Hammers News

West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur could be embroiled in a real transfer tussle in the summer it seems.

Both West Ham and Tottenham have huge work to do in the transfer market this winter.

However, the summer transfer window is where the two clubs will do the bulk of their recruitment work.

The Hammers have been busy already in January, with Nuno bringing South American strikers Pablo and Taty Castellanos to West Ham.

What are your EXPECTATIONS for Taty Castellanos? 🇦🇷

What does he need to do to justify that £27m price-tag?

There could be even more new arrivals at the London Stadium before the end of the month as well.

However, with so many potential incomings, there will surely be the odd big-name exit or two as well, so that the club is able to balance the books in order to comply with PSR regulations.

Lucas Paqueta could now join Tottenham from West Ham

Hammers midfielder Lucas Paqueta is thought to be firmly on Tottenham’s radar.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

It was actually claimed on Monday that Tottenham want to sign Paqueta in the current January transfer window.

However, that deal may now have to wait until the summer, it seems.

That’s according to Ben Jacobs who claims that West Ham fans should ‘keep an eye’ on the possibility of Paqueta joining Spurs in the summer.

Jacobs said: “Paqueta. Yes. More business with West Ham. It’s like buses, isn’t it? You don’t do barely any deals since Scott Parker and then Kudus arrives and Paqueta is on the radar as well.

“So I’d keep an eye on that one in the summer and obviously if West Ham go down they’re not going to keep hold of Lucas Paqueta.“

The thing with the Brazilian is that he is simply too much of a ‘luxury’ player for the Hammers right now.

When you’re deep in the mire and battling against relegation, Paqueta is simply not suited to what is required and it would be no surprise if he is moved on to balance the books.

However, Hammers fans would undoubtedly not be happy to see another one of their big-name players joining Spurs again.

Time for West Ham to say goodbye to Paqueta?

Paqueta has done some wonderful things for the Hammers since joining the club in a £51 million deal from Lyon in August 2022.

His through-ball to Jarrod Bowen in the Europa Conference League final will always be remembered fondly by the West Ham fans.

However, it’s fair to say that those moments have been few and far between.

The West Ham fans will probably remember Paqueta more for his mistakes than his goals and assists over the past two years.

It’s highly likely that Lucas Paqueta will leave West Ham in the summer transfer window.

However, it would still be a big surprise to see the former Lyon man join Tottenham.

West Ham United could face serious disappointment in the January transfer window, with Tottenham Hotspur ready to flex their muscles.

The current January transfer window is a vital one for both West Ham and Tottenham.

Nuno Espirito Santo has already been a very busy man with moves to bring Pablo Felipe and Valentin Castellanos to West Ham now complete.

However, the Hammers boss still has a lot of work to do.

How do you PREDICT Pablo will get on at West Ham?

Is he the man to break the striker curse?

West Ham have kept just one clean sheet in their last 22 games and that is quite clearly nowhere near good enough.

With that in mind, getting the signing of a top-class centre-back over the line before the January window closes will be pivotal to the Hammers’ hopes of survival.

However, a hugely concerning update has now emerged regarding one of West Ham’s top priority January transfer targets.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Tottenham could now hijack West Ham’s move for Charlie Cresswell

Charlie Cresswell left Leeds to join Toulouse for a £3.8 million fee in the summer of 2024 and he has been a huge hit out in France.

West Ham have been heavily linked with a swoop for Cresswell, as Nuno’s January business begins to heat up.

However, there could be trouble ahead for the Hammers.

When speaking on the Last Word on Spurs YouTube channel, football journalist Ben Jacobs shared how Tottenham could be set to pounce for Cresswell this month.

“I’m told Charlie Cresswell, the ex-Leeds player who’s also on West Ham United’s radar, is a name that Tottenham are looking at and might be available in January.

“So if Spurs can find a young and versatile defender, then perhaps that paves the way for Dragusin to leave.“

This is an extremely interesting update and West Ham fans should be taking note of what Jacobs said.

He was, after all, the man who first broke the news of the Lucas Paqueta to West Ham deal back in 2022.

So he clearly has some very good sources within the game.

West Ham missing out on Charlie Cresswell to Tottenham would be gutting

Back in 2021, Cresswell was labelled as ‘unbelievable’ and it’s fair to say that he has improved even further still since then.

In 17 Ligue 1 appearances for Toulouse this season, Cresswell has averaged one tackle, one interception, 6.5 clearances and 1.2 blocks per game.

He’s very good with his feet as well and has an average pass completion rate of 85.8% from 45.7 passes per match on average (Who Scored).

Cresswell is commanding in the air and along the ground.

He plays with a real sense of coolness and composure that seem to defy his age.

Cresswell would be a major upgrade on Max Kilman at West Ham, but Tottenham’s apparent interest in signing him is undoubtedly a real cause for concern.

It remains to be seen whether or not Nuno is able to win the race for the former Leeds star. If Cresswell ends up in north London rather than the East-End, it would be a bitter pill to swallow for Hammers fans.

West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta is attracting attention from Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window it seems.

Paqueta joined West Ham from Lyon in August 2022 for a club-record £51 million fee and now Tottenham are sniffing around the 28-year-old for around half the price.

Both the Hammers and Spurs are expected to be busy in the January transfer window, with ins and outs reportedly highly likely at both clubs.

Interestingly, Tottenham were ready to bid for West Ham ace Paqueta back in 2024, but due to his trial for potential betting breaches being dragged out, nothing came to fruition in the end.

Is Nuno right to defend Lucas Paqueta? Or has the time come for West Ham to cut their losses?

“I’ve spoken to Lucas, and he has spoken to all of his teammates. First of all, he apologised. He’s aware of his mistake, but first and foremost, we – as a club – protect our own, and we solve things among ourselves.

“He is suffering, he is disappointed and he’s sad, but he realised he made a mistake.

“Sometimes people don’t realise the problems that football players endure, but I think Lucas is going to overcome this situation” – Nuno on Lucas Paqueta red card

Paqueta was under investigation by the FA and FIFA regarding irregular betting patterns for almost two years before he was finally cleared in 2025.

And during that time, it’s fair to say that he was nothing more than a liability for the Hammers.

His petulance during West Ham’s defeat to Liverpool at the end of November was symbolic of his time at the club over the past two years.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

However, all of that could be set to end soon, after a stunning claim was made about a potential move for the Brazilian this winter.

Stunning Lucas Paqueta to Tottenham claim made

Paqueta’s days at the London Stadium could well be numbered it seems.

Tottenham insider ‘The Boy Hotspur’ has claimed that Spurs are keen to bring Paqueta to north London in January.

It is also suggested that the Hammers could be tempted to cut ties with the former Lyon man for around £25 million.

While it’s fine to debate the veracity of the source, it’s certainly fair to argue that West Ham selling Paqueta in January would at least be a possibility.

It also wouldn’t surprise anyone if the West Ham owners were already preparing for life in the Championship, and the financial strain that brings.

However, selling Paqueta wouldn’t be a sign of surrender. In fact, it would be the exact opposite.

If Nuno Espirito Santo is to keep this West Ham team up and avoid the drop, he cannot continue to allow Paqueta to prance around like he’s playing Joga Bontino on Copacabana Beach.

West Ham need to take more of a pragmatic approach right now, with Mateus Fernandes far better suited than Paqueta to what is required.

The former Southampton man has energy and dynamism in abundance, and it’s players like him who will keep the Hammers in the Premier League, not Paqueta.

West Ham’s next move regarding Lucas Paqueta should be obvious

Sure, there is a huge rivalry between the two clubs.

However, West Ham sold Mohammed Kudus to Spurs in the summer anyway, so it’s not like the board are opposed to doing business with the north London side.

It’s time to let Paqueta leave the London Stadium.

What is YOUR favourite Lucas Paqueta moment, and why?

The majority of West Ham fans have grown tired of the Brazilian now, with some of his antics starting to cost his team dearly.

Everyone at West Ham is still thankful to the Brazilian for his through-ball to Jarrod Bowen in the Europa Conference League final in 2023.

However, that goodwill is waning quickly.

He just doesn’t influence games in the manner he should, and his carefree nature in possession is the last thing the Hammers need in the middle of the park right now.

Selling Lucas Paqueta to Tottenham should be a no-brainer for West Ham, especially if Spurs offer around £25 million like the report claims.

Just because West Ham United managed to eke £54.5 million out of bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur last summer, that did not mean Thomas Frank felt his big-money acquisition was the finished article.

On the contrary, the former Brentford boss appeared very much attuned to the criticism which came Mohammed Kudus’ way during a difficult final season at the London Stadium.

Almost as soon as the former Ajax winger arrived in his new North London home – the Hammers forced Daniel Levy to pay up and eventually meet their £54.5 million asking price – Thomas Frank wasted little time warning Kudus that a repeat of his 2024/25 form with West Ham United would not be accepted.

Three months on, while Kudus has still been one of the few bright sparks in a very underwhelming start to the Frank era, demands for greater returns have so far gone unanswered.

What are the chances that anyone goes for a BIGGER fee than Declan Rice? 💸

And how much would you demand for Jarrod Bowen?

Mohammed Kudus needs to improve his stats after leaving West Ham United for Tottenham

Flash forward 12 months, and the 25-year-old again heads into the seventeenth game of the campaign with a pair of goals to his name.

So, while he has doubled his tally of assists from three to six in the same timeframe, it is fair to say Frank is yet to see Kudus evolve into the sort of reliable goalscorer he had hoped for.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“Of course, I followed him from a distance. [Kudus] impressed me the first season at West Ham and a little less last season,” Frank said in September.

“Looking from distance, they maybe didn’t have their best season for various reasons. I don’t want to go into detail, it’s very difficult to judge from the outside, [but] that maybe doesn’t help. From a player perspective, I can only really speak about the players I am coaching right now.

“Definitely, all the front three or four players need to provide goals and score goals. Wingers and strikers need to have quite a significant number of goals, or as many as possible. So of course that is a target for Mo as well.

“I know he’s very eager to get better numbers on the board.”

Kudus average has actually dropped since West Ham exit

Despite a series of sparkling displays on the right-hand side, Kudus often appears to be the only Spurs player capable of creating something out of nothing, he is averaging a goal every 7.3 matches under Frank.

At West Ham, he averaged a goal every 4.2 games. This season’s average is actually marginally worse than his disappointing final season in claret and blue.

So while both Frank and Kudus were on the same page – fully aware that improvements were needed in the final third if he was to justify that hefty price-tag – actually putting those ambitions into practice is proving easier said than done.

There are, of course, a few reasons why Kudus’ positive start to life at Spurs is yet to be reflected in the statistics. While he often played in a central spot for West Ham, he has spent most of his time under Frank nailed to the right-hand touchline.

His role appears to revolve around whipping crosses into the penalty area from wide positions. Perhaps this explains why his personal goal tally has dropped but his number of assists has risen.

Kudus struggled with the criticism before joining Spurs

In the meantime, if Kudus struggled with the criticism he received at West Ham, you can bet your bottom dollar that the questions will only get louder if he continued to average a goal every 7.3 games as a Tottenham player.

“Being talked about almost every day on the TV, it’s hard to deal with,” Kudus told Sports Illustrated a few months ago.

“From people who don’t even know you, literally, they just watch you for maybe 90 minutes and then there’s a judgement on sometimes who you are or what you are and stuff like that, which I personally I don’t think is fair.

“I think the best people can really talk about you are the people that spend the most time with you almost every single day, you know.

“But, that’s part of the work. And we as athletes, of course, we have to deal with that. That’s why I say don’t be famous or something like that, but you can still use it to your best ability and, and have an impact on other people’s lives.”

Premier League links with Troy Parrott, the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup hero, were about as inevitable as West Ham United spending their hard-earned funds on a goal-shy centre-forward.

So should the one-time Tottenham Hotspur starlet become the latest striker to arrive, following in the footsteps of Niclas Fullkrug, Sebastien Haller, Simone Zaza, Albian Ajeti and more, it goes without saying that he will be desperate to break that supposed West Ham United curse.

While Nuno Espirito Santo again insisted that Niclas Fullkrug remains part of the Hammers’ plans, behind the scenes the feeling is that the German is no longer part of the ‘project’ in East London.

And the list of reported replacements is growing by the day.

From the ‘Premier League proven’ such as Ivan Toney and Chris Wood to lesser-known up-and-comers such as Kaio Jorge, Endrick and Franculino Dju.

Of course, not all of the names mentioned in the media are genuine targets. Hammers News heard back in October that Toney is in no rush to leave Saudi Arabia, although that stance may soften with a World Cup spot hanging in the balance.

Speaking of the World Cup, AZ Alkmaar sensation Troy Parrott ensured that the Republic of Ireland will have a part to play in the play-offs come the spring.

But when it comes to a Premier League return for a man who made only two appearances in the competition for Spurs under Jose Mourinho, reporter Ben Jacobs feels that West Ham are in the queue, although not at the front.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Ben Jacobs explains why Troy Parrott to West Ham United seems unlikely

Speaking on the Give Me Sport YouTube channel, Jacobs claims that West Ham have ‘discussed’ the idea of signing the Tottenham academy graduate.

But with AZ Alkmaar raising his price-tag to around £25 million and Fulham ‘the more likely’ destination, it would be a surprise if Parrott is wearing claret and blue come February.

“Troy Parrott, who was Ireland’s hat-trick hero, as you can imagine, he’s starting to become in demand,” Jacobs says of a Dublin-born poacher who has scored 33 goals in 61 appearances for his Eredivisie employers.

“He needed to leave Tottenham to make a breakthrough. He’s done that now, of course.

“There is Premier League interest. I’m told AZ are relaxed about the situation for January and, from Parrott’s point of view, he’s focused on trying to play regularly and getting Ireland to the World Cup.

“Teams are discussing him. Leeds, a very interesting team to watch. In the end they went for Dominic Calvert-Lewin [last summer], but sources have told me that Leeds considered making a bid for Parrott for about 15 million euros.

“Now, his price is double that. Nobody will get Parrott for 15 million euros. Then Fulham and West Ham are two others that have discussed Troy Parrott. I think Fulham may be the more likely of the two to make a move.”

Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most?

Like a certain Harry Kane, Parrott embarked on a series of largely forgettable loan spells in the EFL in his younger days. In 103 matches, he found the net a pretty miserable 16 times for Ipswich Town, Preston North End, Millwall and MK Dons.

As prolific as he is in Dutch football, the Eredivisie is not the most accurate barometer of a striker’s talents. For every Ruud van Nistelrooy and Luis Suarez, there are numerous Afonso Alves’ and Matija Kezmans.

Stuart Pearce a huge fan of England World Cup hopeful Ivan Toney

Speaking of the England captain, former West Ham defender and one-time assistant coach Stuart Pearce sees similarities between Toney and Kane.

His outstanding record in the top-flight with Brentford is the most obvious reason why Toney would be such a brilliant bit of business for West Ham. The Al-Ahli ace possesses that Kane-esque ability to drop deep and open up spaces for others to run in behind.

It is not hard to imagine Toney comfortably outscoring his predecessors in a West Ham shirt, while also bringing the best out of Jarrod Bowen, Crysencio Summerville and Lucas Paqueta.

“I like Ivan Toney,” Pearce told talkSPORT this week. “You put some legs around Ivan Toney and he’s the closest thing, probably like-for-like type [England have] to Harry Kane in some ways.

“I think he can hold the ball up and allow the likes of [Declan] Rice and [Jude] Bellingham and [Morgan] Rogers to go past him, and allow wide players to get into the wide areas and cross it and get on the end of things in regard to that.”

Adama Traore is far from the only winger who can credit West Ham United boss Nuno Espirito Santo for bringing out the very best in him on the Premier League stage.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, during Nottingham Forest’s European charge, finally started to make good on the potential that had Bayern Munich prepared to break the bank when he was still a teenager at Chelsea.

Anthony Elanga earned himself a £55 million move to Newcastle after blossoming into one of the most formidable counter-attacking weapons in English football on Nuno Espirito Santo’s watch.

Even Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola had no answer to Adama Traore’s rampaging in the Old Gold of Wolves, meanwhile.

Hammers News reported back in October that Nuno is keen to work with the Fulham speedster again at West Ham United. Now, as the January window looms into view, this particular story is gathering momentum.

Whether the same happens regarding those links with Tottenham Hotspur’s forgotten man, Manor Solomon, remains to be seen.

Spanish publication El Periodico de Mediterraneo, though, clearly believe that the Villarreal loanee is in line for a potential return to London. A transfer Sport1 reporter Niv Dovrat and one-time Atletico Madrid midfielder Avi Nimni are almost hoping to talk into existence.

Manor Solomon told West Ham United’ Nuno Espirito Santo is the perfect manager for him

West Ham missed out on Manor Solomon back in 2023. The Israel international’s agent confirmed that, before his client joined Tottenham from Shakhtar Donetsk, the Hammers were one of a number of clubs to express an interest of their own.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Two years on, with Solomon an afterthought at Spurs and his game time limited in La Liga, pundits and former players back home seem to believe West Ham is an opportunity that would benefit all involved.

The Hammers would get themselves an unpredictable, highly-creative and occasionally free-scoring wideman to ease the burden on Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta. Solomon, meanwhile, would find himself a manager with a particular penchant for coaxing some consistency out of mercurial wingers.

“West Ham have a coach whose playing style – defensive football and going on outbursts – could be a great fit for Manor,” says Dovrat.

Former Atletico Madrid man Avi Nimni agrees on potential Hammers switch

Solomon is not only a searing threat on the counter-attack, though. On loan at a Leeds United side who dominated possession in the Championship last season, he scored 10 goals and assisted a further 13. Whether breaking forward at pace or tasked with unlocking a stubborn deep block, the one-time Fulham ace possesses both the explosiveness and the guile to make a difference in the final third.

“From now until January, things can change dramatically, even for the better,” adds Dovrat. “Right now, it doesn’t appear to be [going in a positive] direction.

Which position do West Ham need to strengthen the most?

“As far as he’s concerned, I’ve spoken to people close to him in recent days, he doesn’t regret going to Villarreal because in the end, in life you take chances.”

“[But] if things don’t improve drastically, it’s not impossible that he will return in January. A team like Leeds that he knows very well, like West Ham, like Burnley, who made inquiries about him in the summer.”

Avi Nimni, who had a spell in England with Derby County after leaving Atletico Madrid, goes one step further.

“I wish he would go to West Ham,” says Nimni. “This is a team that is just perfect for him.”

Solomon’s agent insists the focus is on Villarreal and La Liga

Shlomi Ben Ezra, Solomon’s representative, insists that Solomon is purely focused on making his mark at Villarreal right now despite the return of transfer speculation.

The 26-year-old is set to make his return from a recent injury, and is determined to make up for lost time.

“He will be fit after the international break,” Ben Ezra told Sport5 a few days ago. “It’s not really appropriate to say right now that he’s not doing well. He’s at a great team and I believe he’ll take his place in the line-up later in the season.

“He’s happy there. He’s joined one of the best teams in Spain, he’s happy with the decision. He’s aware of the competition and it only does him good.

Crysencio Summerville’s year-long goal drought, and praise of his recent performances in a West Ham United shirt, are not mutually exclusive.

Human brains are developed enough to realise two things at once, even if they may appear somewhat contrasting on first viewing.

Crysencio Summerville’s goal return – one in 31 West Ham United appearances, and none since October 2024 – is clearly not good enough for a winger of his talent and cost. But, at the same time, the £30 million signing from Leeds has still been one of the brightest sparks of the Nuno Espirito Santo regime, proving himself capable of being one of the load-bearing pillars in a new era at the London Stadium.

Nuno wants to make the most of Summerville’s talents. Particularly, his ‘very, very aggressive’ approach to taking on opposition full-backs. The message appears to be getting through as well.

Though his drought drags on, Summerville was excellent against Burnley last time out. A trademark mazy run through a forest of defensive legs created Callum Wilson’s opener; a real rabbit out of the hat moment when the Hammers were crying out for a stroke of individual inspiration.

But, as promising as his performances have been following Nuno’s arrival, it may do Summerville some good to have more competition for a starting spot. According to Spanish publication El Periodico de Mediterraneo, Tottenham Hotspur’s forgotten man Manor Solomon may be an option for West Ham when his Villarreal loan spell comes to an end in 2026.

Three years after West Ham first tried to sign the Israel international, could they get him at last? And, not that he needs any more motivation, could links with Solomon, Adama Traore, Tijjani Noslin and Tyrique George provide an extra little kick up the backside for a man whose influence in a Hammers shirt is yet to be reflected in the stats?

West Ham United tried to sign Tottenham’s Manor Solomon once before

Back in 2023, Tottenham signed Solomon on a free transfer from Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

In conversation with Sport5, the winger’s agent confirmed that a number of Premier League clubs had hoped to sign him on the back of a promising but injury-hit loan spell with Fulham that previous season. West Ham were among them.

“In addition to Tottenham, Aston Villa, West Ham, and RB Leipzig wanted him,” Shlomi Ben Ezra said at the time.

Two-and-a-half years later, Ben Ezra would speak out again. He sees no reason why that Villarreal loan spell will be cut short in January, insisting that Solomon is focused on forcing his way into the La Liga side’s starting XI after a mixed start.

But, without an option or obligation-to-buy clause in his contract, the nomadic 26-year-old is likely to go into next summer once again on the lookout for a new home.

“He will be fit after the international break,” Ben Ezra tells Sport5. “It’s not really appropriate to say right now that he’s not doing well. He’s at a great team and I believe he’ll take his place in the line-up later in the season.

“He’s happy there. He’s joined one of the best teams in Spain, he’s happy with the decision. He’s aware of the competition and it only does him good.

“He’s concentrating on football.”

Former Leeds stars Solomon and Crysencio Summerville have a lot in common

The simple fact that Leeds picked Solomon to replace Summerville following the departure of the 2023 Championship Player of the Year highlights the similarities between both men. Two right-footed left wingers who love nothing more than leaving defenders for dead and curling shots into the far corner.

Solomon, during an outstanding loan spell at Elland Road, proved himself to be a more collaborative, team-orientated player than the more-prolific but occasionally-selfish Summerville. The former scored ten fewer goals than the latter – including the last-gasp, final day, title-winning decider at Plymouth Argyle – but assisted three more.

When Kevin de Bruyne is describing you as an ‘excellent player’, as the Manchester City icon did before a clash between Belgium and Israel last season, well, that is quite the seal of approval [Yorkshire Evening Post].

Nuno Espirito Santo knows the importance of squad depth

Nuno worked with a famously small squad at Wolves. But, at Nottingham Forest, he frequently called for new signings to provide competition and depth in key areas, also as recently as August.

West Ham do not have European football to contend with, unlike his former employers of course, though the shortage of real, quality attacking options will still be a concern.

“These boys last season achieved something fantastic. If we as a club don’t help them in terms of numbers, in terms of quality and talent, everything will go,” Nuno said shortly before his sacking at Forest.

“We have ahead of us the Premier League, Europa League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup. You know how many games this means for us. This is the respect that we have to show to our squad. Help them.”

Summerville is currently the only natural left-sided attacker in the squad, bar Luis Guilherme of course. And, though Guilherme looked extremely sharp at Rush Green again this week, Brazilian publication Trivela report that the seldom-seen winger’s representatives are already looking into the idea of a January departure.

Thus, opening up a gap for Solomon.

The man who stepped into Summerville’s shoes at Leeds, providing the rumours are true and that West Ham are planning to pick up where they left off in 2023, could soon be his rival for a starting spot in East London.

Over the summer, Mohammed Kudus became the first player to leave West Ham United for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur since Scott Parker in 2011.

But after 14 years without a single player transferring between the two London neighbours for money, could two come around in the space of a few months?

Insert London bus-based pun here.

While Nuno Espirito Santo wants a striker in the building in January, alongside an athletic midfielder and ideally another central defender, reports suggesting that West Ham United may be in the market for a winger will raise a few eyebrows.

Crysencio Summerville is making progress under Nuno, while Jarrod Bowen has the right-hand side locked down.

Yet, according to Spanish publication El Periodico de Mediterraneo, West Ham have positioned themselves as a potential solution to Manor Solomon’s recent lack of game time on loan at Villarreal.

Speculation which has drawn a speedy response from Solomon’s agent, while also cooking up plenty of debate in the Israeli media.

Avi Meller tells Manor Solomon to leave Tottenham Hotspur for West Ham United

Ironically enough, Solomon was the man chosen to replace Summerville at Leeds United when West Ham signed their number seven in a £30 million deal back in 2024.

The former arguably outperformed the latter at Elland Road, too even if Summerville did leave West Yorkshire the Championship’s Player of the Year.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

With 10 goals and 12 assists in 39 second-tier games – including a stoppage-time, Sergio Aguerooooo-esque final day winner at Plymouth Argyle – Solomon is perhaps the biggest reason why Leeds are playing Premier League football today.

Speculation regarding a potential return to Elland Road has inevitably reared its head a few months on from his Home Park jubilation.

Sport5 reporter Avi Meller is keen to see what Nuno can do with Solomon at his disposal, though.

“Leeds could have brought Solomon back but gave up,” Meller says. “West Ham is [now] a more suitable stop.

“Nuno Espirito Santo is a coach who knows how to integrate players like Solomon.”

Nuno Espirito Santo wants former Wolves ace Adama Traore

The West Ham boss turned Adama Traore into a force at Wolves, while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Anthony Elanga played their best football under him at Nottingham Forest last season.

Interest in the aforementioned Traore – Hammers News reported back in October that Nuno is keen to reunite with the Fulham flyer in East London – does at least give some credence to those Solomon links. There is room, it seems, in Nuno’s roster for another wideman.

It is understood that Tottenham wanted around £20 million for the former Shakhtar Donetsk and Fulham ace over the summer. His Villarreal contract does not contain an option-to-buy clause, meaning Spurs will again be looking for a permanent solution in 2026.

Agent Shlomi Ben Ezra says staying at Villarreal is the priority

Shlomi Ben Ezra, Solomon’s agent, insists that there is little chance that his time in Spain will be cut short, though. He has only started one La Liga match so far, but the silky wideman is determined to come back stronger from a recent injury.

“He will be fit after the international break,” Ben Ezra tells Sport5. “It’s not really appropriate to say right now that he’s not doing well. He’s at a great team and I believe he’ll take his place in the line-up later in the season.

“He’s happy there. He’s joined one of the best teams in Spain, he’s happy with the decision. He’s aware of the competition and it only does him good.

The West Ham board have responded to fresh claims linking Jarrod Bowen with a shock move to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur amid the club’s desperate situation on and off the pitch.

West Ham are set to announce record losses exceeding £100m in their December accounts.

Tottenham Hotspur meanwhile have added that same amount to their income just by qualifying for the Champions League this season.

Spurs have already embarrassed West Ham by taking advantage of the club’s delicate PSR situation by signing Mohammed Kudus for just £54.5m in the summer.

That move ended a 14-and-a-half-year unofficial transfer embargo between the Hammers and Tottenham and is one of many reasons fans are so unhappy with the club’s owners.

Report claims Spurs plan £60m Bowen bid in January

Most West Ham fans accepted Kudus had to be sold to raise funds for signings.

But for the Irons to sell a top player to Tottenham, just two years after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal, did not go down well at all in east London.

Especially as West Ham fans now have to watch Kudus shining in Thomas Frank’s side.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

Kudus is not the only West Ham player Tottenham have been linked with in recent seasons, though.

They say there is no smoke without fire — and Tottenham Hotspur are once again being linked with a fresh swoop for beloved Hammers captain and talisman Jarrod Bowen.

Now a new report has claimed Hammers skipper Bowen could be tempted by Spurs in a hugely concerning development.

According to a notorious Spanish football site, the north London club are reported to be preparing a serious attempt to sign Bowen in the January transfer window.

The latest claims suggest Tottenham will try to take advantage of West Ham’s desperate financial situation – and the fact they could be relegation certainties by January – with a bid in the region of just €60 million (£53–60 million).

The news from Spain has been repeated by several sources in England.

The new report has also claimed Bowen could be tempted by Spurs given he is settled in Essex having purchased a £3m pad with wife Dani Dyer last summer.

West Ham board respond to new claim Bowen could join Spurs

Now the West Ham board have responded to a worrying new claim Bowen could join Spurs— making the club’s stance on the matter perfectly clear.

Bowen signed a seven-year contract extension in October 2023.

Hammers News exclusively revealed earlier this month that West Ham also have the option of an eighth year on Bowen’s deal.

Tottenham have been linked on a number of occasions in the past, including the last two summer windows.

Previously, majority owner David Sullivan signalled unwavering intent to keep Bowen stating: “He is not for sale” while slapping a staggering £150 million price tag on the forward to deter suitors.

But with the club now facing extreme turbulence on and off the pitch, the new claims are understandably disturbing.

One of the biggest worries surrounding West Ham’s possible relegation concerns Bowen.

Many expected him to break Michail Antonio’s record as West Ham’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer this season.

But West Ham’s woeful start to the season has made that look as unlikely as the club remaining in the top flight at the quarter-way stage.

Some pundits have started to suggest Bowen might need to leave West Ham in order to play at a higher level and further his England ambitions.

With the November international break looming, the pressure could be piled on the Hammers if Thomas Tuchel fails to select Bowen.

West Ham owners make Bowen Spurs sale stance clear

That could play right into Tottenham’s hands if the new report about a January bid materialises.

Especially if West Ham find themselves cut adrift by then, which is a distinct possibility given they already need back-to-back wins and results to go for them elsewhere just to climb out of the bottom three at this early stage.

Bowen has always been West Ham’s one “untouchable”.

But the feeling is that may change in light of West Ham’s predicament on the pitch and on their balance sheet.

Spurs’ interest in Kudus seemed far-fetched in the summer but they managed to get that deal done, hence legitimate concern among fans Bowen might be next.

West Ham’s public stance remains firm, though, Hammers News can exclusively reveal.

It was put to the top spokesman for the club’s owners whether there was any truth to the new claim that Bowen could be sold to Tottenham in the January transfer window.

And the response was short, sharp and very sweet for West Ham fans.

“Total rubbish,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s board told Hammers News when pressed on the claims Bowen could join Spurs in January.

It doesn’t get any clearer than that for the Hammers or Tottenham.

Whether Tottenham still chance their arm when the window rolls around remains to be seen.

Especially as West Ham could be tip-toeing financial constraints tied to the Premier League’s PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) by then.

But the lure of a major cash injection by selling Bowen will not force their hand according to the club’s hierarchy.

Sir Alex Ferguson famously quipped that dealing with ex-Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy was more painful than his hip replacement. Sam Allardyce, the former West Ham United manager, will know better than most what he meant by that.

Because while Ferguson was dragged into torturous negotiations over the deal which brought Dimitar Berbatov to Old Trafford – Daniel Levy forced Manchester United to part with a Premier League record fee of £30.75 million on deadline day 2009 – the man who spent nearly a quarter of a century at the helm of Tottenham Hotspur made plenty of other enemies in boardrooms up and down the land.

Take David Sullivan, for instance.

When it came to discussions regarding the potential sale of Scott Parker from West Ham United to their bitter rivals, Sullivan and Levy butted heads like two territorial stags bashing their antlers together.

That it took 14 years for another player to leave East London for the North – Mohammed Kudus followed in Parker’s footsteps this summer – speaks to what Allardyce described as a ‘fractious’ relationship between both boardrooms.

Sam Allardyce recalls West Ham United’s negotiations with Tottenham over Scott Parker

Ironically enough, ‘Big’ Sam Allardyce sold Scott Parker to West Ham from Newcastle United in the first place. They would be reunited, albeit very briefly, once Allardyce was parachuted in at Upton Park following their relegation under Avram Grant in 2011.

But if Levy thought he could convince West Ham to sell the reigning FWA Footballer of the Year on the cheap, Sullivan had other ideas.

“[Levy] rang me a couple of times when I was at West Ham, because he thought he could do a deal with me,” Allardyce says, speaking on the latest edition of the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast. “And you know the fractions between David and Daniel. Fractious, to say the least.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

“Harry [Redknapp, Spurs’ manager at the time] wanted Scott Parker.

“I said, ‘it’s simple, Harry. Absolutely simple. David said it’s £6 million, take it or leave it’. [Redknapp replied], ‘Well Sam, at his age, Daniel won’t go that far because he’s old’. I said, ‘Harry, it’s £6 million. That’s it! £6 million and he’s yours’.

“I sold him from Newcastle to West Ham for £6 million, he’s an England international, it’s £6 million! It’s not often a chairman let’s me say £6 million, but David Sullivan has!

“So, in the end, Daniel rang me! And I said, ‘it’s £6 million. We need to get rid of him but you’ll have to speak to David, and David wont budge. Probably if I told David that you’d spoken to me, he’d have put the price up to £8 million!’.”

In the end, West Ham got the sort of fee they were looking for. Parker would go on to enjoy two impressive years at Tottenham before winding down his career at another London-based outfit in Fulham.

He and the aforementioned Kudus are the only players to swap claret and blue for the white of Spurs since Michael Carrick back in 2004.

Speaking of a certain £54.5 million Ghanaian winger, Kudus opened up on his West Ham criticism recently. His second and final season at the Hammers was dominated by debates over his attitude, not to mention his less-than-stellar returns in the final third.

Even Spurs boss Thomas Frank was not too impressed by a miserly 2024/25 tally of five goals and three Premier League assists.

“Being talked about almost every day on the TV, it’s hard to deal with,” Kudus told Sports Illustrated.

“From people who don’t even know you, literally, they just watch you for maybe 90 minutes and then there’s a judgement on sometimes who you are or what you are and stuff like that, which I personally I don’t think is fair.

“I think the best people can really talk about you are the people that spend the most time with you almost every single day, you know.

“But, that’s part of the work. And we as athletes, of course, we have to deal with that. That’s why I say don’t be famous or something like that, but you can still use it to your best ability and, and have an impact on other people’s lives.”