West Ham look set to back Graham Potter with a sensational striker move once sufficient funds are raised through sales after the Jhon Duran debacle but Spurs are a problem.
West Ham had Jhon Duran lined up as their much-needed dynamic young striker signing last summer.
That was after David Sullivan admitted the Hammers wanted Dominic Solanke but could not compete with Tottenham Hotspur’s huge offer.
West Ham and Tottenham face off this Sunday with signing a striker a top priority for both again this summer.
The fact the Hammers and Spurs are playing to avoid being the worst team in the Premier League outside the bottom three is all the evidence needed on that front.
West Ham and Spurs want new striker – yet again
It could have been so different for West Ham, though, had they made different choices.
Aston Villa were prepared to accept £45m from West Ham for Duran last summer, according to reports at the time.
Instead Tim Steidten elected to spend that figure signing untested Brazilian teen Luis Guilherme and ageing, injury-prone striker Niclas Fullkrug.
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The rest, as they say, is history and West Ham fans don’t need reminding how things have worked out all three players since.
Although the story didn’t end there.
In January West Ham confirmed claims they made a stunning £57m bid for Duran – a club record.
Cynics among the Hammers fanbase – of which there are many, and justifiably so – felt the move was another example of ‘phantom bids and faux ambition’.
Mega rich Saudi side Al-Nassr – the club of Cristiano Ronaldo fame – ended up signing Duran instead for around £8m more. Although the Colombian’s wages there are on a level few clubs in world football can compete with, let alone the Hammers.
It is that whopping Duran bid which has seen fans question West Ham’s claims that they are at their PSR limit ahead of a huge summer window for Graham Potter.
West Ham explained the Duran bid and PSR situation last month.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has also questioned West Ham’s PSR claims.
Leading journalist David Ornstein has called West Ham’s bluff over their summer budget too, claiming they will be active.
West Ham back in for striker they snubbed to go all in for Duran
It’s important to note that West Ham have not said they won’t be making signings.
On the contrary, the Hammers insist they will be backing Potter – but must cut their cloth accordingly due to PSR, no different to the likes of moneybags Newcastle and Villa.
Even Tottenham, the most profitable club in the top flight, may have to sell to buy due to a PSR quirk – as reported by The Telegraph this week.
This season has proved there is plenty of deadwood to shift at West Ham – and Spurs.
As far as the Hammers are concerned it will be all about fetching decent fees for as many as possible to build up Potter’s kitty.
There was good news on that front last night as news emerged that West Ham are in live talks to seal a first summer transfer.
Hammers reignite Boniface move but Spurs could ruin everything
Now a move for a striker West Ham snubbed to go all in for Duran is back on but Spurs could ruin everything.
It seems the Hammers do have every intention of backing Potter once money comes in from sales – with Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta – if he beats spot-fixing charges – and a host of others set to be shipped out.
Ironically Tottenham have been linked with Jarrod Bowen, Kudus, Paqueta and even Edson Alvarez in recent weeks.
It’s been reported Spurs chief Daniel Levy thinks he cant take advantage of West Ham’s financial situation – despite there being an unofficial transfer embargo between the two rivals amid frosty boardroom relations dating back to 2015.
Last year it was reported West Ham were lining up a £50m bid for Nigerian striker Victor Boniface.
The move never happened as Victor Boniface stayed at Bayer Leverkusen – and actually helped knock West Ham out of the Europa League.
Boniface is exactly what Potter needs at West Ham
When West Ham bid for Duran in January, it was reported Boniface and Evan Ferguson were their back-up options.
Al-Nassr played the Hammers like a flute by feigning a move for Bonfiace themselves – even agreeing a £43m deal.
That is not expensive for a striker of 24-year-old Boniface’s talents.
The Saudi side left West Ham without either striker and a loan deal was done for Ferguson instead.
Now it’s been claimed by talkSPORT sources – as also reported by BuliNews in Germany – that West Ham are back in for Boniface.
But Levy could spoil the move as it has been stated that the West Ham or Tottenham are the ‘most likely’ destinations for Boniface this summer.
Boniface has 72 goals in 178 games in his senior career so far.
The powerful and pacy Nigerian possesses all the attributes the Irons are missing up front. And at 24, he should have his best years ahead of him.
West Ham fans will be thinking this is much more like it.
Whether they can see off Tottenham, especially if they secure Champions League football by winning the Europa League, is another matter entirely.