Hammers News

Could there be two new names on the West Ham United team sheet when Graham Potter reveals his starting XI for Saturday’s Premier League derby against bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur?

Well, it’s certainly a possibility. A selection headache of a more welcome variety.

While Graham Potter altered his tactics to great success last time out before the international break – Jarrod Bowen’s ‘world-class’ finish set them on their way to an eventual 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest – that long-awaited first victory of 2025/26 also owed much to a couple of new faces.

Mateus Fernandes was ‘exceptional’ on his Hammers debut, to quote former striker Carlton Cole. Callum Wilson converted his first West Ham United goal thanks to some magnificent work down the left from summer signing El Hadji Malick Diouf.

And, on what would prove to be a bitterly disappointing City Ground farewell, even Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that Nottingham Forest could not handle Crysencio Summerville as the returning winger made an electrifying impact off the bench.

Now that Summerville and Wilson have had another couple of weeks to build up their fitness, could both players make a first start of the campaign when Thomas Frank’s Tottenham come to town?

While Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann played down Niclas Fullkrug’s injury concerns, a calf issue picked up on international duty renders the big centre-forward touch-and-go for Saturday’s 5.30pm kick-off.

Bowen could take Fullkrug’s place up top, of course. But Potter may also have the option of introducing veteran poacher Wilson, while keeping the skipper in his most effective right-wing role.

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Though 33-year-old Wilson may still be carrying a bit of rust after an injury-hit final season at Newcastle and the lack of a pre-season, he certainly does not look like a centre-forward lacking sharpness if those early Hammers cameos are anything to go by.

“He’s been great, as we expected,” Potter says of Wilson. “A fantastic professional, a great person to have around the club and training ground.

“We are still building him up. He hasn’t had a pre-season but his impact against Forest was fantastic. We are delighted with Callum, where he is at but also where he’s been, and how we can carry on helping him to have his minutes, make his impact, and contribute to the team.

“[Whether he can start against Spurs] is something we have to take a decision on. He has not been with us that long. It’s always in the back of your mind, we have to do the right thing for him and the team.

“But he’s the type of professional where, whether he starts or finishes [a game], he can have a great impact with us.”

Graham Potter backs Crysencio Summerville to kick on after Nottingham Forest win

Clearly, he has not lost that knack of sticking away chances.

Fellow ex-England international Darren Bent believes Callum Wilson can score 15 Premier League goals this season if he avoids a return to the dreaded treatment table. A man who netted 47 in 71 starts as a Newcastle player certainly appears to bring the sort of wily, penalty-box movement often lacking from Fullkrug.

And while Bowen feels Summerville will be like ‘a new signing’ for the Hammers – he assisted the captain’s City Ground opener two minutes after entering the fray before winning the penalty converted by Lucas Paqueta – Potter is equally delighted to have the club’s number seven back and desperate to make up for lost time.

“It’s great to have him. [Summerville] gives us another dimension,” Potter adds. “It’s been a long road with setbacks, so credit to him. He’s shown that mental strength.

“Now, we just need to help him enjoy his football because, if we do that, he is a big help for us.”

Remarkably, given the contrasting dialogue surrounding both clubs’ start to the season, West Ham can draw level with Thomas Frank’s Spurs with a win this weekend.

Tottenham were outstanding in the 2-0 away win at Man City three weeks ago. But the 1-0 reverse at home to Bournemouth seven days later – a match in which the Cherries mustered 20 shots to their hosts’ five – was a brutal reminder of the progress still to be made.

“There is not a big sample size. It’s three Premier League games,” Potter points out when asked to comment on Frank’s start in North London. “With the greatest respect, I’ve been thinking a lot about our team and the challenges we have.

“Any Premier League game you play, its always a tough match. The level is getting higher and higher, that’s the reality.

“It’s an important game for us. We understand how much it means to our supporters, so we want to carry on the feeling of positivity we had against Forest, do our best and try and win.”

West Ham only have a narrow window of opportunity to strike a takeover deal with PCP Capital Partners, an update from a prominent journalist has revealed.

Following the consortium’s rejected bid for Spurs, all eyes are now on the Hammers — but timing is critical and could prove a decisive factor.

They say timing is everything and that certainly looks the case for West Ham and rivals Tottenham Hotspur regarding their future ownership.

The Hammers take on their rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the London Stadium this weekend.

And just as many eyes will be on the two directors’ boxes as the action on the pitch for the Premier League clash.

All eyes on both directors’ boxes when West Ham face Spurs

Tottenham will reportedly start the club’s post-Daniel Levy era with a ‘public show of power’ from members of the family of the club’s owner Joe Lewis.

It is claimed the Lewis family are “hungry” for more trophies and are expected to make a rare appearance at West Ham for Spurs’ first game since Levy stepped down as chairman after 25 years in the role.

The London derby between two clubs who simply don’t get on will be televised and cameras will undoubtedly be trained on both owners’ boxes given recent events.

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Because West Ham fans are mobilising again to protest against their owners in upcoming matches against Tottenham and Brentford.

A faction of unhappy supporters want to try and force David Sullivan and co to sell the club.

West Ham have stated they don’t feel such protests help anyone.

Following Levy’s exit, Tottenham have rejected expressions of interest in buying the club from Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and a Chinese consortium.

Tottenham have announced the club is not for sale.

That has piled pressure on Sullivan and co given PCP’s links with West Ham.

Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady insisted just a few weeks ago that West Ham’s owners are not going anywhere.

West Ham have small window for sale to PCP after Spurs snub

But that was before plans for fresh protests – the first large-scale movement against the West Ham ownership since 2018 – emerged.

Staveley’s consortium was linked with a West Ham takeover last season.

After setting up the Saudi PIF takeover at Newcastle and then selling her stake, Staveley put together a consortium in order to invest in another Premier League club.

A leading Hammers board source close to Sullivan claimed last season that the Staveley-led fund could buy into West Ham instead of Spurs.

The mega-rich financier made a choice between Tottenham and West Ham, opting for the north Londoners.

But while there was potential good news for Hammers fans who want to see Sullivan and Daniel Kretinsky sell up, timing is now critical.

Because West Ham only have a small window for a takeover sale to PCP after Spurs snubbing their expressions of interest.

Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol has delivered an update on the situation.

And Solhekol does not believe this is the end of PCP’s interest in Spurs.

In fact he claims Staveley’s consortium may pursue an interest in the future, giving West Ham a finite window if they want to try and rekindle PCP’s interest amid the growing discontent among supporters.

“I don’t think so (that this is the end of PCP’s interest in Spurs),” Solhekol said.

“Amanda Staveley is someone who is incredibly well connected in the world of football and in the world of finance.

“She has proved time and time again that she can play a very significant role in the purchase of big, big Premier League clubs. She was involved in the takeover of Manchester City by Sheikh Mansour, she was very, very closely involved with the takeover of Newcastle United.

“She definitely wants to carry on being involved in football. And these deals potentially take a long time, I think the Newcastle deal took what three, four years.

“So even though Amanda Staveley’s PCP have issued a statement saying they are not intending to bid (for Spurs), I don’t think this is the end of the road for them, I think this is a long-term play.”

Tottenham are a more attractive proposition than West Ham due to their higher profits, world-class football stadium and training ground.

But West Ham would be the cheaper initial investment with the scale for improvement and progress much higher.

Whether Sullivan, Kretinsky and co have any interest in selling remains to be seen.

West Ham have received a huge double injury boost ahead of their Premier League clash with fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur after confirmation two stars will be available.

It’s the kind of news out of West Ham that will have Thomas Frank and his Spurs side quite literally running scared.

West Ham and Tottenham is one of the fiercest derbies in London.

Both clubs have more traditional rivals in Millwall and Arsenal respectively but there is absolutely no love lost when the Hammers take on Tottenham.

It is a rivalry which has grown throughout the Premier League era and there is an extra edge to this weekend’s meeting at the London Stadium following West Ham’s controversial sale of Mohammed Kudus to Spurs.

Spurs new boy Kudus set for hostile Hammers reception

It was bad enough that the Hammers broke an unofficial 14-and-a-half year transfer embargo to sell Kudus to Tottenham for £30m less than his release clause.

The Ghanaian then rubbed salt in West Ham wounds by declaring he ‘only wanted Spurs’ in his announcement video.

Further footage showed Kudus telling a club medic ‘you will find Spurs in there’ when examining the winger’s heart with a stethoscope.

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Since the move it has come to light that Kudus forced the move by continually turning up late to training.

So his bridges are well and truly burnt with Hammers fans and he is assured a white hot reception at the London Stadium.

Had the game been played a few weeks ago, Tottenham would have been overwhelming favourites.

While Frank had got his Spurs tenure off to a perfect beginning, West Ham had made their worst ever start to a top flight campaign, shipping 11 goals in three games to lose their opening two Premier League matches and exit the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle.

However, new life was breathed into West Ham’s season by a remarkably good 3-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

That was the Tricky Trees’ biggest home defeat for 25 years and the Hammers looked transformed with the likes of new signing Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen, Callum Wilson, El Hadji Malick Diouf and the entire defence shining.

Meanwhile Frank was tasting his first competitive defeat as Tottenham were booed by some fans after a 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth.

Hammers fans – and their team – will go to the game with renewed hope and belief.

West Ham get major double injury boost over stars for Spurs

Especially after news emerging from the club ahead of the clash.

Because West Ham have been handed a major double injury boost over stars that will have Spurs running scared.

Pace and power are absolutely key in the Premier League.

They are non-negotiables for players and teams and what separates the English top flight from the world’s other leagues.

West Ham’s struggles in recent times have boiled down to a distinct lack of those two attributes in the team.

Striker Niclas Fullkrug is a major doubt for the Tottenham match after leaving the Germany squad early following a new calf issue.

West Ham don’t believe the injury is ‘anything too much’ – but it seems highly unlikely the striker would be risked unless the medical team are 100 per cent sure it would not aggravate any injury.

Especially as Fullkrug spent six of the nine months of last season out injured with the very same problem.

While doubts remain over Fullkrug’s involvement, two West Ham speedsters will be available.

Nuno Espirito Santo conceded Hammers star Summerville destroyed his team when he came on as a surprise sub in the game last weekend.

The flying Dutchman has been out for eight months after suffering a serious hamstring injury in Graham Potter’s first game in charge back in January. The injury ultimately required an operation, which was delayed when Summerville opted to try and heal naturally first.

The 23-year-old was not due back until after the September international break but returned at Forest and came on with the scores at 0-0.

Summerville’s explosive pace tore Forest apart as he played a hand in all three goals, setting up Bowen for West Ham’s first, winning the penalty for Lucas Paqueta to convert and making the break and pass to Diouf which resulted in Wilson scoring a third.

Rumours have been circulating that Summerville has suffered a new hamstring injury ruling him out of the Tottenham clash.

His impact was so game-changing at Forest that Hammers fans have been left gravely concerned.

Summerville rumours denied and rapid West Ham teammate back too

But a leading West Ham insider close to owner David Sullivan has rubbished the claims, saying Summerville is fit, training and raring to go for the Tottenham game.

“Crysencio Summerville is NOT injured and is in training today,” Sean Whetstone said on X.

“Rumours over the weekend suggested he had suffered a relapse of his hamstring issues after he was missing from the club’s rush green training videos from Thursday.

“He is understood to have taken part in a behind the scenes game on Friday and returned to training today dispelling those rumours.”

Frank won’t be able to go too gung-ho against the Hammers with Summerville’s pace to think about.

It seems unlikely Summerville might start the game given the length of time he has been out.

But he will almost certainly be coming on at some stage.

Another of West Ham’s quickest players is also unexpectedly going to be available for Tottenham.

A minor West Ham miracle was spotted at Rush Green ahead of the derby.

Another jet-heeled Hammers winger the fans have high hopes for this season is Luis Guilherme.

The Brazil Under 20 star impressed at the tail end of last season and in pre-season.

But it was reported Guilherme broke his collarbone on the eve of the new season, ruling him out for at least eight weeks.

However, Guilherme is back training and played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Watford.

So the Brazilian teenager, who was signed in a £25m deal from Palmeiras last summer, will also be back in the squad to face Tottenham.

Saturday’s game is the 5.30pm kick-off on the Premier League and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.

David Sullivan is facing mounting pressure after a consortium recently linked with a potential West Ham takeover had a bid for bitter rivals Spurs rejected.

West Ham welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the London Stadium for what promises to be a particularly feisty affair this weekend.

Especially against the backdrop of planned protests by some West Ham fans against David Sullivan and the Hammers board.

Not to mention the Mohammed Kudus factor after West Ham controversially sold the Ghanaian to their fierce rivals Spurs – the first transaction between the two clubs since January 2011.

But the real story ahead of the West Ham vs Tottenham clash could be rapidly developing off the pitch.

And the development could have major implications for the future ownership picture at both Spurs and West Ham.

David Moyes made a West Ham takeover claim which now looks like a prophecy for Sullivan and co.

Fans demanding West Ham are sold after Levy’s Spurs exit

West Ham will be fired up with renewed confidence for the clash after a brilliant 3-0 win over Forest last time out while Tottenham lost at home to Bournemouth and were booed off.

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Daniel Levy has since left Tottenham ahead of the trip to the London Stadium, the former Olympic Stadium he famously fought West Ham for.

Levy’s sudden departure has given hope to Hammers fans demanding Sullivan, Daniel Kretinsky and Karren Brady leave their club.

A large number of West Ham supporters are once again mobilising to protest against the club’s ownership.

Hammers News was the first to report that West Ham fans contacted police over plans to protest in upcoming matches against Tottenham and Brentford to try and force Sullivan and co to sell the club.

Levy was only the chairman at Tottenham and has been forced out by the club’s ownership, ENIC.

But while the circumstances are slightly different, many West Ham fans believe Levy’s departure was the result of longstanding protests from Spurs fans.

There has been large-scale resentment from a section of Hammers supporters towards the owners ever since the move from Upton Park to the London Stadium.

A sustained period of regression over the last 19 months, culminating in this summer’s pleading of poverty in the transfer market due to PSR – which resulted in the ignominy of having to sell Kudus to their rivals – has brought fan anger bubbling back to the surface in east London.

West Ham have been linked with a host of takeovers in the recent past.

Consortium linked to West Ham takeover sees Spurs bid rejected

Brady insisted just a few weeks ago that West Ham’s owners are not going anywhere.

But the pressure is now mounting on Sullivan and co as a consortium linked to a West Ham takeover sees their Spurs bid rejected.

Last October Hammers News reported that a mega-rich financier had chosen between Spurs and West Ham.

After selling her stake in Newcastle, Amanda Staveley set about putting together a consortium in order to invest in another Premier League club.

West Ham’s fierce rivals Tottenham were chief among her targets, as reported by Bloomberg last year.

But a top Hammers board source claimed a Staveley-led fund could buy into West Ham instead.

Especially with the Gold family’s West Ham stake being up for sale since October 2023 and now out of probate.

Staveley ended up focusing her attentions on Spurs instead and formalised that interest with an official bid to ENIC for Tottenham over the weekend, in the wake of Levy’s departure.

It arrived alongside a rival bid from another interested party.

As well as the offer from Staveley’s PCP International, Spurs were also subject to a bid from a consortium led by Roger Kennedy and Wing Fai-Ng.

Spurs have now confirmed both bids have been rejected in an official statement on the club’s website.

And West Ham’s rivals have made it clear they have no intention of selling.

“The Board of the Club and ENIC confirm that Tottenham Hotspur is not for sale and ENIC has no intention to accept any such offer to acquire its interest in the Club,” the lengthy statement reads.

Sky Sports journalist Kaveh Solhekol claims Staveley is now expected to formally announce on Monday that PCP will not bid again to buy Tottenham.

That now presents West Ham with a massive, and potentially once-in-a-lifetime, opportunity to be taken over by owners with access to the kind of wealth needed to take the club to the next level.

Last season boyhood West Ham fan Ray Parlour urged Sullivan to sell West Ham so the club could realise its potential as a Champions League side.

There is no lack of irony that old rivals Tottenham could help finally make that happen.

With supporters pushing to try and force Sullivan and co to sell up and the links to Staveley’s PCP fund previously, all eyes now will be on whether the ex Newcastle chief – or indeed the rival consortium – turn their attention to the Hammers.

The situation could be about to get very interesting indeed.

West Ham have responded on the possibility of signing a free agent Spain striker after being rocked by the huge blow of losing Niclas Fullkrug for the clash with bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur – and possibly longer.

West Ham welcome Tottenham to the London Stadium next Saturday, after the September international break.

There is no love lost between the Hammers and Spurs as it is.

But West Ham’s controversial decision to end a 14-and-a-half-year transfer embargo between them and Spurs with the sale of Mohammed Kudus will add extra spice.

Particularly as Kudus stated he ‘only wanted Spurs’ in his announcement video and claimed ‘Spurs are in his heart’.

West Ham hit by new Fullkrug blow

The Ghanaian is set for a frosty reception from Hammers fans, who will be in buoyant mood after the superb 3-0 win at Forest before the break.

Spurs lost to Bournemouth at home last time out and were booed off so it sets things up nicely for a fiercely contested derby.

The Hammers and Graham Potter have been rocked by a bitter blow ahead of the Tottenham game, though.

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West Ham fans have long been urging the club to sign a top young striker with pace and mobility.

Supporters were furious when deadline day came and went without a new striker arriving to add much-needed depth to one of the oldest and most injury-prone forward lines in Premier League history, consisting of Niclas Fullkrug and Callum Wilson.

Fullkrug, who turns 33 this season and has a history of serious injuries throughout his career, spent six of the nine months of his debut season out injured.

Wilson, who turns 34 this season, has spent the equivalent of three full 38-game seasons out injured in the last five years.

Now Wilson, who impressed and scored in the win at Forest, is West Ham’s only available forward – just as fans warned might happen if the club did not act and sign another striker.

Because Potter and the board were hit with instant regret this weekend when it was confirmed West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug has suffered yet another injury on international duty with Germany.

Fullkrug out of Spurs at least ahead of West Ham tests

There are now serious concerns at West Ham that Fullkrug has suffered a recurrence of the calf and tendon issues which kept him out for so long last term.

Hammers supporters could only watch as rivals such as Tottenham went out and signed top new forwards.

Fullkrug has now left the Germany squad and is returning to east London to be assessed and have a scan on his new calf issue.

Even if the striker, who has struggled badly again in the Premier League so far this season, has suffered the lowest grade calf injury, it will rule him out for between two to four weeks, meaning he will miss Saturday’s showdown with Tottenham.

And should there be no significant injury, it is still highly unlikely Fullkrug will be risked against Tottenham given his injury history with his calf last season.

It comes at the worst possible time for Potter, just days after the summer transfer window closed.

And leaves West Ham even more embarrassed over missing out on a deadline day deal for a top young star.

With Fullkrug out of the Spurs clash – at least – West Ham have responded on signing a free agent Spain striker.

A grade one calf injury could actually see Fullkrug ruled out until after the October international break.

At best the German might be back for Palace in two weeks’ time.

A higher grade issue will obviously result in a longer absence.

Earlier this week West Ham’s owners responded on the chances of signing free agents.

West Ham respond on signing free agent Spain striker Alcacer

While the club felt it was unlikely, they left the door open, saying: “Who knows what will happen” when presented with an impressive list of out-of-contract players available.

As a result of the latest Fullkrug injury, could West Ham turn to the free agent market for a potential short-term fix?

The top spokesman for West Ham’s board has now responded on arguably the best striker option of the available players who could be signed post deadline, Francisco ‘Paco’ Alcacer.

Alcacer is younger than Fullkrug and Wilson at 32 and has 175 career goals for club and country, including 12 in 19 games for Spain.

His former clubs include Valencia, Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal but he has gone off the football radar since joining UAE side Sharjah, where he scored the winning goal in the President’s Cup.

After three years in the UAE Pro League, Alcacer is now a free agent.

So it was put to West Ham whether he was a player the club might consider given the lack of striker options.

The response suggested he has been looked at but the verdict was pretty emphatic.

“Alcacer is not scoring in the UAE,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.

“So it makes no sense to come to the Premier League.

“The problem with some players who go over there, they become too rich to stay motivated to even train hard anymore.”

Lucas Paqueta is using ‘bully’ tactics to seize control of his West Ham future the club has confirmed and he’s not the only one as a clear winner emerges between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham’s Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta is at the centre of what looks set to be one of the biggest stories of the final days of the transfer window with Spurs and Aston Villa jostling.

The 28-year-old’s future has been the subject of intense speculation.

Especially since West Ham’s owners confirmed Aston Villa and Tottenham want Lucas Paqueta, as well as two Saudi clubs.

Hammers News understands Paqueta has absolutely no interest in a move to Saudi.

West Ham confirm Paqueta’s shocking stance on his future

The prospect of selling Paqueta to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, having already done a controversial deal for Mohammed Kudus, does not sit well with West Ham fans.

But along with Aston Villa, the Hammers have been among the clubs most restricted by PSR this summer.

That was until this week, when West Ham suddenly burst into life to spend over £60m on midfield duo Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa.

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Graham Potter is also being linked with moves for a new goalkeeper, centre-back, a striker and another midfielder before Monday’s deadline.

It seems unlikely that kind of spending won’t come at a price. That price being the departure of Lucas Paqueta.

Now Paqueta has made a shocking statement on his West Ham future with a clear winner between Aston Villa and Spurs.

Aston Villa may have been restricted on finances too, but have some money to spend on a Jacob Ramsey replacement after selling him for £43m to Newcastle while also offloading their women’s team.

The Hammers actually wanted Ramsey as a replacement for Kudus – and he was on Thomas Frank’s Spurs wish-list too.

Hammers News exclusively revealed last week that the Irons, Aston Villa and Tottenham are in a transfer triangle over Paqueta.

In midweek there were clear signs Paqueta will join Aston Villa after official talks were opened.

Clear winner between Villa and Spurs if Hammers sell Paqueta

Now Paqueta has taken his Hammers future into his own hands.

Hammers News has had it confirmed by the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners that a claim from The Athletic is true – Paqueta has essentially gone on strike for the game against Nottingham Forest.

The Athletic has claimed their sources have confirmed Paqueta has told West Ham he does not want to play at Nottingham Forest on Sunday with Aston Villa and Spurs in for him.

Hammers News can confirm the information is accurate – and is threatening to turn ugly.

West Ham: Paqueta and others trying to bully way out on cheap

Paqueta did something similar two years ago when a move to Man City was in the offing before those spot-fixing allegations emerged.

This time, though, Paqueta is said to be flatly refusing to risk getting injured and scuppering a possible move away.

A top spokesman for West Ham’s owners has confirmed Paqueta is not the only one trying to force their way out of the club.

Confirming Paqueta’s refusal to play at Forest and the interest from Aston Villa and Spurs, the top spokesman for West Ham’s board exclusively told Hammers News: “Yes Paqueta and a few others want to bully their way out on the cheap.”

The Brazilian has cut a lonely figure at West Ham of late and is unhappy his best friend at the club, Emerson Palmieri, has been bombed out by Potter with a move to Marseille in the works.

With Paqueta making a clear statement of intent on his West Ham future, the ball is now in the court of Aston Villa and Spurs.

Villa’s current offer is “nowhere near” West Ham’s reported valuation.

The Hammers are insisting they are happy to keep Paqueta and will only sell on their terms.

But the reality is this is pure transfer brinkmanship from West Ham with money clearly needed, especially if the club is to fund further signings before Monday’s 7pm deadline.

Villa have to tread carefully with their outgoings.

But following the signing of Xavi Simons, Tottenham are believed to have cooled their interest somewhat, clearing the path for Aston Villa.

Should Villa raise their offer – believed to be around £35m as things stand – to at least £50m with possible add-ons on top, then West Ham may be willing to sanction the move.

Especially now Paqueta has made his stance clear by refusing to play at Forest.

The West Ham board have confirmed that both Spurs and Aston Villa are among four clubs keen on signing Lucas Paqueta in the last week of the summer transfer window.

Speculation has been rife over the future of West Ham’s Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta ever since he was cleared of spot-fixing charges.

Now there has been a huge development in Paqueta’s situation.

West Ham’s financial problems were plain for all to see when they did the unthinkable and sold Mohammed Kudus, one of their most talented players, to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

It was the first transaction between the two clubs for 14-and-a-half years. But like London buses, another may be following closely behind.

Although Aston Villa and two other clubs stand in the way of a potential deal that could prove to be the last straw for many Hammers fans.

Even though Paqueta has been a shadow of the player he once was over the last 19 months, he is still one of the few remaining quality stars on West Ham’s books.

West Ham board confirm Spurs and Villa want Paqueta

And while many Irons fans would not be against selling the 27-year-old for the right money if it meant Graham Potter was able to go out and sign top quality replacements, another deal with Tottenham would be a bridge too far for most.

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Like Potter at West Ham, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been wrestling with PSR restrictions this year.

However, Aston Villa exploited a loophole by selling their women’s team and have also offloaded West Ham and Spurs target Jacob Ramsey for £43m.

The Hammers wanted Ramsey as a replacement for Kudus and he was also on Thomas Frank’s Tottenham hit-list too.

Now West Ham, Villa and Tottenham are in a transfer triangle that threatens to leave Potter in turmoil unless he can bring in replacements.

Because the West Ham board have confirmed Spurs and Aston Villa are two of four clubs battling it out for Paqueta.

On eve of the opening game of the season, Fabrizio Romano – arguably the world’s top transfer reporter – revealed Paqueta wanted out of West Ham.

After standing by the Brazilian during his two-year spot-fixing saga, the hope was Paqueta would stay at West Ham and finally get back to his best with a clear mind and weight lifted from his shoulders.

Hammers supporters were furious when well-informed Romano claimed Paqueta wanted a fresh challenge on the eve of a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland.

With his best friend Emerson Palmieri ostracised from the squad by Potter, Paqueta has cut a lonely figure around the club of late.

That gave rise to concerns the Hammers may cash in, depleting the quality available to Potter even further.

Four clubs in race to sign West Ham star Paqueta

Romano back-pedalled somewhat when he later revealed Potter held emergency talks with the club’s owners and Paqueta himself to make it clear he wants him to stay.

Talks that appeared to go well when Paqueta suggested he would be staying at West Ham this season in the wake of the opening day defeat.

While Tottenham have made a flying start to the new campaign with Kudus shining, Aston Villa have underwhelmed.

Paqueta fired a reminder of what he is capable of in West Ham’s embarrassing 5-1 home defeat to Chelsea.

The Brazil international scored a thumping long range strike to give the Hammers the lead.

But, always capable of the sublime and ridiculous, Paqueta was then at fault for two of Chelsea’s goals, giving the ball away on the edge of his own box for one of them.

The Daily Mail reported that Paqueta is unhappy at West Ham and is interesting Spurs and Villa.

It is difficult to know what to believe at times during the transfer window, especially heading into the final week.

However, the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners has now confirmed that fierce rivals Tottenham and Aston Villa do indeed want to try and sign Paqueta.

Meanwhile two other clubs are also in the mix as the key senior contact admitted it is unclear how the situation will play out.

It was put to the West Ham board spokesman that reports were circulating Spurs and Villa were sniffing around Paqueta.

Hammers News asked the spokesman directly whether there is any chance he will be sold if the club’s valuation is met and it helps make new signings.

The same source who exclusively told Hammers News that West Ham were signing Callum Wilson before any other outlet has now responded.

Hammers board admit ‘Who knows what will happen’ over Paqueta

Confirming Tottenham’s interest in a second deal of the summer, the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners, said: “Yes (Spurs are interested in Paqueta) as well as two clubs in Saudi Arabia and Aston Villa.

“Who knows what will happen.”

If West Ham sell Paqueta to Tottenham and don’t adequately replace him, it could lead to a mutiny among the fanbase.

Surely West Ham would not press the self-destruct button so early in the new season with their Premier League status already under threat?

A sale to Aston Villa or Saudi would be more palatable for Hammers fans.

Potter promised West Ham supporters an “exciting and interesting” summer window.

It has definitely not been exciting but it is certainly starting to get interesting.

Cynics might say West Ham are using the interest so they can turn around and point to keeping Paqueta as some sort of victory for the club in the window.

Spurs star Mohammed Kudus has embarrassed West Ham but a bare-faced lie behind his move has also now been exposed.

Just ask Tottenham Hotspur legend Glenn Hoddle what most West Ham fans have been saying about Mohammed Kudus.

Hoddle says he has a lot of friends who support Tottenham’s bitter rivals West Ham.

And they have all been thanking him after Spurs took Kudus off their hands.

The Ghanaian was electric in his debut season at the London Stadium, contributing 14 goals and six assists while also winning the ball back for his team more than any other player in the Premier League, bar Bruno Guimaraes.

Kudus clearly wasn’t the problem at West Ham

Throw in the fact Kudus has the best dribbling statistics in all of Europe over the last two seasons and you start to wonder how some at West Ham came to the conclusion he may have been their big problem last term.

Kudus was nothing like his best last season, but which West Ham player was?

Graham Potter could not make it work with Kudus either.

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Essentially that boiled down to the fact he needs to play off the right, where West Ham have captain Jarrod Bowen.

The Hammers controversially sold Kudus to Tottenham for £54.5m – some £30m less than his utterly meaningless release clause.

West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady tried to explain away the sale, the first transaction between her club and Tottenham for 14-and-a-half years, by saying Kudus did not perform last season.

The truth of the matter is the Hammers desperately needed the money and Spurs were the only show in town.

Hammers fans have been quick to tell their Tottenham counterparts Kudus is overrated, selfish and only turns up to showcase himself against the big teams.

The Hammers were given a serious wake-up call in the season-opener at Sunderland.

While West Ham were losing 3-0 to newly-promoted Sunderland, Spurs were beating another side who have just returned to the big time, Burnley, by the same score.

Spurs star Kudus embarrasses West Ham

The subject of Kudus was something of a sideshow for some of West Ham’s travelling fans at the Stadium of Light.

Banners showing Kudus’ head on the body of a snake with the word ‘Judus’ were spotted while Hammers fans were heard singing a disparaging chant about their former attacker.

Spurs star Kudus has embarrassed West Ham but a bare-faced lie has been exposed.

Kudus infuriated West Ham fans when he declared he ‘only wanted Spurs’ as he was unveiled to fans following his move from east to north London.

The Black Stars ace had impressed for Tottenham in pre-season, prompting Hoddle to suggest his West Ham friends may be proved wrong.

Especially if Kudus started to play with his head up more under Thomas Frank.

The 24-year-old shone on his competitive debut, coming close to man of the match with two assists.

Kudus had a dig at West Ham after Spurs beat Burnley, saying he is now in a team that can get the best out of him.

Now he has left Brady, David Sullivan, Potter and Hammers fans with egg on their faces.

Because leading football data experts WhoScored have revealed Kudus was the highest-rated new signing (8.65/10) in the entire Premier League in the first game of the season.

Kudus was also named in the Premier League team of the week.

Clearly he was not the problem at West Ham, who look much worse without his pace, power and trickery – even if there was a lack of end product last season.

Now they don’t have Kudus to worry about, the opposition know Bowen is West Ham’s only threat and can focus on stopping him.

Bare-faced Kudus Tottenham lie exposed as truth comes out

Kudus looks like he is going to be proving West Ham were wrong to sell him for such a low figure.

Although West Ham fans have been proved right about one thing.

When he declared he only wanted Spurs, Hammers supporters pointed out that was only after the club failed to come to agreements with other interested sides, such as Chelsea.

Now The Sun has proved that correct, reporting that Kudus agreed personal terms with Chelsea and wanted to join Enzo Maresca’s side.

But West Ham turned down Chelsea’s £30m plus Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall offer.

So Kudus may rip it up at Tottenham as many West Ham fans privately feared.

However, Spurs fans should not expect him to stick around long if he does.

Mohammed Kudus took a clear dig at West Ham after what’s being billed one of the best Spurs debuts in years as David Sullivan’s worst fears come true.

When West Ham broke a 14-year transfer embargo to sell Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur, David Sullivan and the club’s fans knew the risk.

Some Hammers fans have tried to convince themselves Kudus was not as good as his first season at the London Stadium had suggested.

But it was a narrative geared more towards saving face that West Ham had been forced to sell one of their best players to their bitter rivals than a true reflection of the situation.

Kudus was poor by his own high standards for West Ham last season.

He was in the majority, though, as the Hammers – like Spurs – endured a car crash of a Premier League campaign.

Sullivan knew the gamble he was taking selling Kudus to Tottenham.

Sullivan gamble backfires as Kudus becomes instant Spurs hero

There was every chance Kudus would explode back into life at whichever club he joined next.

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Had it been a Liverpool, Man United or even Chelsea it would have been easier to bear for West Ham fans.

But as many Hammers supporters have said since the first deal between the two clubs since January 2001: ‘Anyone but them’.

The writing was on the wall for Kudus at West Ham when he had a huge bust-up with Julen Lopetegui last season, ironically at half-time of a game against Thomas Frank’s Brentford.

Kudus was singled out for being selfish and not playing for the team by Lopetegui, criticism he took exception to as the pair allegedly had to be pulled apart.

In his debut season with West Ham, only Bruno Guimaraes won the ball back for their team more times than Kudus did for the Hammers.

That is an astonishing statistic, especially when you consider he also had the most successful dribbles of any player across Europe’s top leagues and 20 goals and assists to his name on top of that.

One year later, the Hammers were forced to sell a player with an £85m release clause for just £54.5m to their biggest Premier League rivals due to their inexplicably bad PSR position.

Kudus antagonised West Ham fans by declaring he ‘only wanted Spurs’ when being unveiled by the north Londoners.

He then burned his bridges altogether with east London by declaring to the club’s doctor that he would find Spurs in his heart during footage of medical checks released on social media.

Kudus takes clear dig at West Ham as Potter problems worsen

Tottenham fans have been goading West Ham over luring away Kudus, saying it is proof they are the bigger club.

Spurs fans belted out new West Ham chant about Kudus at Super Cup final and in the stadium for their season opener against Burnley.

Now Kudus has taken a clear dig at West Ham as he becomes an instant Spurs hero.

West Ham fans held up banners depicting Kudus as a snake with the word ‘JUDUS’ during a 3-0 defeat at newly-promoted Sunderland on the opening day.

Videos have also emerged online of Hammers fans chanting that ‘Kudus is a —-‘ on the concourses at the Stadium of Light.

Meanwhile, the man in question was busy marking his Spurs debut with two assists and an array of skills in their 3-0 win over Burnley.

Lopetegui played Kudus out of position on the left for the first half of last season, rendering him ineffective and miserable.

When Graham Potter came in, he changed formation and played Kudus more centrally as a second striker.

That didn’t work either as Potter won just five of his 19 games in charge.

Kudus was often accused of being selfish and not passing. Others felt that was down to the lack of quality in West Ham’s team, meaning he felt he had to try and win games on his own.

Kudus has been portrayed as the problem at West Ham after last season.

However, Potter’s wingback formation looks even worse without him, with the latest evidence being the 3-0 hammering at Sunderland which consolidates the view West Ham are very much relegation candidates.

Kudus glad he’s in a team where he can play his proper game

With Kudus gone and not – as yet – replaced, the Hammers lacked any kind of pace or power in attack besides Jarrod Bowen.

Given the opposition know Bowen is West Ham’s only threat, they can afford to double – and sometimes treble – up on him.

To rub salt in the wound, after starring in Tottenham’s 3-0 win over Burnley, Kudus was interviewed on BBC’s Match of the Day.

And he couldn’t resist a dig at West Ham to explain why he is happy and shining again in the Premier League.

It was put to Kudus that Spurs fans had already taken him to their hearts off the back of his performance and pre-season displays.

“Yea I really try to be different and it’s part of my game getting the ball, taking players on and creating,” Kudus said.

“So I’m glad that I’m in a team where I can do that freely and also with the help of the teammates.

“I like to enjoy the game and entertain the fans because that’s what I believe the game is about.

“But at the same time you know play with seriousness to help the team get the points and that’s what happened.”

The whole saga leaves West Ham red-faced.

It could get a lot worse in the coming weeks too with Kudus returning to the London Stadium with what is looking a far superior Tottenham team who are about to add Eberechi Eze to their ranks too.

Tottenham fans were caught on video belting out a new West Ham chant at the UEFA Super Cup final with their former player Mohammed Kudus responding.

West Ham and Spurs were two of the biggest underachievers in Europe’s top five leagues last season.

But while the Hammers at least ensured they finished above 17th-place Tottenham in the Premier League, Spurs put the final nail in the coffin of a terrible season by lifting the Europa League.

Not only did that end their long trophy drought, land Tottenham a place in the Champions League and the guaranteed £80m that comes with it, it rendered West Ham’s chant about Spurs redundant overnight.

Hammers fans have relished singing ‘We’ll be running around Tottenham with our European Cup, singing ‘I’ve got a trophy haven’t you’.

Spurs fans belted out new West Ham chant at Super Cup final

The Europa League trumps the Conference League too, even if some of the opposition West Ham faced on their runs in three consecutive European campaigns were far superior to Tottenham’s.

They don’t come much better than Paris Saint-Germain, though.

And another reward for Tottenham winning the Europa League was a place in UEFA’s Super Cup final.

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Essentially the Community Shield of European football, the Super Cup sees the winners of the Champions League play the Europa League victors.

There is no European football for West Ham again this term and qualifying again anytime soon looks a big ask for Graham Potter.

So Hammers fans will have to grin and bear watching nearly all of their rivals competing on the continent.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs will be in the Champions League and even Palace will be in Europe, looking to emulate the Hammers by winning the Conference League.

The financial advantage being in the Champions League gave Spurs meant they were able to force West Ham to sell them Mohammed Kudus for £54.5m.

It was the first deal between the bitter rivals for over 14 years.

Kudus antagonised West Ham fans by saying he ‘only wanted Spurs’ in his unveiling video and interview.

The Ghanaian, who looked like he did not want to be at West Ham last season, then said Spurs were in his heart in another video shared on social media.

Kudus has burnt his bridges with Hammers

That ensures bridges are well and truly burnt for Kudus with Hammers fans.

There is real fear he could explode at Spurs under Thomas Frank and make West Ham’s fee look laughable given it was some £30m less than his release clause.

Tottenham fans have been goading their Hammers counterparts about snatching away Kudus.

Now they’ve taken it to the next level.

West Ham supporters have been trying to tell Tottenham Kudus is not as good as he thinks he is.

There is no love lost between the clubs although both have bigger traditional rivals in Arsenal and Millwall.

Some Tottenham fans try to suggest they don’t see West Ham as rivals and that the Hammers care more about them than vice versa.

That didn’t look the case when Tottenham faced PSG.

Because Spurs fans belted out a new West Ham chant at the Super Cup final and Kudus responded.

West Ham play Tottenham early on in the new season.

So Hammers fans should be prepared for a chant that is coming their way.

Tottenham aim new chant at Hammers and Kudus responded

In the Tottenham fan zone at the Super Cup final a Spurs band sang to the tune of Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing In The Dark: “Can’t start a fire without a spark, Kudus is on fire, he hates the team from Upton Park.”

Kudus certainly responded to the chant on the pitch because he was on fire and at his unplayable best at times.

Clips widely shared on social media show Kudus giving the ball away a couple of times.

But he was, as hard as it might be to accept, among Tottenham’s best players on the night.

PSG full-back Nuno Mendes is regarded one of the best in the world in his position.

But Kudus gave him a torrid time, drawing the foul which led to the first goal.

After Pape Sarr, Kudus was Spurs’ shining light in the big game as they threw away a golden chance to add another European trophy to their cabinet.

Spurs fell apart when Kudus came off in the second half, handing the impetus to PSG as the true European champions came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2.

Tottenham then lost on penalties to give Hammers fans the last laugh for now.

But Spurs and Kudus were impressive and West Ham will need to be ready to face – and hear – them in a few weeks.