joachim Anderson and mesmerising winger Micheal Olise have left the Eagles flightless.

The Austrian is currently posted around 9/1 at most bookies, and is definitely an outside shout at those odds to be the next manager relieved of his duties.

The Odds Elsewhere

Elsewhere on the market, Ipswich boss Kieran Mckenna is 5th in the odds. He sits around 16/1.

Steve Cooper is posted around 20/1 - his Nottingham Forest side have been mightily impressive of late hence his steep odds.

Marco Silva and Ange Postecoglu are both stationed around 25/1. The Fulham and Spurs managers respectively have experienced a mixed bag this season. For the Aussie international, rumours of a departure remain as odds are available for his potential replacement.