Alvaro Arbeloa is leading the Premier League sack race ahead of Roberto De Zerbi and Oliver Glasner.
That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that Arbeloa is the most likely manager to be sacked first in the Premier League this season.
Arbeloa was appointed as Fulham’s new manager in July following the departure of Marco Silva to Benfica.
He has lost each of his first three Premier League games in charge of the Cottagers, and they are currently sat 19th in the top flight.
His players are already believed to be concerned at their tactical set-up, particularly how open the team is defensively amid a chaotic start to the campaign.
Arbeloa could well be relieved of his duties if his players down tools, with tough clashes against Liverpool and Man United coming up before the international break.
Alvaro Arbeloa is the most likely PL manager to be sacked next
Everton’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has heard about Arbeloa’s “confrontational” style from his contacts in Spain.
Tottenham chief De Zerbi and Nottingham Forest boss Glasner are both under pressure, but Arbeloa looks set to face the axe before any other manager.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained: “There are probably three managers in the sack race right now. You have to look at De Zerbi, who is up there. Forest, with the famous Marinakis trigger finger, who knows where Oliver Glasner will end up as well.
“I think the favourite is Arbeloa at Fulham. I was surprised when he came in. I’ve got enough contacts in Spanish football that have told me a little bit about him, and it’s not all flattering. He has a very confrontational style, which seems to be proven by the rumours coming out of Craven Cottage right now.
“Silva was more of a man-manager, but Arbeloa has come in and decided he wants to be a new broom. With that comes some problems, and we’re starting to see them manifest. If he loses the dressing room to the extent where they start downing tools, then I think yes, we are going to see him sacked pretty quickly.”
Fulham predicted to drop into Championship by Opta supercomputer
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that some key Fulham players want to leave in January as they struggle on and off the pitch under Arbeloa.
They are currently being backed by Opta’s supercomputer to finish bottom of the Premier League, with Coventry and Ipswich also predicted to go down.
Opta are giving them a 46.31 per cent chance of relegation, with Forest in 17th with a 24.69 per cent chance.
