標籤: relegation

angel gomes will go wolverhampton wanderers Summer and return to Olympique Marseille.

report team The 25-year-old midfielder will not remain at Molineux before the end of the season after joining on loan in the January transfer window.

wolves come out

A report earlier this week It is said that it is ‘extremely unlikely’ that Wolves will sign Angel Gomes on a permanent basis this summer.

L’Équipe is now insisting that it is solid. Gomes will return to Marseille when his loan deal expires.

According to his knowledge, Wolves’ relegation from the Championship, which was confirmed this week, has also confirmed Gomes’ fate.

Staying in the Premier League will trigger a mandatory purchase option. But Marseille knew that was unlikely in January. Therefore, they approved the deal in the hope that Gomes would be able to ‘prove his worth’ in England.

Gomes was also hoping to give himself even the slightest chance of a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad.

Summer transfer possibility

He will not be joining Wolves permanently, nor is he likely to be included in the World Cup squad. But transfer can happen in any situation.

The former Lille player has ‘always dreamed’ of playing in the Premier League. And with a contract until 2028, this could be the last window in which Marseille can secure profits.

The Ligue 1 side certainly would not want Angel Gomes to enter the final year of his deal. As a result, a transfer now seems ‘likely’. That is unless manager Habib Bey or his successors decide to keep him. But if they did, a new contract would be required.

Marseille will have to take this decision in the coming months. For now, one thing is certain, Gomes will not be staying at Wolves. His return to the Championship has at least confirmed this.

crystal Palace Plans are already taking shape for the summer window, and relegation from Wolverhampton Wanderers has opened up a clear opportunity in midfield.

With Wolves relegated from the Championship, several of their key players are now expected to depart. Joao Gomes is emerging as one of the most realistic targets for Premier League clubs looking for reinforcements in that area.

Brazilian journalist Bruno Andrade reports, speaking espn brazilThere are indications that Wolves have effectively placed a number of players on the market. The logic is both strategic and financial.

The club believe the Championship will demand a different profile of midfielder, while also recognizing the risk of market devaluation if they hold high-value assets. Joao Gomes fits firmly into that category.

Wolves ready to cash in after relegation

Despite Wolves’ struggles as a team this season, Joao Gomes has maintained a strong individual level. This is central to the club’s strategy.

The idea is to sell while its stock remains high, and Crystal Palace is keen. Wolves want to avoid a scenario where a year in the Championship reduces both visibility and transfer value.

According to the data of FBref And Huscord, the Brazilian, remains one of Wolves’ most active midfielders. He has made more than 2 tackles per 90 minutes and consistently ranks high in ball recovery.

Andrade explains that the expectation internally is that Joao Gomes’ exit will be finalized after the European season ends.

Crystal Palace interested – Atletico also in the mix

Crystal Palace have already shown solid interest in Joao Gomes. The same applies to Atletico Madrid, who have been looking for midfield reinforcements for some time.

At this stage, it is still not clear whether formal talks have started or not. However, the interest is stated to be real and ongoing.

Palace are creating a more energetic and attacking midfield under their current formation. Joao Gomes will fit naturally into a system that relies on pressing, duels and transition.

However competition will be a factor. Atletico Madrid’s long-standing search for midfield balance means they are unlikely to give up easily.

earlier today, we also covered that napoli Working towards a deal for that.

what happens next

Joao Gomes is expected to remain in Europe. Despite the financial strength of clubs such as Flamengo, Palmeiras and Cruzeiro, a comeback in Brazil currently looks unlikely.

For Crystal Palace, the situation is worth watching closely. Wolves are ready to sell, the player is attracting attention, and the timing aligns with the market opportunity created by relegation.

The next steps will depend on who moves first with a formal proposal. Palace have already positioned themselves, but they are not alone in the race.

🇩🇿 Ilan Kebbell | Everton, Crystal Palace and Fulham in battle for ‘Algerian magician’ ➡️ Terms for deal outlinedhttps://t.co/OWHKTKp17n

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 17 April 2026

Aston Villa and Chelsea are willing to pay £40 million to sign Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Lucas Bergvall, who is making his first transfer move of the January window.

sportbladet Report that both sides approached Tottenham in the January window, which Spurs clearly rejected.

Europe’s big clubs are looking

According to Sportbladet, the 20-year-old Tottenham midfielder is on the radar of many of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Despite Spurs’ struggles, his development at Tottenham over the past year has made him a player of interest.

Aston Villa and Chelsea are among those who are keen and interested in purchasing the Sweden international in the January transfer window. Both of them informed Tottenham that they were keen to move on.

At the time both clubs were prepared to pay £40 million for Lucas Bergvall. But Tottenham ‘categorically refused’ to initiate any talks regarding his efforts or the Swede.

demotion probability key

His stance is unlikely to change now, but a demotion could be significant. Spurs are firmly in the relegation battle, with just one point separating them from the bottom three.

If they drop into the Championship at the end of the season, there is the possibility of a summer fire-sale. Lucas Bergvall will be among those targeted.

Aston Villa and Chelsea have already shown a willingness to pay £40m, in such a scenario they would likely be first in line. The Blues had already been linked with a move in February.

And slipping to the Championship could force Tottenham to leave. They will need to balance the books and reduce costs as much as possible.

However, for now it seems that Tottenham are resisting. They have already rejected the efforts of their Premier League counterparts. Whether they can do that again in the summer will depend on how well Roberto De Zerbi performs in keeping them.

🇮🇹 Manuel Locatelli | De Zerbi’s arrival at Tottenham makes Juventus’ links with the midfielder inevitable

➡️The manager said he wants him here #THFC
➡️ Transfer was mentioned during initial talks
📈Helped launch Locatelli’s career
🔁 Fits the Player De Zerbi systemhttps://t.co/iIqD80i8fD

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) April 1, 2026

A big reason behind Manuel Locatelli’s success as a footballer is Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi.

The two could now potentially be reunited at Tottenham in the summer.

The Italian has had an impressive season for Juventus and has made a real impression with his ability on the ball.

Currently the club captain, Locatelli has played 39 times in all competitions, and has also contributed five goals. His strength lies in dictating the pace of the game from deep and this skill was evident last season as well.

The 28-year-old had impressive performances at Sassuolo between 2019 and 2021, when they were managed by De Zerbi. The Italian brought out the best of Locatelli’s technical abilities and qualified him for a trip to Turin.

With De Zerbi now at Tottenham, he could bring the midfielder to England.

Locatelli held discussions with Tottenham

IT migration market The report adds that before taking charge at Tottenham, De Zerbi held a major meeting with the London club’s ownership. During that time, he discussed potential transfer targets and his general long-term vision for the club.

He put forward the name of Manuel Locatelli as someone who could help him improve this Spurs side, especially if they avoid relegation.

Avoiding relegation is De Zerbi’s main objective at the moment but the Italian is already making some plans for the future.

Locatelli’s current contract at Juve expires in 2028. Even though the Old Lady have attempted to make progress on a renewal, nothing has officially happened and this could give other clubs a big opportunity in the summer.

sports witness Manchester United’s relationship with the player has been covered, with the Red Devils’ scouts having been impressed by his impact this season.

Our opinion: Locatelli would be an excellent signing for Spurs

Throughout the season, Tottenham lacked a technically proficient midfielder who could beat the press, dictate play and advance the ball. Conor Gallagher was signed in January but is the complete opposite in profile.

Locatelli, meanwhile, is a perfect fit. De Zerbi knows this, as he watched the player operate in the midfield two during his time at Sassuolo. That’s when Locatelli really reached a new level, showing how his passing ability can really escape the opposition press.

That’s what Tottenham will need under the Italian, who always demands elite players. Locatelli is 28 years old, in his prime and has quickly become a very reliable leader.

Spurs should not hesitate to sign him if the opportunity arises.

🇮🇹📰 ‘Everyone at home’

Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere dello Sport run with same headline as Italy wakes up to disappointment pic.twitter.com/I6cNh06AJp

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) April 1, 2026

In recent weeks, a number of Tottenham players have been linked with an exit.

Destiny Udogi is one and transfer vultures are swarming to take advantage of the situation. Spurs may not be used to it, but every season when Premier League clubs are hovering around the drop-zone, clubs are beginning to look around for a bargain.

Those clubs are often from Türkiye and Italy, initially looking for loans. This process has already started with Tottenham.

Udogi has played 22 times in all competitions this season, with his campaign hampered by injuries. He suffered a hamstring problem against Manchester United but returned to action against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.

The Italian would play a key role in the remainder of the season, with Igor Tudor’s team trailing by just one point.

sports witness Juventus’ interest in Udoghi has been covered, with the Bianconeri seeing him as a replacement for Andrea Cambiasso. The exit of the former Genoa player was seen as a way to finance the signing.

Now, the Old Lady are becoming desperate for relegated Tottenham to find a suitable deal.

Spurs could approve loan exit

Transfer Market ILook at Juve’s interest in Destiny Udogi, who has risen to prominence at Tottenham. He also plays as an inverted full-back, making him very similar to Cambiasso, who himself is very versatile by nature.

The outlet believes that if Spurs go down, a number of players could depart in the summer. Udogi could be one, even though his current contract expires in 2030.

Due to the old lady’s inability to make a permanent deal, they are hoping for a loan. If Tottenham are relegated, there is belief they will approve the loan. This is because they would like the full-back to play regularly and retain his value ahead of a permanent exit.

Juve will be interested in making that happen, with Luciano Spalletti’s side in pole position for his signature.

Our Opinion: Opting out can help a player

The 23-year-old player still has a long way to go in his career in terms of development. Tottenham have taken him to another level but it remains to be seen if they can help him reach the next stage.

The way things are going, Destiny Udogi may be set to settle at the London club. There are no signs right now that players can fulfill their potential there, even if they are not demoted.

That’s why the Italy international would be wise to consider an exit. He has experience playing in Serie A from his time at Udinese and Juve’s sale of Cambiasso could leave them open to a starter in the left-back spot.

So the player may be curious if the old lady really wants him.

🇹🇷 Okan Buruk | Surprise name thrown into the Tottenham mix

🏆🏆🏆Won the league for 3 consecutive years
⭐️ Experience dealing with the stars at Galatasaray
📅 Contract expires in summerhttps://t.co/t8r3u4TPxr #thfc #joyce

– Sports Witness (@Sport_Witness) 26 March 2026

Over the past few weeks, Tottenham’s Destiny Udogi has been linked with a move to Juventus. Amid suggestions of a possible swap deal involving Douglas Luiz, the same applies for Aston Villa’s Ian Matson.

sports witness These two links covered Juve’s Andrea Cambiaso who had a disappointing 2025/26 campaign.

He scored against Pisa at the weekend but the Italian’s future in Turin still remains uncertain.

The Bianconeri are indeed monitoring potential replacements, with players from Tottenham and Aston Villa again mentioned as targets.

Tottenham’s relegation may make deal easier

IT migration market Report that Juve manager Luciano Spalletti is an admirer of Cambiasso despite his poor season. However the manager’s approach in the summer may not matter, especially if clubs make a reasonable offer.

That’s why the profile of Tottenham full-back Udogi seems so attractive to the Bianconeri.

Currently, he is valued by the London club at around €40m. Juve believe the price will drop to around €30m if Igor Tudor fails to keep Spurs in the Premier League this season.

The Old Lady are already considering a formal approach and are hoping things go wrong at Tottenham.

If they fail to agree a deal, Aston Villa’s Matson is seen as an option along with Atalanta’s Lorenzo Bernasconi.

Our opinion on Juve’s interest in Udaipur

Udogi’s move back to Italy will depend on how much Juve makes from the sale of Cambiasso.

Spalletti’s side does not always execute permanent transfers and relies more on initial loans. Whether or not Tottenham will entertain is unknown, especially when they don’t even know what league they are going to play in.

The 23-year-old has clearly developed as a player at Tottenham. Injuries have at times hindered his progress but he also played as an inverted full-back under Anze Postecoglou. The Cambiasso is very similar, as it also offers the ability to reverse.

This makes Udogi quite a suitable replacement for its compatriot.

It’s fair to say the Dane is keeping a close eye on Tottenham Hotspur following the departure of Thomas Frank in January.

The nation was thrilled when Frank was given the ‘big job’ last summer following his success at Brentford. They were certainly supportive of him and, often, one of his biggest champions.

Well, now that he’s been fired, he’s keeping an even closer eye on proceedings. And Francis Dickoh has spotted something that should leave Spurs fans very concerned. TipsBladet released its comments today.

He, like most of us, was watching the clash between Tottenham and Crystal Palace on Thursday evening. Igor Tudor’s team went into that game knowing that defeat could be devastating.

Crystal Palace disaster

And this proved to be true, as a 3–1 defeat and the departure of Micky van de Ven pushed them to the brink. Spurs are now one point outside the relegation zone, without a win in 11 and with no signs of improvement under Tudor.

What’s even more worrying is that people around them are picking points. West Ham won to close the gap this week, while Nottingham Forest picked up an unexpected point against Manchester City.

With five defeats in their last five, Spurs are unlikely to get similar results any time soon. Palace’s defeat certainly did not send any positive signals. And Dicko believes this is what should concern them most.

“The defeat to Crystal Palace was a low point for Tottenham,” He said.

“The team collapsed, and this is worrying when the club has already made changes to the coaching staff. One might fear that Tottenham have not yet reached rock bottom, with the threat of relegation looming.

“The clubs around Tottenham are looking confident. And in the game, it’s looking like other teams are dying with their boots on and are competitive. Tottenham are in a different place right now.”

tottenham needs to fight

The statistics certainly don’t look great for Tottenham. While they are bottom of the form table, West Ham have lost only one of their last five. Forest have two draws and three defeats from five.

However, his future will likely be determined by Tottenham’s clash with Nottingham Forest later this month. After this they will also face Leeds, who are two points ahead of 15.^thIn early May.

Considering his current form, this could prove to be a big decider. Of course, they are still in a fight at that time. Tudor must help them find that fight first.

Despite swapping life for a relegation battle at Manchester United, Christian Eriksen has braved life at Wolfsburg.

Kicker has the 34-year-old’s comments today. The Dane insists he is very happy with life at the Bundesliga club.

Eriksen left Manchester United on a free transfer in the summer window, ending three seasons at Old Trafford.

Serving as a consistent presence under Eric ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, he made 107 appearances in that time, scoring eight goals.

Pushed forward decision in search of playing time

Christian Eriksen took his time choosing his next club during the summer. Sport Witness covered the veteran’s comments on how much he Enjoyed your leisure time while choosing that option.

Ultimately, Wolfsburg won the race for his signature, with Eriksen joining on a two-year deal until June 2027. Since then he has been a regular starter with 21 appearances in all competitions.

However, it has been a tough campaign for him. The German club currently sits 15^th With 20 points in 23 games in the Bundesliga. This leaves them just above the relegation play-off places on goal difference.

The battle of accusations and counter-accusations was not expected

Their recent form has seen them struggle to move out of the relegation battle. But Eriksen is not worried, despite their aim being to qualify for Europe.

“Actually I’ve mostly been on the other side,” He said.

“At many of the clubs I have played for, it was more important to finish in the top 10. Brentford was probably the only exception.

“And in the VFL, it’s actually my first time fighting demotion. But that’s football; in the end, it’s an experience that comes with the territory.

“I can handle it! Of course, you’d love to be on a winning team. But that doesn’t always work out. Then it’s about getting back on track.

“For us, it’s a battle right now, and there are a lot of little things going against us, which makes it even more difficult. Still, I’m positive when I see how we’re doing.”

Asked whether he had made the right decision by choosing Wolfsburg over Manchester United, Eriksen said: “Yeah, soccer is fun. I wanted to play soccer, and that’s what I’m doing here.”

With under half of the season to go, two teams look destined for Premier League relegation, but the battle to avoid finishing alongside them in the bottom three is heating up.

Wolves’ eight-year stay in the top flight looks as though it’ll be coming to an end very soon as they’re still in the single figures in terms of points. Burnley, similarly, don’t look as though they’ll be able to break out of their recent yo-yo’ing pattern and are likely to be relegated in all three of their most recent Premier League campaigns.

This season should buck the recent trend of seeing all three promoted clubs going straight back down. Sunderland have been outstanding so far and have been in the top half for most of the season. Leeds have also competed well, and are currently above the bottom three.

With fifteen games to go, here is our analysis of the current Premier League relegation odds and the sides involved.

⬇️ Latest Premier League relegation odds

Here are the odds from our recommended football bookies:

*Odds are subject to change (Updated on 30th January)

⬇️ Teams looking doomed for Premier League relegation

According to the bookies, and the league table at time of writing, Wolves and Burnley can start preparing for life in the Championship. Both have an mountain to climb just to catch the back of the pack.

Wolves have been cut adrift all season and it took them 20 games to finally record a win. Despite an improved run of results, in which they’ve picked up three draws as well as that win, they’re stuck on a mere eight points for the season. They’ll need four more to avoid becoming the worst ever Premier League side – that was Derby County back in 2007/08, who finished with just 11 points.

Burnley had put three wins on the board by the end of October, but haven’t won since, and now find themselves ten points away from safety. Therefore, they’d have to at least double their win tally just to catch up to Nottingham Forest. They are, however, also showing signs of improvement in recent games – taking points off of Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham.

⬇️ Teams in danger of Premier League relegation

With two of the three relegation spots seemingly sorted, the main battle within the relegation battle is to simply avoid being on the wrong side of the dotted line come the end of May.

We’ve broken down the teams in the thick of that fight here:

😟 West Ham United – 4/9

Things looked bleak for West Ham and manager Nuno Espírito Santo after the Hammers kicked off 2026 with disastrous defeats to Wolves and Forest – the former giving the Black Country side their one and only league win of the season to date, the latter being the dictionary definition of a six-pointer.

Back-to-back wins at Tottenham and at home to Sunderland have, however, given them a fighting chance of hauling themselves out of the mire. They’ll need to keep it going as that loss to Forest is still haunting them – five points separates the two. West Ham would, of course, be one point ahead had they held on to their lead in that game.

They now face back-to-back away trips to Chelsea and Burnley – the latter will be a must-win. Looking ahead to their run-in, they finish at home to Leeds, which could be massive if the Yorkshire side aren’t mathematically safe by then.

⬇️ Take up odds of 4/9 on West Ham going down with William Hill ⬇️

😟 Nottingham Forest – 7/1

Nottingham Forest are already on their third manager of the season after Ange Postecoglu failed to get a so-called “new manager bounce” following his appointment. The Aussie lasted just 39 days, having replaced Nuno Espírito Santo – who had a rather public falling out with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Experienced firefighter Sean Dyche has now been in charge for 15 Premier League games, plus several more in cup competitions, and has helped the team rediscover some of the defensive solidity that carried them to the European places last season – they’ve kept clean sheets in both of their most recent two league outings.

Under Dyche, Forest have picked up 20 points – an average of well over a point a game, which is usually more than enough to survive if extrapolated over a whole season.

It is worth noting, however, that they are still involved in the Europa League, having secured a playoff place. Keeping themselves fresh for domestic affairs will be the priority, but punters should keep an eye on the number of extra games Forest may need to play in the coming months compared to their closest rivals.

⬇️ Tip the tricky trees to be chopped down this season at 7/1 with Betway ⬇️

😟 Leeds United – 7/1

Before a ball had even been kicked, speculation was mounting that Leeds might part ways with manager Daniel Farke due to the German’s poor top flight record. Those rumours resurfaced after the Yorkshire club struggled throughout October and November.

A midweek win over Chelsea, however, kickstarted a seven-game unbeaten run through December and early January. With a better squad, and more money to spend than at previous club Norwich, Farkeball is looking better-suited and more durable in the Premier League.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been a godsend since arriving on a free from Everton in the summer. He’s scored nine times in total, including a run of having netted at least once in each of the last six games of 2025.

Their next two games, both at home, could reveal plenty as to whether Leeds will be able to keep West Ham and others at arm’s length. They face league leaders Arsenal and then Forest in a pivotal Friday Night Football matchup.

As mentioned earlier, their final game is at West Ham’s London Stadium. They won’t want that to become a final day showdown!

⬇️ Go for Leeds to be relegated at 7/1 with Sky Bet ⬇️

😟 Crystal Palace – 7/1

Crystal Palace are a team in free-fall having gone eight without a win in the Premier League and 11 without a win in all competitions – a run which includes being on the wrong end of debatably the biggest FA Cup shock of all time against Macclesfield.

Manager Oliver Glasner recently revealed he’ll be leaving at the end of the season, following the high-profile departures of Eberechi Eze in the summer and now Marc Guéhi in the January window. Striker Jean-Philippe Mateta could also leave before the deadline.

They head to the City Ground, Nottingham, this weekend before facing Brighton in their local derby, and then Burnley and Wolves come to Selhurst Park. It’s a crucial month for the Eagles, who surely must arrest their slide soon.

⬇️ Tip Crystal Palace to fall through the Premier League trap door at 7/1 with sport BET ⬇️

My Premier League relegation betting tips

Here are three Premier League relegation-themed betting tips to consider for the remainder of the campaign.

⬇️ Wolves to finish bottom – 1/3

Wolves have been in a sorry state for most of the season and despite finally putting a win on the board, they’ll need to suddenly string several together to catch up to Burnley in 19th. They’re also the lowest scorers in the league with just fifteen goals.

Rob Edwards’ team have looked well short of quality and confidence and are already only a few weeks away from being confirmed as relegated.

⬇️ Tip Wolves to finish bottom at 1/3 with Sky Bet ⬇️

⚽ Wolves/Burnley/West Ham relegation treble – 8/13

There are numerous potential outcomes in the relegation treble market, but Wolves-Burnley-West Ham is the odds-on combination. Wolves are gone and Burnley are also looking doomed.

West Ham, despite their recent victories, have looked like the third worst side this season and still have a sizeable deficit to recover. Forest and Leeds have been achieving big, important results more regularly too.

⚽ Choose Burnley, West Ham and Wolves to go down at 8/13 with sport BET ⚽

☝️ Sunderland to finish in the bottom half – 4/9 with William Hill

While not a relegation market per se, the “to stay up” market isn’t offering great value at the moment with eveyone above the danger zone having at least a five-point cushion.

Looking elsewhere, I can see Sunderland dropping slightly from their lofty position and finishing 11th or lower. The Black Cats have actually only scored 24 goals in 23 games – fewer than everyone bar Wolves, Forest and Palace.

Their back line has been superb for a newly-promoted side – only the top three and Chelsea have conceded fewer goals. In a league with so much world class talent, however, they will likely find it tough to keep shutting teams out so regularly. It’s much easier to suddenly start conceding more goals than to suddenly start scoring more too!

⚽ Tip Sunderland to finish in the bottom half at 4/9 with William Hill ⚽

Play Sky Bet’s Super6 game for free, every week of the Premier League season to win the jackpot!

⚽ Who suffered relegation from the Premier League last season?

For the second season in a row, the three promoted clubs were relegated back to the Championship in 2024/25.

Southampton – play-off winners the previous year – struggled from start to finish. Their tally of 12 points was just enough for them to avoid becoming the worst team in Premier League history, but that was the only positive they could take from a dismal campaign. A lack of pragmatism was a major issue under Russell Martin, but Southampton were poor after his sacking too.

Leicester City were dour but competitive under Steve Cooper, but the former Nottingham Forest boss never won over the club’s fans. His successor Ruud van Nistelrooy was a disaster, with Leicester going nine consecutive home games without even scoring a goal. They never really looked like surviving after Christmas.

Ipswich Town were the most competitive member of the trio, but it was always going to take a monumental effort for Kieran McKenna to keep them up. Ipswich were playing in League One two seasons earlier, so a lack of quality at the very highest level was forgivable. The Tractor Boys are looking to bounce back in 2025/26.

⚽ How previous Premier League relegation battles have played out

Even today, Premier League managers routinely reference “40 points” as their principal target at the beginning of a season. Traditionally that was seen as the amount of points required to stay in the division – the safety threshold, if you will – but, in recent years, numerous teams have survived without accumulating that many.

In each of the last nine campaigns, 35 points would have been sufficient. In three of those seasons, a mere 30 points would have seen a team finish above the dreaded dotted line. Meanwhile, 40 points was what 14th-placed West Ham got in 2022/23.

Being bottom at Christmas is usually fatal for a team’s survival ambitions. In 28 out of the 32 Premier League seasons, the side propping up the table on December 25 has gone on to finish in the drop zone. No one wants to be bottom of the standings when the turkey is served.

😮 The greatest escapes in Premier League history

While no one wants their team to be in the bottom three in March or April, history shows that it pays to keep fighting until relegation is mathematically confirmed. Down the years, several Premier League sides have pulled off escape acts that would have impressed Harry Houdini.

In 2004/05, West Bromwich Albion were the first team in Premier League history to avoid relegation having been bottom at Christmas. After winning just one of their first 23 matches, and only two of their first 27, optimism was in short supply at The Hawthorns. But Bryan Robson’s men rallied late on, taking a respectable 16 points from the last 33 on offer to keep their heads above water.

Sunderland fans had a sinking feeling for much of the 2013/14 season. A dismal start saw Paolo Di Canio fired in September, and it looked like Gus Poyet would take the team down to the Championship. But Sunderland upset the relegation odds Premier League late on, drawing 2-2 with Manchester City and then winning four games in a row (including one against José Mourinho’s Chelsea) to overturn a seven-point deficit.

Leicester City stunned the football world when they won the title in 2015/16, but they were very nearly relegated the year before. Nigel Pearson’s team found themselves six points adrift of safety at the start of April, but a thrilling run of seven wins in their final nine fixtures saw them finish all the way up in 14th.

⏬ Which teams in this year’s Premier League have been relegated most often?

Norwich City hold the unwanted record of being the most relegated team in Premier League history, having gone down six times since 1992/93. They are followed by West Brom and Leicester on five demotions apiece.

None of that trio are in the top flight this season, though, which means Burnley and Sunderland (four each) have suffered the most relegations of the current top 20. A glance at the Premier League relegation betting odds shows that the bookmakers would not be surprised if both clubs joined West Brom and Leicester on five relegations in 2025/26.

Crystal Palace and Fulham comfortably finished in mid-table last time out but, with three relegations to their name, neither London side is immune to the drop. Nottingham Forest, European qualifiers in 2024/25, have also dropped out of the Premier League on three occasions.

Elsewhere, Leeds, Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham and Wolves have all been relegated twice in the past 32 years. Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham, Everton, Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford have never been relegated from the Premier League, with the first six of those teams the only ever-presents.

🙋‍♂️ FAQs about the 2025/26 Premier League season

1. What will be the key fixtures to look out for in this season’s relegation battle?

The biggest games down the bottom in the next month will see West Ham head to Burnley, and they simply can’t afford another defeat to a fellow struggler.

Leeds host Forest in early February, a week after Forest have faced Palace at the City Ground. These three are the trio West Ham are looking to catch, so they’ll be paying close attention to the way in which these play out.

Palace, as mentioned earlier, have several winnable games in February but for a team who haven’t won in two months, none of them are a ‘given’. They head down to Sussex to face Brighton after their trip to Forest, then they welcome Burnley and Wolves to Selhurst Park.

Looking ahead to the end of the season – you’d have to circle that West Ham v Leeds game on the final day as a potential ‘cup final’ for survival.

2. How often do struggling teams benefit from a “new manager bounce”?

It is common for struggling Premier League sides to change their manager in a bid to turn things around. A positive upturn in form following the appointment of a new boss is often called the “new manager bounce”. But the evidence on its success as a strategy is mixed.

There have certainly been occasions when employing a new head coach has brought about a turnaround in fortunes. It did not take long for Roy Hodgson to work his magic at West Brom in 2010/11. Paul Clement rescued Swansea City after being appointed midway through the 2016/17 campaign. Just last season, David Moyes had a near-instant impact after replacing Sean Dyche at Everton.

Yet it does not always work. Last season also saw Leicester go backwards under Ruud van Nistelrooy following the dismissal of Steve Cooper. Having got rid of Mick McCarthy, Wolves got worse under Terry Connor in 2011/12. Sunderland experienced the same misfortune in 2002/03, when neither Howard Wilkinson nor McCarthy could improve results sufficiently to keep them up. 

Sometimes, sticking with a manager pays dividends. Leicester kept faith in Nigel Pearson in 2014/15 and were rewarded with a remarkable late rally which saw them snatch survival from the jaws of relegation. On other occasions, relegation-threatened clubs have been mistaken to back a struggling manager – think Avram Grant at West Ham in 2009/10.

In conclusion, there is no hard-and-fast rule on whether or not it is beneficial to change your manager in a relegation battle.

3. How quickly can a team be drawn into the relegation battle?

Very quickly, if they are not careful. It does not take much for a Premier League team to slide down the standings and suddenly find themselves embroiled in a fight for their top-tier status.

Promoted from the Championship via the play-offs, Hull City carried that momentum into the Premier League in 2008/09. Their performance in the early part of the season was superb and they sat sixth in the middle of December, but their form completely collapsed thereafter. With just one win in their last 22 matches, Phil Brown’s team survived by the skin of their teeth.

Leicester were not so lucky in 2022/23. They beat Tottenham 4-1 in February to move into 13th place with the top half in their sights. But Leicester went on to lose eight of their next nine games to plummet down the table and, despite beating West Ham 2-1 on the final day, they were relegated.

It is never advisable to celebrate survival before it is 100 percent guaranteed. After beating Ipswich 3-1 on 1st May 1993, Crystal Palace players did a lap of honour at Selhurst Park having moved eight points clear of trouble. But the Eagles went on to lose their last two games, and an extraordinary sequence of three wins in seven days saw Oldham Athletic overtake them to send Palace down.

4. How much of an impact can injuries and suspensions have in terms of shaking up the relegation battle?

Luck is a big factor in every sport and football is no exception. Injuries and suspensions can be the difference between survival and relegation, particularly for smaller clubs in the division who tend to have less strength in depth.

When they went down in 2021/22, Leeds had to make do without top scorer Patrick Bamford, midfield talisman Kalvin Phillips and defensive leader Liam Cooper for a large chunk of the campaign. Those absences contributed massively to their failure to stay up.

Had they kept more players fit, Reading might have survived in 2007/08. Unfortunately for the 18th-placed Royals, their players missed a cumulative 400 days more to injury than Fulham, who finished 17th.

However, a busy treatment room does not necessarily condemn a struggling side to relegation. Charles N’Zogbia, Christian Benteke, Fabian Delph and Jores Okore were all sidelined for significant periods in 2013/14, but Aston Villa still did enough to retain their Premier League place.

📖 Read more about the 2025/26 football season

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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