Newcastle United have been told that losing to West Ham and helping send Tottenham Hotspur down to the Championship could actually benefit their long-term future.
Speaking on talkSPORT’s Fiery Fridays, presenter Angelina Kelly suggested Eddie Howe’s side should prioritise protecting their ambitions for next season rather than worrying about sporting integrity.
With Newcastle sitting comfortably in 13th place, Kelly argued the Magpies have little left to fight for apart from local pride, and allowing West Ham to survive at Spurs’ expense could remove a dangerous rival from the Premier League picture.
Kelly believes Roberto De Zerbi’s arrival at Tottenham has already sparked signs of a revival after two wins since taking charge, warning that a strong summer transfer window could quickly turn Spurs back into contenders for the European places.
She said: “Spurs might become a serious obstacle for Newcastle next season if they stay up, keep De Zerbi and spend money in the summer.
“They didn’t win a game in 2026 before he arrived and now they’ve already picked up two victories. With their infrastructure and resources, they could easily push back towards Europe.”
Kelly even suggested Newcastle should field a weakened side against West Ham to increase Tottenham’s chances of relegation, insisting West Ham are far less likely to threaten Newcastle’s ambitions in the future.
Alex Crook agreed, claiming many neutral fans would enjoy seeing Tottenham relegated simply because of the scale of the story.
“There’s a hatred of the north London clubs,” Crook said. “People want Arsenal to bottle the title and most want Spurs to go down.”
Host Adrian Durham, however, argued Newcastle’s biggest motivation should be finishing above Sunderland after suffering two derby defeats to their bitter rivals this season.
“The only way Newcastle can save their season is by finishing above Sunderland,” Durham said. “That means everything in the north east.”
Durham also questioned why more fans are focused on Tottenham’s relegation battle rather than West Ham’s struggles, pointing to the Hammers’ controversial stadium deal and years of underachievement.
The debate highlights how Tottenham’s survival fight has become one of the biggest stories in English football, with De Zerbi’s arrival giving Spurs renewed hope of escaping relegation and rebuilding next season.
