West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen is once again being linked with a big money move to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur – but this time there is cause for concern.
West Ham fans are used to seeing their best players leave down the years.
But not for bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur ever since an unofficial transfer embargo sparked by Daniel Levy pulling the plug at the 11th hour on Emmanuel Adebayor joining the Hammers.
That was the start of frosty relations between the Tottenham and West Ham boardrooms which was made icier by the fallout of a spying scandal court case.
Yet there have been regular rumours over the last year or so that Tottenham are interested in a number of West Ham stars.
Spurs linked with West Ham captain Bowen – again
First it was Jarrod Bowen last year and since then Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta have also been linked with Tottenham.
In fact back in June last year, it was claimed Tottenham made an enquiry about signing Bowen at the ‘highest levels’.
That suggested Levy had spoken to West Ham majority owner David Sullivan about a shock transfer for the club’s talisman.
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It was stated at the time the Lilywhites saw that approach swiftly rejected by the Hammers, who told their rivals they would have to stump up £150m for West Ham to even consider the sale.
Amid fan fury that Spurs had even had the temerity to ask the question, West Ham responded emphatically on the Bowen bid.
“It is delusional rubbish Spurs could sign Jarrod,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News at the time.
“Let me make this perfectly clear. He is not for sale.”
Fast forward a year and with West Ham at their limit for PSR and in desperate need of sales.
The Hammers have made no bones about the fact players need to be sold this summer to raise funds for signings.
But speaking exclusively to Hammers News after fresh links to Liverpool earlier this month, West Ham’s owners insisted again Bowen is not for sale.
Now it’s being claimed Tottenham want to try again for West Ham’s skipper this summer.
Staggering Bowen to Spurs source should worry West Ham
The staggering Bowen to Spurs claim looks laughable but the source should worry West Ham.
On seeing the latest claims, most Hammers fans have scoffed at the idea.
For a start, Bowen signed a new SEVEN-YEAR Hammers deal only last season and said he wants to retire at West Ham.
Even Tottenham fans would find it hard to image Bowen sitting down with his West Ham fanatic father-in-law-to-be Danny Dyer and telling him that he is signing for one of their biggest rivals.
Gone are the days the Hammers would entertain selling a key player to Tottenham.
But the source of this new Bowen claim should deeply concern West Ham supporters.
Hammers insider Sean Whetstone counts Sullivan and vice-chair Karren Brady as his big contacts at West Ham.
Whetstone has previously revealed that West Ham are bracing themselves for £80m losses in their next accounts.
It was also Whetstone who unearthed West Ham’s £69m Barclays deal which saw them borrow against every penny they were owed in transfer fees by other clubs to fund last summer’s £155m splurge.
And it is Whetstone who claims Spurs smell blood and are trying to take advantage of West Ham’s financial situation to sign Bowen.
He even states that West Ham might now consider a bid over £100m for Bowen.
Even if he thinks it is unlikely Levy will meet that demand.
Spurs preying on West Ham financial woes, claims insider
“Spurs will target Jarrod Bowen this summer to test West Ham’s resolve,” Whetstone claims on X.
“Ange Postecoglou is likely to be replaced before next season, but Daniel Levy will try to take advantage of the Hammers financial losses by trying to tempt them with an offer.
“Spurs would need to lodge a bid way in excess of £100m which appears unlikely knowing Levy’s track record.”
Levy recently responded to protesting Spurs fans but insisting the club ‘can’t spend what we don’t have’.
That will give Hammers fans some comfort.
But the fact there is even a slight possibility the Hammers hierarchy would consider selling Bowen to Tottenham if they bid the right amount is a sickening prospect for supporters.
And one that won’t go down well at all with an already agitated fanbase.