Hammers News

A transfer battle is brewing between West Ham and Spurs for a ‘freak athlete’ midfielder, and one European giant is seriously concerned after a first bid was made.

The transfer business of West Ham and rivals Tottenham Hotspur is intrinsically linked this summer.

Spurs want to sign Hammers star Mohammed Kudus, who is being sold as a sacrificial lamb to raise funds for Graham Potter to make signings.

That’s because the board have serious concerns over PSR with £100m plus losses looming in West Ham’s next accounts.

A deal with Tottenham is totally undesirable from West Ham’s point of view.

New transfer tussle between West Ham and Spurs

Especially after it emerged Spurs are trying to get Kudus on the cheap.

West Ham fans are furious at the prospect of Kudus being sold to Tottenham.

The Hammers aren’t too happy with Daniel Levy either – and not for the first time. The two boardrooms have clashed numerous times in the last 15 years.

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A top ally of Hammers chief David Sullivan claims Levy is ‘up to his old tricks’ with his attempts to sign Kudus from West Ham.

It was also confirmed by Sullivan’s confidant that no official bid has been made by Spurs for Kudus.

West Ham are hoping Chelsea or another Premier League side will rescue them from the awkward situation of being forced to end a 14-year unofficial transfer embargo by offloading Kudus to Tottenham.

The Hammers are clearly feeling more confident about the money they will be bringing in for players this summer.

Because West Ham’s transfer window burst into life this week with confirmation of multiple bids.

The Hammers are said to be on the verge of signing a top young international star while bids have reportedly been made for at least two other players.

Now we know the identity of one of them amid a host of reports.

Giants fear West Ham and Spurs battle for ‘freak’ midfielder as first bid made

And Hammers fans may not be surprised to hear it is Tottenham and Levy who are one of the clubs throwing their hat in the ring for the same target.

A European giant fears a battle breaking out between West Ham and Spurs for ‘freak athlete’ midfielder as a first bid is made.

The good news for West Ham is that it is their club who has taken the initiative over Tottenham by making a bid for all-action Colombian star Richard Rios.

But the bad news is that the door remains open for Tottenham after the initial Hammers bid for Rios was knocked back by Palmeiras – from whom West Ham signed Luis Guilherme for £20m last summer.

West Ham are desperately lacking energy and dynamism in the middle of the park.

It is a problem Potter inherited after his predecessors failed miserably to adequately address the situation in the wake of Declan Rice’s departure to Arsenal.

Kudus is often forced to drop deep to pick up the ball and try and drive West Ham up the pitch with his pace, power and skill.

So it does not bear thinking about how bad it will be when Kudus leaves, if the issue isn’t addressed.

West Ham have been heavily linked with Rios since Potter’s arrival back in January.

UOL recently claimed the 24-year-old is at the top of a target list compiled by the Hammers boss and his head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.

The Hammers were boosted when a deal between Porto and Palmeiras for Rios collapsed last month.

Hammers News reported last month that all roads lead to Rios for West Ham after the collapse of that Porto move.

Rios, who is just as adept at playing defensive midfield as he is attacking midfield, has starred at the Club World Cup with Palmeiras.

It seems to have convinced West Ham to make their move.

Spurs ‘bound’ to bid for Rios after £21.5m Hammers offer rejected

Because according to South American football journalist Pasquale Guarro, West Ham have made a £21.5m bid for Rios to try and beat Spurs to the star.

According to Guarro, the offer has been rejected with Palmeiras wanting around £25-26m.

“Richard Rios, Palmeiras is asking for around 30 million euros (£25.8m) for his transfer fee,” Guarro said.

“South American media reports strong interest from Al-Hilal and also an offer of 25 million euros (£21.5m) from West Ham, rejected by Palmeiras.”

That has made big news in Italy, where Champions League finalists Inter Milan reportedly want Rios to replace Hakan Calhanoglu, who is keen to move to his boyhood club Galatasaray this summer.

Calciomercato claim Inter are worried by the interest from the Premier League and also claim West Ham have had a bid rejected.

Tensions are already boiling over between West Ham and rivals Tottenham Hotspur as a key David Sullivan ally hits out at Daniel Levy in a twist to Mohammed Kudus talks.

What started as unwelcome transfer discussions on West Ham’s part has now taken an ugly twist, sparking fresh friction between the two clubs.

There is a reason West Ham and Tottenham have not done any business whatsoever over the last 14 years.

You would be hard-pressed to find a Premier League club owner or chairman as unpopular with their own fanbase as David Sullivan and Daniel Levy are at West Ham and Spurs.

Putting the pair in negotiations over a multi-million pound deal is asking for trouble.

And so it has proved – again.

Fireworks guaranteed as Sullivan and Levy clash over Kudus

The last players to move between the Hammers and Spurs were David Bentley, on loan from north to east London, and Scott Parker leaving for Tottenham – both back in 2011.

There was almost a deal struck between Levy and the Irons 10 years ago.

But a very public row erupted between the two clubs when the Tottenham chief pulled the plug on a West Ham deal for Emmanuel Adebayor in 2015.

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West Ham co-owner at the time, David Gold – who sadly passed away in 2023 – delivered an icy blast at Levy after he reneged on a deadline day deal.

“No matter how hard you try, there are people out there that you just can’t do business with,” Gold said of Levy on social media.

Since then there has also been a bitter fallout between West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady and Levy.

The former close friends no longer speak after a spying scandal targeting Brady’s phone played out in the courts during the battle for the London Stadium.

Now Tottenham are trying to take advantage of West Ham’s shocking financial situation to sign Mohammed Kudus.

And tensions are already fraught.

West Ham fans realise Kudus has to be sold to raise funds for Graham Potter to make signings.

Sullivan ally takes aim at Levy as Kudus talks turn ugly

But Hammers supporters are furious at the prospect of selling Kudus to Spurs after the club admitted it may be forced to break the unofficial transfer embargo between the sides.

It was claimed yesterday that Spurs were advancing in negotiations with Kudus and West Ham.

Although the possibility of Chelsea making a move to derail Tottenham’s Kudus bid is still alive.

Many predicted putting Levy and Sullivan, who has reprised his role as West Ham’s de facto director of football, back in touch would produce fireworks.

And they haven’t disappointed.

Because a key Sullivan ally has taken aim at Levy as West Ham and Spurs talks over Kudus turn ugly.

Reports have been rife that Tottenham have made bids to West Ham for Kudus and that the transfer is in the works.

It has also been claimed that Kudus is open to joining West Ham’s bitter rivals Spurs.

The reality is very different according to a close confidant of Hammers chief Sullivan.

Spurs fans are already angry they have missed out on Antoine Semenyo and look set to lose to Arsenal in the battle for Eberechi Eze.

Now prominent Hammers insider Sean Whetstone, who is close with Sullivan and Brady, has made a shocking new revelation about the Kudus talks with Tottenham which will put Levy under even more pressure in north London.

‘Levy up to his old tricks’ says top Hammers insider

Whetstone has been told by his top West Ham sources that there has been no formal approach or bid from Spurs for Kudus.

West Ham insiders have told Whetstone that the club has not given permission for Spurs to approach Kudus after the likes of Fabrizio Romano claimed talks have been held between them and the player’s agents.

And the key Sullivan ally says his club sources allege ‘Levy is up to his old tricks by playing the Kudus deal out in the media’ using agents to get around rules over tapping up’.

The news will surely now open the door for other interested parties.

Make no mistake, if Mohammed Kudus really does swap West Ham United for Tottenham Hotspur in the remainder of the Premier League’s off-season, this will be a deal struck out of necessity rather than desire from the London Stadium outfit.

As a club source exclusively told Hammers News, the lack of other serious offers for Mohammed Kudus means West Ham may have to accept Tottenham’s advances, regardless of whether they really want to or not.

Talks with Chelsea hit a brick wall when the Blues tried to offer a host of players, Jadon Sancho for instance, in exchange. Kudus has little interest in moving to Saudi Arabia despite claims that the former Ajax star could have earned £17 million a year – yes, every year – at Neom SC.

Manchester United are prioritising Bryan Mbeumo. And, over in the north east, Newcastle have other targets higher than Kudus on their wishlist.

Sky Sports‘ Mark McAdam sums up the situation pretty succinctly.

“West Ham maybe have to get creative. They maybe have to sell a few players to give Graham Potter the funds to go and invest and re-shape that squad,” McAdam said on Tuesday.

“Mohammed Kudus is one of those players.”

So the theory put forward by former Crystal Palace chairman-turned-pundit Simon Jordan, speaking talkSPORT as discussions continue between West Ham and Tottenham, feels as inaccurate as it does rather incendiary.

Simon Jordan hits back at West Ham United fans as Tottenham hold Mohammed Kudus talks

Jordan believes that claims of a fierce ‘rivalry’ between West Ham and Spurs have been overblown.

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He also suggests that no player has left the former for the latter since Scott Parker in 2011 simply because, well, Tottenham just didn’t want any Hammers player until Kudus came along.

“I look at this and say, ‘well, why are you so offended? Are you offended by the transfer, or [Kudus] going to Spurs?'” Jordan argues, adding that the fury displayed by many Hammers fans may also be a convenient stick with which to beat unpopular chairman David Sullivan.

“There is no massive rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham, is there? Is there this massive rivalry?

“[The fact that Tottenham have not signed a West Ham player in 14 years] might tell you something about where West Ham have been at a football club. There have been some good players there who have gone on to other things, like Dimitri Payet.

“But maybe Tottenham haven’t coveted them. Tottenham are a bigger club than West Ham.”

Spurs’ Jarrod Bowen interest proves former Crystal Palace owner wrong

Of course, that final comment alone is enough to get backs up at the London Stadium.

Speaking to TNT Sports recently, meanwhile, captain-turned-sporting director Mark Noble admitted that Tottenham sit higher than Arsenal when ranking West Ham’s most despised opposition.

“I don’t think Arsenal were a massive rival. There was just something with Spurs that made it such a big rivalry,” Noble said. “I loved the rivalry. I loved playing in those games.

“I was brought up as a West Ham fan. And being around loads of West Ham fans myself, they always ingrained in me that ‘we’ve always got to beat Spurs’.”

Such an admission, straight from the Hammers’ mouth, should go some way to explaining to the likes of Simon Jordan why reports of Kudus crossing a seldom-touched divide has caused such a stir in the claret and blue corner of London.

As for Jordan’s claim that Tottenham simply didn’t want any other West Ham players in that 14-year gap, well, Jarrod Bowen is a walking, talking, free-scoring example of why that is wide of the mark.

It is no secret that Daniel Levy is a big fan of the Hammers skipper.

Tottenham presumably would have gone all in on Bowen, if not for a massive price-tag which makes Kudus relatively affordable at £60 million.

Thomas Frank is never going to speak out publicly on Tottenham Hotspur’s desire to sign Mohammed Kudus from bitter Premier League rivals West Ham United.

That is just not the way business tends to be concluded these days. And, in Frank, Spurs have got themselves one of the true gentlemen of English football.

However, you only need to go back a few months in order to gain some idea of what the former Brentford boss thinks about a man who could soon become the first since Scott Parker 14 years ago to leave David Sullivan’s clutches and walk into the arms of Daniel Levy.

Fabrizio Romano claims that talks are ongoing between Tottenham and Kudus. Further reports say that the former Ajax ace is open to joining Spurs, seemingly unbothered by what this would mean for his reputation among a West Ham United fanbase whose love has already wavered thanks to a 2024/25 campaign full of underwhelming performances and a few disciplinary issues.

Now, Thomas Frank did not go into great detail regarding his feelings about Kudus back in February. But, clearly, the man who turned Brentford from Championship nearly-men into an established Premier League outfit is a keen admirer of who could become his first marquee addition in charge of the Europa League holders.

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is a fan of West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus

Frank was speaking ahead of West Ham’s 1-0 home defeat by Brentford in the winter.

As it happens, Kudus was hardly at his brilliant best on that February afternoon. Graham Potter felt only Ollie Scarles, James Ward-Prowse and Evan Ferguson performed anywhere near the standards required during another underwhelming outing for a man who ended the season with only five goals and four assists to his name.

Yet, speaking pre-match, Thomas Frank had nothing but praise for a Hammers frontline which, while impressive on paper, became increasingly frustrating in practice.

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“West Ham, in my opinion, offensively and defensively, have clear principles in all phases. They want to control more and more of the ball, and they have some top players,” Frank said. “Mohammed Kudus, Lucas Paqueta and Jarrod Bowen are really, really good.”

Frank would then reminisce about Bowen’s days at Hull City, having come across the now-West Ham skipper during his own spell in the second tier.

Now, Jarrod Bowen has been heavily linked with Tottenham himself, even if father-in-law Danny Dyer would burn London to the ground to stop that from happening. It is Kudus who now looks destined to take a path walked by a lonely Scott Parker all those years ago, however.

Spurs close in on Kudus as West Ham need the cash

A club source, speaking to Hammers News, confirmed this week that West Ham may have to accept Tottenham’s offer simply because few other clubs are willing to meet that £60 million price-tag.

Cashing in on Kudus feels like a necessary evil, then, for a cash-strapped outfit who must raise funds for new signings.

“A lot of interest in him. West Ham maybe have to get creative, they maybe have to sell a few players to give Graham Potter the funds to go and invest and re-shape that squad,” reporter Mark McAdam says in a Sky Sports update on Tuesday.

“Mohammed Kudus is one of those players.”

McAdam adds that Tottenham turned to Kudus after Bryan Mbeumo chose Manchester United.

“We know there is interest from Tottenham Hotspur,” he explains. “We know that they are looking to try and add players out wide. They want a versatile forward threat which Mohammed Kudus would be, someone who can play in multiple positions across the frontline.”

It is no secret that Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United. Thus, making the Ghana international the first player to swap the Hammers for Spurs since Scott Parker 14 years ago.

Exactly why Tottenham Hotspur want to sign Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, though, can be summed up best by Sky Sports reporter Mark McAdam.

The Europa League winners missed out on Bryan Mbeumo; Manchester United taking some semblance of revenge as the Brentford winger looks to complete his long-awaited switch to Old Trafford.

Now, Mbeumo and Kudus are hardly two peas borne out of the same footballing pod.

The former is an out-and-out right-winger in the Mo Salah mould. The latter, however, is harder to quantify. Not quite a midfielder, nor a number ten, a winger or a centre-forward but a combination of all four roles.

And, while Kudus can be ‘unplayable’ on his day, a tally of five goals across the 2024/25 Premier League season pales in comparison to Mbeumo’s twenty.

Going from the Brentford talisman to West Ham’s former Ajax ace, then, almost feels like going into Argos in pursuit of a kettle and coming out with an air fryer.

But, as Kudus opens himself up to Tottenham’s advances, it is that aforementioned flexibility ‘across the frontline’ which could encourage Daniel Levy to part with the £60 million West Ham want.

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Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in West Ham United ace Mohammed Kudus explained

A club source, speaking to Hammers News, confirms that Kudus may be allowed to seal a controversial switch across London simply because offers in the £60 million region have been few and far between.

And with West Ham under pressure to ease their Profit and Sustainability concerns, letting Kudus follow in Scott Parker’s footsteps may be the sort of necessary evil required to jolt their summer into life.

“A lot of interest in him. West Ham maybe have to get creative, they maybe have to sell a few players to give Graham Potter the funds to go and invest and re-shape that squad,” McAdam says in a Sky Sports update.

“Mohammed Kudus is one of those players.

“We know there is interest from Tottenham Hotspur. We know that they are looking to try and add players out wide. They want a versatile forward threat which Mohammed Kudus would be, someone who can play in multiple positions across the frontline.”

Chelsea and Newcastle United monitoring Kudus sitaution

In 80 appearances as a West Ham player, Kudus has featured most frequently on the right-wing. The same position Mbeumo occupies down the road at Brentford.

Yet, while he lacks Mbeumo’s sub-zero finishing, one attribute Kudus does have over the Man United-bound forward is an ability to excel on the left, through the middle, as a number nine or even in a deeper, midfield role.

“We know [Tottenham] also liked Bryan Mbeumo but he has made his feelings quite clear,” McAdam explains. “We also know [Crystal Palace ace] Ebereche Eze is a player of interest for Tottenham Hotspur and Thomas Frank.”

McAdam adds that Chelsea are still in the race for Mohammed Kudus despite agreeing deals for Brighton ace Joao Pedro and Borussia Dortmund wideman Jamie Gittens.

Newcastle is another potential destination. The Magpies also missed out on Bryan Mbeumo, though it is believed that there are other names higher up on Eddie Howe’s wishlist than West Ham’s enigmatic number 14.

“We know that Chelsea are at the table,” the report concludes. “Despite signing Jamie Gittens, they are looking potentially at Mohammed Kudus as well.

Mohammed Kudus’ West Ham United departure appears to be heating up with bitter Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur slamming their foot onto the accelerator.

Now, while many West Ham supporters are clearly not happy about the prospect of such a gifted footballer leaving for those hated neighbours up in the North, this is not really a club with many options available to them right now.

As a spokesman for the West Ham United board explains, the chance to bring in a fee of around £60 million may be one they cannot afford to turn down.

“Sadly, £55 – £60 million offers are hard to get,” Hammers News have been informed. “We are searching everywhere to try and get other offers.”

Clearly, Mohammed Kudus joining Tottenham and becoming the first player to swap the Hammers for Spurs since Scott Parker 14 years prior is a scenario the London Stadium outfit would rather avoid.

Yet, with those financial pressures preventing a Graham Potter, Kyle Macaulay-led rebuild from even getting out of the starting gates, Kudus has the makings of a sacrificial lamb offered up in an attempt to appease the PSR gods.

Ally McCoist, the Rangers and Scotland icon, sums the situation up pretty well.

Ally McCoist urges Tottenham to snap up West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus

The chance to land Kudus for much less than his release clause – West Ham initially wanted £85 million from rival Premier League clubs – is a ‘no-brainer’ from a Spurs perspective, McCoist says

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.In an ideal world, he would not be leaving the London Stadium at all. Let alone for a club David Sullivan has not done business with for almost a decade-and-a-half.

But that is the nature of the beast in these Profit and Sustainability-driven times. Sacrifices have to be made in the pursuit of progress. And if West Ham are to make progress in pursuit of their leading summer targets, Kudus following in Scott Parker’s footsteps is a scenario they may have no real option of preventing right now.

“[Signing Kudus] is a no-brainer for Tottenham,” McCoist argues. “I think he’s a terrific player, I really do. I like him a lot, Kudus.

“West Ham would not want to see the back of him, that’s for sure.”

Spurs in pole position after Chelsea’s Jadon Sancho snub

From a more positive perspective, it’s not as if the £38 million signing from Ajax performed anywhere near the peak of his powers last term. The drop-off from his debut season in England compared to 2024/25 was pretty substantial.

From 14 goals and nine assists to five and four.

As former Upton Park boss Alan Pardew put it, Mohammed Kudus can be ‘unplayable’ on his day. The problem is, under both Julen Lopetegui and Graham Potter, those days became fewer and further between. A £60 million windfall would allow West Ham to bring in a new centre-forward, a couple of dynamic midfielders, or a more reliable goalkeeper.

Perhaps, if Macaulay displays the same instincts he showed at Brighton, Kudus’ sale could free up funds for a handful of new arrivals.

Chelsea offered Jadon Sancho in exchange for Kudus earlier in the summer, while Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle have all been linked.

However, it has since emerged that Kudus is open to joining Tottenham in a move that would scrub away any remaining goodwill held towards him by the Hammers faithful.

West Ham have made a brutal admission amid growing unrest over the potential sale of Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur.

Given there is little love lost between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur, it is understandable fans may not be happy at the prospect of business between the bitter rivals.

Let alone a deal which would see one of the Hammers’ best players, Mohammed Kudus, join Tottenham in a cut-price deal.

Spurs were linked with West Ham’s Kudus all the way back in April but appeared to have moved on to Eberechi Eze, Bryan Mbeumo and Antoine Semenyo.

None of those deals have progressed for Tottenham, though, resulting in Daniel Levy reigniting interest in signing Kudus – on the instruction of new boss Thomas Frank.

West Ham make brutal admission about Kudus to Spurs

The very idea of selling Kudus to their fierce London foes has Hammers fans livid and voicing their outrage at the club’s owners.

Resentment towards the owners has bubbled to the surface again of late with West Ham insisting there is no money for signings until players are sold.

Kudus is West Ham’s most valuable asset outside of Jarrod Bowen, who is simply not for sale after Spurs were also linked with a move for the Hammers captain.

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Many Hammers fans feel David Sullivan simply ‘would not dare’ sell Kudus to Tottenham.

Especially as most believe last season was simply a blip for the Ghanaian after his stunning debut campaign.

West Ham fans were lured to the London Stadium reluctantly on the promise of the move ensuring they would be able to go to the next level and compete with the top clubs in the transfer market.

The reality is that two years on from selling their best player and captain Declan Rice to London rivals Arsenal, the Irons could be forced to end a 14-year unofficial transfer embargo with Tottenham by selling Kudus to them.

With anger building among supporters and Tottenham fans already goading their West Ham counterparts, Hammers News discussed the situation with the club’s top brass.

West Ham have accepted that Kudus’ difficult second season means they are unlikely to get close to the £85m release clause in the player’s contract.

West Ham owners admit they may be forced to sell to Spurs

Worse still West Ham have made a brutal admission as fans vent their fury over the prospect of selling Kudus to Spurs.

When Hammers News asked the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners whether the club would seriously consider selling to Tottenham given the strength of feeling among fans.

The Hammers board has admitted they may have little choice.

“Sadly £55m/£60m offers are hard to get,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News on the possibility of selling to Tottenham.

“We are searching everywhere to try and get other offers.”

Not all West Ham fans are overly fussed if Kudus leaves for Spurs, with many questioning his attitude last season.

West Ham fans vent fury over prospect of selling Kudus to Spurs

But it says a lot about the quality of player Tottenham could be getting that a large number of Hammers supporters are making it clear selling to Spurs will be the final straw for them when it comes to the owners.

One West Ham fan said Sullivan and co have ‘lost their minds’ if they sell Kudus to rivals Tottenham.

Another Hammers fan agreed, responding: “One huge mistake.”

Angry supporter Glenn said the owners are running West Ham ‘like a Division One club’ and urged his fellow fans to sign a petition calling for the board to sell up and leave.

West Ham fan Alex pondered: “How low have we stooped to genuinely entertain a bid from Spurs just to get our window started.”

Prominent Hammers fan account on X, West Ham Rambles, likened the situation to a prank on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

“Now sell Kudus to Spurs for a knock-down price,” Rambles said alongside a picture of the comedy duo.

Hammer Time Dave Edwards asked his fellow supporters whether they would rather sell Kudus to Spurs for £70m or take £10m less to sell to another Premier League club – with over 55 per cent voting the latter.

West Ham Views has urged Sullivan to redeem himself by stringing Tottenham along over Kudus before pulling the plug on any deal – like Levy did to the Hammers over Emmanuel Adebayor back in 2015.

“Sullivan has the ability to do the pettiest thing ever,” he said.

“Get one over on Levy finally and tell Kudus to stay.

“Levy done it with Adebayor. It won’t happen but it would be funny.”

‘I’d rather keep Kudus than sell to Tottenham’

West Ham fan Scottie G said Kudus hasn’t cared about the club all season.

He said: “Let’s face it. Kudus hasn’t given a care for 12 months. The fact he wants to leave speaks volumes. The fact he’s willing to go Spurs tells you what he thinks of us. Ta da.”

The account COYIrons predicts Tottenham will embarrass West Ham.

“Kudus will rip it up in a Spurs shirt and we will be left looking like mugs for selling to them for £60m,” they said.

A fellow Hammers fan BC Richfield agreed, calling West Ham’s board a ‘joke’ if they sell to their rivals.

“We’re a joke if we deal with Spurs. We’re a joke anyway under this gutless leadership. We were just lucky to get Moyes when we did who massively overachieved. Losing love for this club more every year but selling Kudus, on the cheap too – which it will be – is a new recent low.”

A number of West Ham fans said they would rather keep Kudus and not make any signings than sell to Tottenham.

Others feel Tottenham should be forced to pay the full release clause or forget it.

“Unless it is the release clause I’d rather keep him,” one fan added.

There may be some good news for Hammers fans emerging from the Kudus camp, though.

West Ham ace Mohammed Kudus has reacted to fresh reports linking him with a move to bitter rivals Spurs, just hours after a major new Chelsea claim emerged.

The Hammers have left themselves in a terrible position financially, meaning they are now banking on selling Mohammed Kudus to raise transfer cash for Graham Potter.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea, traditionally West Ham’s two biggest rivals besides Millwall, have both been heavily linked with moves for Kudus.

There is no love lost between the Hammers and Tottenham. It is no coincidence the two clubs have not done any business together for 14 years.

Kudus triangle emerges between West Ham, Spurs and Chelsea

The last players to move between the two clubs were David Bentley, on loan from Spurs to the Hammers, and Scott Parker – both way back in 2011.

A number of incidents since – including a fallout between former firm friends Spurs chief Daniel Levy and Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady – have ensured relations are frosty from the pitch to the stands and the boardroom.

But West Ham’s board confirmed they would sell Kudus to Spurs if Levy paid the £65m asking price in a Hammers News exclusive earlier this month.

That angered many Hammers supporters, who do not want to see their club selling to their fierce rivals.

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While every player has his price at most clubs, that viewpoint is understandable.

After all West Ham fans were lured to the London Stadium on the promise it would enable them to compete with the top clubs in the transfer market.

Yet Hammers fans have already had to suffer the ignominy of selling Declan Rice to Arsenal and being goaded about it ever since.

Now they face the prospect of losing another top player to an even bigger rival in Spurs.

Kudus reacts to new Spurs move link after major Chelsea claim

West Ham were said to be keen to offload Kudus elsewhere as Chelsea mulled over a move following initial talks at the start of June.

They say desperate times call for desperate measures, though.

And with Potter in need of transfer funds, West Ham fans are faced with the prospect of having to accept selling to Tottenham if they want to bring players in.

Now Kudus has reacted to a new Spurs move link after a major Chelsea claim as West Ham are told to expect a bid.

It seems West Ham’s ideal scenario of a transfer battle for Kudus might be about to play out.

But the last thing fans want is to see him join Spurs and rediscover the form everyone knows he is capable of.

But how does the player feel?

Hammers News reported last week that Kudus has taken matters into his own hands to get out of West Ham, by changing agents as he looks for a move.

A top Chelsea insider claimed Enzo Maresca is now turning to signing Kudus from West Ham after sealing deals for Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.

But just hours later, Telegraph journalist Matt Law claims Tottenham are now readying a bid for Kudus, who has been identified as a primary target by new boss Thomas Frank.

Law claims sources have told him Spurs, who are believed to be optimistic they can clinch a deal for well below his £85 million release clause, believe Kudus is now the most likely signing to bolster the attacking options of new head coach Frank.

‘Kudus open to Spurs move’ as West Ham told to expect bid

That’s after optimistic plans to try and sign one of Bryan Mbeumo, Antoine Semenyo or Eberechi Eze hit the buffers.

Fabrizio Romano has also claimed a Tottenham bid to West Ham for Kudus is imminent.

And both Law and Romano have revealed Kudus’ thoughts on joining Spurs.

West Ham fans won’t like his outlook one little bit.

Because they both state that ‘Kudus is open to joining Tottenham’ – a claim that will go down like a lead balloon in east London.

Ironically Kudus was banned for five games last season when he had complete head loss in a 4-1 defeat at Tottenham, leaving three Spurs players laid out on the pitch.

The Ghanaian scored West Ham’s goal in that October game and was not then eligible to play again until December.

West Ham’s owners have made a jaw-dropping admission about a Tottenham Hotspur deal when questioned about talks with Aston Villa over a transfer.

The stunning revelation comes amid speculation a deal could be imminent in the next 48 hours.

Despite finishing 17th in the Premier League last season, Tottenham have a distinct advantage over West Ham and Aston Villa in this summer’s transfer window.

That is money the Hammers and Aston Villa could sorely use right now.

Many of the claret and blue army at both clubs are growing increasingly restless at the lack of transfer activity so far.

The first month of an extended summer window has not been utilised by West Ham or Aston Villa.

West Ham admit Aston Villa enquiry ahead of unofficial deadline

West Ham’s board has been pleading PSR poverty, claiming huge £100m plus losses are on the horizon in their next accounts in December.

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Meanwhile Aston Villa, who missed out on a second consecutive season of Champions League football, are even worse off.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire explained recently that Villa are the team most at risk of breaching PSR.

Maguire revealed that when Villa qualified for the Champions League, they spent £91 on wages for every £100 they made in revenue.

As a result, it has been widely claimed Unai Emery needs to offload a player to raise around £30-40m – by Monday.

Because 30th of June is the year end for the 2024/25 accounts, where clubs need to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules.

Daniel Levy had warned Tottenham fans ‘we can’t spend what we don’t have’ before his club qualified for the Champions League.

While West Ham have been insisting they have no wiggle room for transfers due to PSR, they are not in danger of any imminent PSR breach.

Whereas Aston Villa reportedly are.

Graham Potter is relying on a number of sales to raise funds for signings.

West Ham plan to offload the likes of Mohammed Kudus, whom Spurs are said to be interested in.

The Hammers would prefer not to sell to Tottenham given there is no love lost between the rivals, who have maintained an unofficial transfer embargo with one another for 14 years and counting.

Whether the Irons get desperate and are forced to sell Kudus to Spurs remains to be seen.

West Ham owners make stunning Spurs deal claim after Villa talks

But West Ham will be looking to replace the Ghanaian, who will definitely be sold this summer.

That, according to recent reports, has led them to the Midlands where West Ham have made enquiries about Villa star Jacob Ramsey.

The Guardian doubled down on claims West Ham want Ramsey to replace Kudus.

The report also stated the Hammers have been plotting to leave it as late as possible in June to make their Ramsey bid in the hope of driving down the price with Villa having to raise funds by Monday evening.

Aston Villa reporter Tom Collomosse was the first to report West Ham’s interest in Ramsey.

In a new article yesterday, he claimed Ramsey is a player Villa are willing to sell to West Ham before Monday’s deadline as transfer director Monchi is faced with balancing the books.

The report also confirmed the Hammers have enquired about Ramsey ahead of Monday.

But he also mentioned potential interest from Tottenham.

Collomosse reports that Villa’s asking price of around £40m is deemed relatively steep by the Hammers and Spurs.

Now West Ham’s owners have made a stunning Spurs deal claim after talks with Aston Villa.

Hammers News put the reports about a potentially imminent move for Ramsey to the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners.

The Hammers board were asked whether there was any truth in the claim the club is eyeing Ramsey with Villa potentially having to sell a player by Monday.

Hammers board think Ramsey is joining Tottenham instead

The response was very revealing.

And it is more bad news for West Ham fans – but major shot in the arm for Spurs.

West Ham’s owners did not deny interest, suggesting they have enquired about signing Ramsey.

But they won’t be – because the Hammers believe he is joining rivals Spurs instead.

“I think the player (Ramsey) is going to Spurs,” the top spokesman for West Ham’s owners exclusively told Hammers News.

It marks yet another bitter blow for West Ham, landed by one of their fiercest rivals no less.

And the news will not go down well with Hammers fans.

Although a Sky Sports reporter stated live on TV overnight that a source at Villa has told him PSR isn’t a problem for the club come Monday. So it remains to be seen whether Villa do offload Ramsey.

There is not long to wait to find out the reality of the situation.

The jury is also out on whether Spurs signing Ramsey would end their interest in West Ham’s Kudus.

West Ham and Spurs could both end up empty-handed as they lock horns after a club’s big announcement because the star they want may sign for Fulham instead.

Fulham have entered a transfer tussle between rivals West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur late in the day – and now look set to win it.

The Hammers need a major rebuild this summer but are yet to make any significant strides towards signings.

Spurs have completed a permanent deal for Mathys Tel and have shelled out £10m to make Thomas Frank – the man many West Ham fans wanted to replace David Moyes and Julen Lopetegui – their new boss.

West Ham and Spurs lock horns after club’s big announcement

Having secured Champions League football, Spurs have a major advantage over the likes of the Hammers and Fulham in the transfer market.

Daniel Levy recently warned Tottenham fans he can’t spend what the club don’t have – as reported by The Telegraph.

Meanwhile, in east London, West Ham’s owners have been making it perfectly clear the money well has run dry.

Sales are desperately needed to fund Graham Potter’s overhaul.

MORE WEST HAM STORIES

To that end Tottenham are one of several clubs who have been linked with the man the Hammers are banking on to bring in most of their summer funds – Mohammed Kudus.

West Ham would prefer to sell Kudus to virtually anyone else, though, given there has been an unofficial transfer embargo between them and Tottenham for 14 years.

The free agent market is of great appeal to West Ham and Tottenham this summer.

Both clubs reportedly want to sign a versatile new full-back who can operate on both sides and also be equally adept at wing-back.

Saints announce Hammers and Spurs target is now a free agent

Now West Ham and Spurs are locking horns after club’s big announcement but the star may snub both for Fulham.

All the way back in April it was reported West Ham had ‘agreed terms in principle’ to sign Kyle Walker-Peters on a free transfer.

But it was also claimed Spurs were trying to hijack the Hammers’ move in a bid to bring Walker-Peters back to north London.

Southampton have admitted defeat in getting Walker-Peters to sign a new deal at St Mary’s following their relegation.

“Bringing to an end a five-and-a-half year stay,” Southampton announced overnight.

“Thank you to Kyle Walker-Peters, who will leave the club at the end of his contract.”

Given Walker-Peters can play just as well at left-back and left wing-back as he can on his natural right side, he is perfect for what the Hammers and Spurs need.

Especially on a free transfer.

But the 28-year-old could spring a surprise by joining Fulham instead.

Hammers News understands West Ham have cooled interest in Walker-Peters in recent weeks.

That’s after being informed he prefers a move to another London club.

Many assumed that would be for a return to Spurs – as being speculated elsewhere.

Walker-Peters may snub West Ham and Spurs for Fulham

But in fact the potential departure of Kenny Tete from Fulham to Everton on a free transfer has opened up a space for Walker-Peters to be his replacement.

Game time would be limited for Walker-Peters in his natural position at West Ham – who have Aaron Wan-Bissaka – and Spurs, where Pedro Porro is first choice.

Fulham have been linked with Walker-Peters consistently over the last month or two.

And the former England star is doing little to play down speculation after posting a picture on his Instagram Stories enjoying a day out with Fulham stars, including Emile Smith-Rowe and Alex Iwobi.

The potential move means West Ham and Spurs would have to look elsewhere.

It also has potential ramifications for released Hammers right-back Vladimir Coufal, who has been heavily linked with Fulham too.

With left-back Emerson Palmieri up for sale at West Ham, Potter desperately needs a full-back who can play both sides because he can’t afford to sign two right now.