Talks have taken place between West Ham United and manager Manuel Pellegrini following an alarming slump in form.

West Ham have lost five of their last seven Premier League games, with just two draws, and also crashed out of the Carabao Cup losing 4-0 to League One Oxford United with Pellegrini in danger of losing his job.

The manager was told that results and performances have to improve with West Ham having slumped from third in the table to 16th just three points above the relegation places following the dispiriting defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

The run has dismayed the West Ham hierarchy who want to support Pellegrini and keep him as manager, having invested heavily in the squad since he was hired in the summer of 2018, but are understandably demanding an immediate improvement.

There is a fear that Pellegrini is not accepting the seriousness of the situation with West Ham desperate not to be involved in a relegation fight.

With a run of fixtures starting with Chelsea away on Saturday followed by Wolverhampton Wanderers away and Arsenal at home then Pellegrini could be facing a defining period.