Hammers News

A word of warning Tottenham Hotspur; Mohammed Kudus may look impressive now but, as West Ham United know all too well, the rough must be accepted alongside the smooth.

That, of course, is often the case when it comes to mercurial, maverick-style attackers like the Ghana international.

Alan Pardew, West Ham United coach from 2003 to 2006, summed it up neatly a few months back. Mohammed Kudus can be ‘unplayable’ on his day, Pardew said.

But days like that became increasingly rare during his two-year stint at the London Stadium. Particularly when the goals dried up, his interest appeared to wane, and especially during a fall-out with Julen Lopetegui exacerbated by a five-game ban he picked up after sparking a mini-riot against – funnily enough – Tottenham Hotspur.

It seems all is forgiven at Spurs for now.

Daniel Levy convinced David Sullivan to accept a bid of £54.5 million last month.

A forward who marked his West Ham United home debut with a brace in Europa League qualifying, meanwhile, is making a positive first impression in his new, white kit now too.

The Tottenham faithful loved what they saw from Kudus as the Europa League winners defeated arch rivals Arsenal during a midweek friendly held in Hong Kong. So too did Thomas Frank.

Thomas Frank hails Mohammed Kudus after swapping West Ham United for Tottenham

There was nothing quite as spectacular as, say, his bicycle kick against Man City. Or his Puskas Award-nominated solo effort against Freiburg.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

But the way Kudus used his upper-body strength and his excellent close control to receive the ball under pressure, draw fouls or spark quick transitions had many Spurs fans hailing the arrival of a different, more physical dimension.

And Frank, a pre-season North London derby triumph an early feather in his Spurs cap, certainly seems to share the supporters’ enthusiasm for the new signing.

“I think he was really good [against Arsenal], Kudus. His hold-up play, the way he takes hold of the ball in tricky situations,” Ange Postecoglou’s replacement told reporters.

“His one-vs-one skills, his creating opportunities for the team was top-class.

“On top of that, I think he is working extremely hard and there was a recovery run from a set piece when he was straining all the way back, and he won the ball back. That is how he can help the team so much.

“He will make a lot of the fans excited with his offensive actions and he will also help the team defensively.”

Kudus already has an unofficial assist in Spurs colours.

He set up Luka Vuskovic in the 2-0 win at Reading last month, while his corner later in the second-half led to Will Lankshear doubling Tottenham’s tally at the back post.

Lucas Paqueta could stay at West Ham as trial ends

Back at West Ham, while Kudus may have gone, Graham Potter may well have Lucas Paqueta at his disposal beyond September.

While the Brazil international was cleared of spot-fixing offences on Thursday, Hammers News understands that Paqueta could repay the faith shown in him at West Ham by staying put.

“Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations,” Paqueta said in an emotional statement.

“I can’t say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face.

“To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me.

“Thank you for everything.”

So, Tottenham Hotspur wait 16 years for a trophy and then two come along in the space of a few weeks for West Ham United’s Premier League rivals.

Well, OK, not quite.

But with the admittedly less-than prestigious Herbalgy Trophy on the line, Pape Matar Sarr’s stunning lob secured a 1-0 victory for the suddenly silver-hoarding Spurs over their serial-bottlers from down the road in North London.

Just hours after Niclas Fullkrug’s ‘ridiculous’ winner saw West Ham past Everton in Chicago – a morale-boosting victory for Graham Potter’s side in the USA Premier League Summer Series – Sarr chipped a floundering Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya in front of nearly 50,000 supporters in Hong Kong.

If that was the standout moment of a tight, one-goal game, though, the standout performance arguably came from the man who inherited the number 20 shirt most famously worn by Dele Alli at Tottenham Hotspur.

Daniel Levy convinced David Sullivan to accept a bid of £54.5 million for Mohammed Kudus earlier in July.

Now, whether that proves to be a good investment depends largely upon which version of the former West Ham United forward Tottenham are getting.

The claret-and-blue blur who earned a Puskas Award nomination while scoring 14 West Ham goals in 2023/24? Or the Kudus who appeared to lose his focus, his discipline, and his self-confidence under Julen Lopetegui?

Tottenham fans hail Mohammed Kudus as former West Ham star impresses in Arsenal win

The reaction from an impressed Tottenham fanbase certainly hints at the former.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“It’s so refreshing to have an attacker like Kudus who’s actually a problem to defend against,” one fan writes on X after watching the Ghana international use his turn of pace and excellent close control to surge away from his Arsenal opponents.

About damn time!,” another agrees in response.

“Kudus is a cheat code.”

“Finally, the strength to not have the ball come straight back at us. Good times.”

Even during a difficult second season at West Ham, Kudus’ upper-body strength meant he was always a useful outlet for a team looking to drag themselves up the pitch. It appears that prizefighter build and his ability to spin away from even the tightest markers have added a different dimension to an occasionally lightweight Spurs attack.

“It’s actually quite hilarious how many times Kudus helps us retain the ball. Imagine [Brennan] Johnson in that possession.

“Absolutely loving Kudus’ work rate and tenacity.”

“Useful both ends of the field too, absolute work horse.”

“Kudus is a one man army. What a unit!”

Spurs supporters label Kudus a potential ‘superstar’ under Thomas Frank

The former Ajax ace lasted 60 minutes as Tottenham beat Arsenal in the first ever North London derby held outside of English soil.

Champions League football was ‘the biggest reason’ why Kudus opted to become the first player since Scott Parker in 2011 to leave West Ham for Spurs. Now under the stewardship of ex-Brentford coach Thomas Frank, Tottenham may fancy their chances of going deep in the competition too if they can land a couple more game-changing additions before the September deadline.

“What a brilliant signing,” another fan writes.

“This is really why you pay up for top talent like Kudus. They elevate and electrify the rest of the team and make them play better. Top players do that.

“Kudus is pure quality. How many times does he receive the ball in disadvantageous positions and still come away with it? His back-to-goal work is top class. Him and Sarr have looked quality during pre-season.”

“Kudus is so good man. A type of winger we’ve been crying out for. I was excited when we signed him, but he’s surpassed how good I thought he was. I can’t believe we had a free run at him.

“Mohammed Kudus is so obviously going to be a superstar for us. Not sure the last time I felt this way about an attacking signing.”

West Ham could be set to do another deal with Tottenham – this time for a major reunion and Daniel Levy finds himself cornered.

After 14-and-a-half years of an unofficial transfer embargo between them, another controversial deal may be in the offing between bitter rivals West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.

Hammers fans were furious that David Sullivan even entertained selling Mohammed Kudus to Spurs.

Especially at £30m less than his “release clause” and over £10m less than the minimum amount West Ham had said they would accept.

While Kudus is understood to have been a difficult teammate – labelled selfish by ex Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui – West Ham fans fear he will explode at Tottenham, leaving their club with egg on their faces.

Another deal on the cards between West Ham and Spurs

The Ghanaian became the first player to move between West Ham and Spurs since Scott Parker and David Bentley in 2001.

But like London buses, after more than 14 years without a deal between the rivals, two could come along in the same summer.

West Ham are reportedly eyeing a reunion deal with Spurs and Daniel Levy finds himself cornered.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

There is no denying Levy got one over on West Ham with the Kudus deal.

Levy is called many things by Tottenham fans. But there is no denying he is a shrewd businessman.

The Spurs chief knew West Ham were struggling due to PSR and had to sell to buy.

And he preyed on that to get Kudus at a knockdown price.

Now, though, it is West Ham who have Levy in the palm of their hand as they look to sign a Tottenham player for Graham Potter.

The Irons have only signed full-backs El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters so far.

Potter is now focusing on signing two new midfielders and a goalkeeper.

West Ham eye reunion deal with Spurs and Levy is cornered

That has led West Ham back to the negotiating table with Tottenham – but this time it is Sullivan who may have the ace card up his sleeve.

Respected Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport claim West Ham are making a move to reunite Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma with Potter.

Mali star Bissouma rose to prominence under Potter at Brighton before being sold to Spurs.

Now he could end up playing under his former boss at West Ham.

Gazzetta claim the Hammers are battling Juventus for Bissouma.

It would be typical of Levy’s reputation that he would refuse to do business with West Ham despite the Hammers selling Spurs Kudus.

But West Ham’s interest in a Juventus alternative could work against Tottenham.

Because Spurs have been linked with reported Hammers target Douglas Luiz, who has no future at Juve.

It is claimed Juventus are only interested in a cash deal for Luiz, who is also a target for Tottenham.

However, West Ham are ahead of Spurs in the race for the Brazilian.

West Ham won’t be signing Luiz and Bissouma – they are too similar in their style.

Hammers can use Luiz move as leverage with Levy

So selling Bissouma to the Hammers would clear the path for Tottenham over Luiz, forcing Levy to do business with Sullivan again.

It is easy to see why Potter wants a reunion with Bissouma.

At 28 he does not necessarily fit the profile West Ham are looking to sign as Potter aims to lower the age of the squad.

But West Ham’s midfield is sorely lacking bite, athleticism and agility – which Bissouma has in abundance.

How Hammers fans would feel about signing a Tottenham player is another matter.

If Bissouma helps West Ham compete for the top six – as he did with Potter at Brighton, supporters would soon get on board.

While West Ham United’s pursuit of a new goalkeeper is expected to ramp up this week – Leicester City glovesman Mads Hermansen in the frame – things are less certain on the striker front at the Premier League outfit.

It is a week now since Hammers News reported that ex-Newcastle frontman Callum Wilson was expected to move to West Ham United on a free transfer.

While a heavily incentivised deal for the 33-year-old former England international is still very much on the cards, recent reports suggest that Wilson is considering all his available options before putting pen to paper at the London Stadium.

But, as Carlton Cole put it, West Ham could do with a younger striker as well. If Wilson is a short-term, quick-fix, more long-term solution is also required. Yet, heading into the final month of the summer window, all the paper in your local Clinton Cards would be required if you were to make a list of centre-forwards who have slipped through Graham Potter’s grasp.

Hammers News were informed, via football correspondent Graeme Bailey, that Galatasaray star Baris Alper Yilmaz was a leading target in mid-June.

But, thanks to a timely intervention from Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, it appears that Yilmaz is ready to close the door on the 2023 Conference League champions, like so many others.

Baris Alper Yilmaz told to reject West Ham United and wait for Liverpool or Tottenham

One of the most versatile forwards on the market, interest in Baris Alper Yilmaz is nothing new.

West Ham reportedly saw a £21 million bid rejected in January, alongside Nottingham Forest. The £30 million-rated Yilmaz appeared keen to leave Galatasaray following a second successive Super Lig title this summer, meanwhile, only to perform a whiplash-inducing U-turn after talking things over with the coach who outmuscled Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce to finish last season on 95 points.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“Baris Alper Yilmaz has a truly special and distinct place for Okan Buruk. Baris has no intention of leaving,” Sky Sports Turkey reporter Ali Naci Kucuk explained on Tuesday.

“Coach Okan told Baris; ‘Europe’s eyes are on Galatasaray right now. With the moves we’ve made, and the Champions League as our target, play another year, showcase yourself better, and move on to higher-level teams’.

“‘Instead of going to West Ham, go to Tottenham or Liverpool’.”

The implication being, of course, that Baris Alper Yilmaz can fast-track a transfer to a bonafide A-list European giant should he prove himself capable of going head to head with the continent’s best on the Champions League stage.

Carlton Cole wants West Ham to sign a younger striker alongside Callum Wilson

Suggestions that Yilmaz should snub West Ham in favour of a Spurs side who finished below them in the Premier League table last season will not impress many in claret-and-blue, but few would take issue should the Turkey international opt to keep his powder dry and wait for a club in Liverpool’s position.

Yilmaz scored 14 goals while providing a further six assists as Galatasaray dominated the Super Lig again in 2024/25.

Callum Wilson, in contrast, started only two Premier League matches in another season dogged by fitness issues.

“Callum Wilson, when he’s fit, he is a really renowned, really good striker. He gets goals. Always scores against West Ham United!” the aforementioned Carlton Cole tells talkSPORT.

“Look, he’s a good player. He’s a good player. But is it what Graham Potter wants? If it’s what Graham Potter wants, then I will go with it. If he sees the vision, he can make it work.”

“I like Callum Wilson when he’s fit, but how many times is he fit?,” Cole asks. “Can he maintain [the required fitness levels]? That is the biggest problem.

“Yes, we do need a striker but how desperate are we to get a striker in? Can we get one that is younger, maybe to complement Jarrod Bowen?”

Mohammed Kudus became the first player since Scott Parker 14 years previously to leave West Ham United for Premier League neighbours Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month.

After a prolonged negotiation, Daniel Levy convinced David Sullivan to accept a bid of £54.5 million.

Mohammed Kudus could not resist Champions League football in North London, meanwhile, even if a highly-contentious departure took a sledgehammer to any remaining goodwill held towards him at West Ham United.

Kudus is only the fifth player in the last 22 years to swap the claret and blue kit for the bright white of Spurs.

Scott Parker was the most recent, coming back in 2011, while Michael Carrick, Freddie Kanoute and Jermain Defoe made the short trip across the capital shortly after the Millennium.

Speaking to talkSPORT this week, meanwhile, one-time Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara admits that he could have joined a very exclusive club too by moving in the other direction as part of the deal which took a baby-faced Defoe to White Hart Lane two decades ago.

Jamie O’Hara explains why he did not leave Tottenham Hotspur for West Ham United

In the end, it was Bobby Zamora who joined West Ham as part of that Defoe agreement.

Had a teenage O’Hara felt differently, he could have made the move to Upton Park as well. Instead, the boyhood Spurs fanatic opted to remain 12 miles north before making his senior debut under Juande Ramos later down the line.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“Sunderland wanted me. Birmingham wanted me as well when they had Barry Ferguson in midfield,” O’Hara recalls, when asked if he saw any potential transfers fall through during his playing career.

“I thought he was a good player Barry. I thought I would go there and play alongside him but they had a couple of other players [in my position], so I wasn’t sure if Birmingham was the right place.

“West Ham wanted to do a deal when Jermain Defoe was coming the other way. They wanted me to go to West Ham but I didn’t want to go to West Ham. It was a good club but I didn’t want to go there.

“There were a few. I could have gone to Malaga as well! A bit of Marbella…”

A former England Under-21 international turned ‘shock jock’, O’Hara would go on to play 103 Premier League games for Tottenham, Portsmouth and Wolves albeit without ever really establishing himself among the elite.

Zamora, in contrast, provided some of the most memorable moments of the Alan Pardew era at West Ham. The winner against Preston North End in the 2005 Championship play-off final, for instance, plus that infamous strike in a 3-2 win away to Arsenal.

He now works as a forward coach at another of his old employers; Brighton and Hove Albion.

Evan Ferguson leaves Brighton for Roma as Bobby Zamora backs him for success

Bobby Zamora remains a big fan of Evan Ferguson, a footballer he knows very well from his time at the Amex, despite the Irishman’s ill-fated loan spell at West Ham last season.

The one-time Seagulls sensation escaped the glare of the Premier League this week when securing a potential £34 million move to Roma.

“I did some Malaysian TV recently with Bobby Zamora. He goes into Brighton once a week and coaches the strikers. Bobby said Evan was the best finisher at the club,” former Newcastle and Man City goalkeeper Shay Given told the Scottish Sun recently.

“I think Evan just needs to find a home, if I’m being honest. Be it here or somewhere else. I think he needs someone to say ‘You’re my player.’

“He went to West Ham for Graham Potter and you thought that was the perfect fit because Graham had him at Brighton, but then he didn’t play so much at West Ham either. [Michail] Antonio was injured. Yet, they played [Jarrod] Bowen and [Mohammed] Kudus, not Ferguson.

“What happens next for Evan? I just think he needs to go, be it a loan for a season or some club buys him, and you build the team around him. I think he’s a top player, I really do.

After a couple of weeks in which very little happened, former West Ham United striker Carlton Cole was not short of talking points when he returned to punditry duty; From Mohammed Kudus to Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Wilson.

The Hammers had to wait until July 10th for the first big deal of the summer to occur.

Mohammed Kudus’ departure from the London Stadium always felt likely to be an unblocking-of-the-ketchup-bottle sort of moment. And, almost immediately after Tottenham Hotspur confirmed Kudus’ arrival in a £54.5 million deal, West Ham United reinvested a third of that windfall bringing El Hadji Malick Diouf to the London Stadium.

The blockage removed, and the sauce now flowing liberally.

You wait a month-and-a-half for one new face, meanwhile, and West Ham could now land three in the space of a week.

Kyle Walker-Peters joins his fellow full-back Diouf, arriving on a free after his contract at Southampton expired. Hammers News can confirm that West Ham have offered Callum Wilson a 12-month deal, too; the striker also pursuing a fresh start upon his exit from Newcastle on July 1st.

Carlton Cole coy on West Ham United’s Callum Wilson chase

Speaking to talkSPORT, a man who now works behind the scenes as West Ham’s Loans and Pathways Manager accepts that things are heading in the right direction in the recruitment department.

Kudus’ sale has freed up valuable funds, after all.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Hammers News reported all the way back in April that Kyle Walker-Peters agreed a hefty £75,000-a-week deal with West Ham.

Cole expects further signings to arrive soon enough with Harvey Elliott, Tyler Morton and Mads Hermansen among those high on the list.

“There is [new signings on the way]. It’s a work in progress,” says Cole, who scored 68 goals for West Ham during nearly a decade in claret and blue.

“But we’ve got Kyle Walker-Peters, we’ve got a few youngsters [arriving].”

West Ham signed Daniel Cummings from Celtic. Callum Leacock and Josh Kerr both arrived from Northern Irish football, while Connor Brooks adds a ‘high-energy midfield player’ to the club’s youth ranks.

When pressed on Callum Wilson, however, Cole’s response was a little more coy.

“No, no, hold on. Everyone’s saying he’s gone to West Ham but he’s not there yet.”

‘Yet’, of course, being the most important word.

TalkSPORT now say that, as of 3.30 on Friday afternoon, former England international Wilson has agreed terms with West Ham on a ‘minimal’ contract incentivised by goal and appearance bonuses.

Former Aston Villa captain Gabby Agbonlahor felt that West Ham should sign Callum Wilson on one condition; If he was willing to accept a pay-as-you-play deal, or some variation thereupon. It appears that this is exactly the sort of arrangement now destined to take place.

Cole refutes claims that Tottenham stole West Ham’s ‘best player’ in Mohammed Kudus

As for Kudus, Cole effortlessly swept aside a jibe from former Tottenham midfielder Jamie O’Hara.

Spurs have not, as O’Hara cheekily suggested, nabbed West Ham’s ‘best player’, no matter how much they might like to.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is a huge Jarrod Bowen fan. And if the Hammers supporters were asked to pick between Bowen crossing the divide or Kudus, the results would weigh extremely heavily in the direction of the latter.

“Jarrod Bowen is our best player [not Kudus],” was Cole’s blunt response.

The aforementioned Carlton Cole is reluctant to label Wilson a ‘West Ham United’ player at this stage, however.

The Ghana international made a bright start to his Tottenham career in pre-season. He assisted Luka Vuskovic’s goal in a 2-0 win at Reading, while providing the corner from which Will Lankshear opened the scoring.

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.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

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.

West Ham have been plunged into another embarrassing situation involving Tottenham Hotspur, just days after the Mohammed Kudus fallout.

Spurs chief Daniel Levy has now swooped in to hijack a move for one of Graham Potter’s top transfer targets — just hours after West Ham admitted they’re hoping to strike a deal.

If there was little love lost between West Ham and Tottenham already then relations will be at an all-time low after this summer transfer window.

The Hammers and Spurs are one another’s fiercest rivals after Millwall and Arsenal respectively.

Hammers fans furious at selling Kudus to Spurs

There has been a series of clashes and rows between West Ham and Tottenham down the years.

From lasagne-gate to fallouts over the Olympic Stadium – which destroyed the friendship between Levy and Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady – and an unofficial transfer embargo lasting over 14 years.

That was until the weekend, when West Ham controversially sold Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham in a deal worth £54.5m.

Spurs and Kudus have rubbed salt in the wound by goading the Hammers since.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

The Ghanaian declared he ‘only wanted Spurs’ in a video announcing his arrival.

Kudus was also seen on camera telling Tottenham’s doctor ‘You will find Spurs in there’ as he listened to his heart with a stethoscope.

While far from happy with the financial situation the club has got itself into, Hammers fans had accepted Kudus needed to be sold to raise funds for Potter’s rebuild.

But David Sullivan and West Ham’s board have come under fire for even contemplating doing business with Tottenham, let alone for one of the team’s most talented players.

West Ham fans now have to suffer the ignominy of being trolled by their Tottenham counterparts – just as they’ve had to with Arsenal supporters over Declan Rice.

West Ham’s new Spurs shame as Levy hijacks move for top target

Things have taken another ugly turn for Sullivan and co now, though.

West Ham could suffer new Spurs shame after the Kudus deal as Levy hijacks their move for a top target.

It looked like the Hammers might have the last laugh over Tottenham and Kudus when they instantly used the money to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf.

The electric Senegal left-back has joined West Ham from Slavia Prague in a £19m deal, which could rise to £23m.

Since then attentions in east London have turned to landing Potter’s prime target, Liverpool playmaker Harvey Elliott.

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.

The Hammers hierarchy told fans there was still a chance, if only a small one, of bringing the England Under 21 star to the London Stadium as Potter’s star buy.

But after the misery of the Kudus deal, Tottenham have now hijacked West Ham’s bid to sign Elliott from Liverpool too.

Tottenham to hold talks for West Ham target Elliott

That’s according to Weekend Sports journalist Sébastien Vidal.

The reporter claims Spurs have now turned their attentions to Elliott after their move for Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White hit the buffers over the alleged disclosure of the midfielder’s release clause.

In fact Vidal says Tottenham are set to hold talks with Liverpool about getting a deal done, hours after West Ham made it clear it was ‘never say never’ in their own hopes to sign Elliott.

Vidal claims Newcastle and Brighton are also interested.

First Kudus, now this for West Ham to contend with.

Clearly at West Ham, Elliott would get more game time as Spurs have signed Kudus to play off the right, one of the former Fulham youngster’s favourite positions.

In the middle they have James Maddison too.

If it is game time Elliott is looking for then the Hammers would be a better bet.

But Tottenham have Champions League football to offer and their transfer intentions so far may be a closer fit with Elliott’s own ambitions.

West Ham missing out on Elliott is one thing. But missing out to Tottenham will make the move sting.

West Ham new boy El Hadji Malick Diouf surprised some fans by bringing up Spurs and Everton in his very first club interview.

But the reason behind El Hadji Malick Diouf’s comments will now make perfect sense before Tottenham Hotspur or Everton fans get too carried away.

Everton boss David Moyes and bitter rivals Tottenham have actually played a big part in West Ham’s making Diouf their first signing of the Graham Potter era.

The Hammers have completed the capture of the Senegal left wingback from Slavia Prague for £19m – with a possible further £4m in add-ons.

Moyes did a superb job in east London before his return to Everton.

Moyes and Tottenham had hand in West Ham signing Diouf

But he neglected to invest in top young full-backs during his time with the Hammers.

That has led to Potter making the position one of his top priorities after a dismal 18 months, which started with Moyes’ final six months in charge.

And the Diouf deal has only been possible after West Ham controversially sold Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham for £54.5m.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Kudus was highlighted by Thomas Frank as a player he wanted at Spurs.

But there is no love lost between the Hammers and Tottenham, underlined by the fact no players have transferred between the rivals for over 14 years.

That changed when David Sullivan sanctioned the Kudus deal.

Although Diouf’s capture may give West Ham the last laugh over Spurs as he matched Kudus’ stats from left-back and is said to be a top character.

Some Spurs fans believe the signing of Kudus proves they are a bigger club than West Ham.

There is a seemingly never-ending tribal debate over that subject involving the likes of the Hammers, Everton and Tottenham.

So West Ham fans feared the worst when both clubs got a mention the first time they heard from Diouf after his arrival.

But here’s why West Ham new boy Diouf mentioned Everton and Spurs in one of his first interviews.

Why West Ham new boy Diouf mentioned Everton and Spurs

West Ham’s media team took a walk with Diouf at Rush Green armed with quick-fire questions to get to know the Hammers new boy better.

Diouf confirmed the correct pronunciation of his name, described his playing style as ‘counter-attacking’ and named Real Madrid and Brazil great Marcelo as his football idol.

But it was when he was asked what Premier League club he was ‘most excited to play against’ that it caught many by surprise.

The usually inevitable answer to questions like that is the likes of Man United, Liverpool or a Man City.

But Diouf rather refreshingly answered ‘Everton’.

Now the Toffees are a big club and they are going into an exciting new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium with former Hammers boss Moyes at the helm.

But there’s no getting away from the fact it was a rather surprising response.

The reason, though, is quite simple.

One of Diouf’s best friends and players he looks up to most in football is Iliman Ndiaye.

Brilliant Toffees winger Ndiaye is a real idol in Senegal and has been making a name for himself in the Premier League – something Diouf admits is ‘every young Senegalese footballer’s dream’.

Diouf and Ndiaye were two of Senegal’s best players when they recently beat England 3-1.

As for Tottenham, their mention was more clear cut.

Ndiaye and Sarr the reason Diouf mentioned Toffees and Spurs

Diouf was asked which Premier League player he was ‘most looking forward to playing against’ for West Ham.

His response was another inspired by his Senegal connections.

Tottenham’s Pape Matar Sarr was the response – another of his close friends from the international setup.

Diouf will get both his wishes just six games into the new Premier League campaign.

The Hammers welcome Spurs to the London Stadium in game week three and then go to Everton in game week six.

Although when West Ham face Tottenham, Diouf will have a much more important task on his hands than Sarr – keeping that man Kudus quiet.

Manchester United target Jean-Clair Todibo has made a major U-turn on his West Ham future after Mohammed Kudus’ controversial move to rivals Spurs.

The West Ham defender’s apparent change of heart comes after a reported threat behind the scenes amid an expectation he would join Man United this summer transfer window.

West Ham and Man United are both on the hunt for a new centre-back.

And the Red Devils have reportedly been biding their time before coming knocking at the London Stadium for Jean-Clair Todibo.

West Ham’s very controversial sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur – the first transfer between the bitter rivals for over 14 years – made Todibo moving to Old Trafford even more likely.

If it was not for strict UEFA rules, Todibo would be at Man United right now.

Man United shadow looms over West Ham star Todibo

On paper, he was arguably West Ham’s best and most impressive signing of a busy window last summer.

But Manchester United were always the elephant in the room for the deal due to the club’s owners INEOS being in control of Nice.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Man United tried to sign Todibo last summer, but UEFA intervened and blocked the transfer due to multi-club ownership rules.

Sensing an opportunity, West Ham’s former technical director Tim Steidten jetted out to Nice to beat Juventus to a deal.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe referred to Todibo in all but name as he confirmed at the time Man United cannot buy directly from Nice due to the ownership situation.

As expected, it has been suggested in some quarters since the move that West Ham were essentially “parking” the ex Barca flop in east London, enabling Man United to sign Todibo for a set price this summer.

Todibo signed on a season-long loan from Nice with an obligation to buy after five Premier League starts – and providing the Hammers stayed in the top flight.

That obligation was indeed triggered, meaning the Hammers have to shell out £32m for Todibo.

The 25-year-old endured a very strange debut season in east London where he looked Champions League one moment and Championship the next.

After a physical altercation with Julen Lopetegui, it was alleged Todibo threatened to leave West Ham unless the Spaniard was sacked.

It has been reported that Todibo regrets signing for West Ham.

As a result there have been lingering claims that Todibo could join the Red Devils this summer.

Todibo ‘threatened to leave’ Hammers if Kudus was sold

Now Man United target Todibo has performed a major U-turn on his West Ham future after the Kudus sale to Spurs.

It has been claimed that Todibo told West Ham he wants out if Lucas Paqueta and Kudus are sold this summer.

Kudus was sold to Tottenham for £54.5m – much to the anger of Hammers fans, who are being goaded by their Spurs counterparts.

That will enable Graham Potter to go out and make some signings, with another centre-back a top priority for the Englishman.

With Kudus gone and Paqueta also likely to be sold if he beats spot fixing charges, it piles the pressure on the Hammers over what to do about Todibo.

Especially after top club insider Sean Whetstone, who is close to co-owner David Sullivan, reported West Ham are open to performing a ‘quick flip’ sale of Todibo this summer to raise money for Potter’s own targets.

With Kudus gone, it gives Manchester United serious encouragement of landing Todibo against the backdrop of those alleged threats to leave east London.

Man United target Todibo performs major U-turn after Kudus sale

But in a major twist, the Frenchman appears to have made it clear he is happy at West Ham and wants to stay, despite admitting he has had a difficult time at the club so far.

Todibo emphatically states the Hammers are about to see a much better version of him next season.

And he says he is glad his move to West Ham has been made permanent, even if it was a mere formality.

Todibo even states he is looking forward to another four years in east London, appearing to completely rule out any chance of demanding to leave over the Kudus sale amid longstanding interest from Man United.

“It’s always better to be fixed on your future, so it’s great to be here another four years, and I’m really happy to now be a permanent West Ham player,” Todibo told West Ham’s website.

“It was a difficult season last year for everyone, and it took me some time to adapt to the Premier League.

‘It took me time to learn about West Ham and the culture’

“I took a lot of time to be fit, and unfortunately I got injured a couple of times, so having this full pre-season is really important for me, and being part of the squad for the entirety of pre-season is going to help me perform to my best this year.

“But I think you always have something to learn, and sometimes you learn more in difficulties and losses, and I think I learnt a lot as a person and as a player, and it’s going to help me.

“It took some time to settle in and learn about the culture of the club, the fans and the players, and I’m happy now because today I know where I am, and I’m very proud to represent our fans.”

As well as Manchester United, Juventus have also been linked with a fresh move while Marseille want him back in France.

But Todibo underlined his commitment to the Hammers, stating the training ground is a much more positive place this summer ahead of what he hopes will be a much-improved season.

“I am confident we’re going to create something big and are ready to try and achieve good things next year…

“I think pre-season gives you a lot. It creates a big confidence, and it also is a benefit to your fitness for sure.

“But it also creates a real team spirit, and I think because we went through a lot of difficult things together, we’re now going to create something big.”

West Ham fans – and Graham Potter – will be dearly hoping he is right.

And they will also be hoping Todibo can start showing what he is really made of next term.