West Ham’s owners have made a jaw-dropping admission about a Tottenham Hotspur deal when questioned about talks with Aston Villa over a transfer.
The stunning revelation comes amid speculation a deal could be imminent in the next 48 hours.
Despite finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, Tottenham have a distinct advantage over West Ham and Aston Villa in this summer’s transfer window.
That is money the Hammers and Aston Villa could sorely use right now.
Many of the claret and blue army at both clubs are growing increasingly restless at the lack of transfer activity so far.
The first month of an extended summer window has not been utilised by West Ham or Aston Villa.
West Ham admit Aston Villa enquiry ahead of unofficial deadline
West Ham’s board has been pleading PSR poverty, claiming huge £100m plus losses are on the horizon in their next accounts in December.
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Meanwhile Aston Villa, who missed out on a second consecutive season of Champions League football, are even worse off.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained recently that Villa are the team most at risk of breaching PSR.
Maguire revealed that when Villa qualified for the Champions League, they spent £91 on wages for every £100 they made in revenue.
As a result, it has been widely claimed Unai Emery needs to offload a player to raise around £30-40m – by Monday.
Because 30th of June is the year end for the 2024/25 accounts, where clubs need to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Daniel Levy had warned Tottenham fans ‘we can’t spend what we don’t have’ before his club qualified for the Champions League.
While West Ham have been insisting they have no wiggle room for transfers due to PSR, they are not in danger of any imminent PSR breach.
Whereas Aston Villa reportedly are.
Graham Potter is relying on a number of sales to raise funds for signings.
West Ham plan to offload the likes of Mohammed Kudus, whom Spurs are said to be interested in.
The Hammers would prefer not to sell to Tottenham given there is no love lost between the rivals, who have maintained an unofficial transfer embargo with one another for 14 years and counting.
Whether the Irons get desperate and are forced to sell Kudus to Spurs remains to be seen.
West Ham owners make stunning Spurs deal claim after Villa talks
But West Ham will be looking to replace the Ghanaian, who will definitely be sold this summer.
That, according to recent reports, has led them to the Midlands where West Ham have made enquiries about Villa star Jacob Ramsey.
The Guardian doubled down on claims West Ham want Ramsey to replace Kudus.
The report also stated the Hammers have been plotting to leave it as late as possible in June to make their Ramsey bid in the hope of driving down the price with Villa having to raise funds by Monday evening.
Aston Villa reporter Tom Collomosse was the first to report West Ham’s interest in Ramsey.
In a new article yesterday, he claimed Ramsey is a player Villa are willing to sell to West Ham before Monday’s deadline as transfer director Monchi is faced with balancing the books.
The report also confirmed the Hammers have enquired about Ramsey ahead of Monday.
But he also mentioned potential interest from Tottenham.
Collomosse reports that Villa’s asking price of around £40m is deemed relatively steep by the Hammers and Spurs.
Now West Ham’s owners have made a stunning Spurs deal claim after talks with Aston Villa.
Hammers News put the reports about a potentially imminent move for Ramsey to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.
The Hammers board were asked whether there was any truth in the claim the club is eyeing Ramsey with Villa potentially having to sell a player by Monday.
Hammers board think Ramsey is joining Tottenham instead
The response was very revealing.
And it is more bad news for West Ham fans – but major shot in the arm for Spurs.
West Ham’s owners did not deny interest, suggesting they have enquired about signing Ramsey.
But they won’t be – because the Hammers believe he is joining rivals Spurs instead.
“I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.
It marks yet another bitter blow for West Ham, landed by one of their fiercest rivals no less.
And the news will not go down well with Hammers fans.
Although a Sky Sports reporter stated live on TV overnight that a source at Villa has told him PSR isn’t a problem for the club come Monday. So it remains to be seen whether Villa do offload Ramsey.
There is not long to wait to find out the reality of the situation.
The jury is also out on whether Spurs signing Ramsey would end their interest in West Ham’s Kudus.