West Ham are unfazed by Tottenham hijacking a move for one of their top targets with recruitment chief Kyle Macaulay already pivoting to a fresh four-player list.
The Hammers remain focused on players who fit the principles of their recruitment policy rather than obsessing over individuals with Spurs now looking a more likely destination for a Graham Potter target.
Tottenham Hotspur are proving to be the bane of West Ham’s life this summer transfer window.
Champions League football and reported Saudi investment by way of stadium naming rights is behind an impressive Tottenham transfer splurge.
Spurs the bane of West Ham’s window
That included ending a 14-year unofficial transfer embargo with West Ham by signing Kudus for £54.5m.
Hammers fans have vented their fury at David Sullivan and the board over the sale to their bitter rivals.
But the money it brings in – payable over 36 months – means West Ham can start Potter’s much-needed rebuild.
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That got underway with the capture of brilliant young Senegalese left wingback El Hadji Malick Diouf this week in a £19m deal – with a further £4m possible in add-ons.
As the Irons turned to their next target, though, there is a familiar fly in the ointment.
West Ham want Harvey Elliott from Liverpool as they look to replace Kudus and inject more youthful exuberance, guile and personality to an ageing and immobile midfield.
At the weekend a leading journalist close to Hammers majority owner Sullivan claimed West Ham are confident they can pull off a deal for Elliott.
It was reported in some quarters West Ham might not be able to afford the move, though.
In a Hammers News exclusive on Wednesday morning, West Ham’s owners revealed they still hope to sign Elliott despite talk the deal may be off.
Then came a bitter blow from Tottenham. Again.
It was revealed Tottenham are hijacking West Ham’s move for Elliott and are set to hold talks with Liverpool.
Spurs hijack no problem for West Ham as Macaulay pivots
The Hammers will undoubtedly be glad to see the back of Spurs this summer.
But the club clearly aren’t getting flustered by the prospect of missing out on Elliott.
The Spurs hijack is no problem for West Ham as Kyle Macaulay pivots to a four-player list.
When Macaulay arrived at the London Stadium from Chelsea to be reunited with Potter in January he reportedly arrived with a comprehensive dossier of targets specifically chosen for the West Ham rebuild.
The Scot has worked with Potter at every single one of his clubs.
He identifies targets based on the system, style of play and individual parameters with one eye on potential future resale value – more akin to the Brighton recruitment philosophy.
And a world away from the often incoherent, scattergun transfer approach West Ham have adopted in the past which has seen players targeted based on availability or who their agent is.
After Tottenham reportedly leapfrogged them in the race for Elliott, Macaulay is refusing to panic.
Hammers recruitment chief has four-player back-up list
That’s according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook.
In his transfer notebook, Crook says the Hammers have got – rather refreshingly – several back-up plans.
Four to be precise – and they’re all exciting young talents.
The first is Elliott’s Liverpool teammate Tyler Morton.
The 22-year-old is another looking to get game time away from Anfield off the back of an impressive Under 21 Euro Championship campaign with triumphant England.
It is being widely claimed West Ham have already lodged a bid.
Fernandes excites West Ham fans
The next name on Macaulay’s list according to Crook is Man City’s James McAtee.
Linked with the Hammers since Potter’s arrival in January, McAtee has been told he must leave Pep Guardiola to play as much as he deserves.
The only problem for West Ham, according to Crook, is that McAtee’s preference is actually to move abroad amid interest from Germany, Spain and Italy.
Should none of those work out, then Macaulay will delve even deeper into the dossier.
It’s claimed he will rekindle interest in “want-away” Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The former Leicester star was another linked throughout January when Potter landed in east London.
He ended up staying at Chelsea but another summer of investment means his chances of playing are growing bleaker with every day.
The final name on Elliott plan B list is perhaps the most exciting – Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes.
The former Sporting star shone for Southampton despite their relegation and is said to be available.
Fernandes is 21 and ranks highly in key midfield statistics across Europe’s top leagues.
His name is the one most intriguing Hammers fans.
But in truth any of the five players on Macaulay’s list would be an improvement on what West Ham were putting out last season.