West Ham News: C&H

West Ham United’s transfer deadline day move for Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Antonín Kinský now looks set to fail, with Spurs unwilling to sanction a loan deal.

Quite why it has taken so long for this to become clear is anyone’s guess, especially given the transfer window has been open for more than a month.

That said, in the grand scheme of things, it is debatable how much this actually matters. There cannot be many who would argue that signing a backup goalkeeper should be anywhere near the top of West Ham’s list of priorities.

Spurs’ decision now means that summer signing Mads Hermansen is unlikely to return to his former club Leicester City during this window.

Loan Slots Better Used Elsewhere

With any luck, this development will allow West Ham to refocus their efforts and use that all-important domestic loan spot on an outfield player instead.

Axel Disasi is still expected to occupy one of the two allocated loan slots, but the way Nuno Espírito Santo’s side have visibly tired in second halves suggests that another attacking option would not be a bad idea.

With the clock ticking down, West Ham can ill afford any more wasted time — or misdirected priorities.

Hammers Chat my first game was West Ham 10-0 Bury . . . seriously!

We than went and bought Bury's central defender 😬⚒️ Irons

Started Hammers Chat alongside my partner in crime Geo back in 2014 and brough in to Claret & Hugh by my old mate Hughie to produce videos a couple of years later.

Give West Ham opinions on Sky Sports News and even did a bit of moonlighting on BBC Football Focus.

Sometimes feature on BBC Radio 5 Live and once ate a biscuit in Tony Gales shed.

Connoisseur of salted caramel doughnuts and I love a Sloppy Giuseppe pizza although I'm slightly suspicious where the name came from.

When I'm not moaning about West Ham I can be found walking a dog that looks like a sheep and tinkering with pinball machines.

More West Ham moaning is done on a daily basis here 👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/@HammersChatForum

Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 West Ham

Areola:7 Incredible double save was so important. Had a stinging shot from Bissouma to deal with at the opening of the second period and repeated the trick against the same player 10 mins later. Proper save from Simons on 88 mins.

Wan Bissaka:4 Good cross following a a decent dribble past Davis who was later substituted with a suspected broken leg following a challenge on Bowen. Had a mixed game but a lot of attacks came down his flank. Should have done better for Spurs equaliser. Seemed to get worse as the game went on and should have been replaced.

Mavropanos:8 Good recovery tackle on Simons early in the game. Almost scored following a neat knockdown from Soucek.

Todibo:7 Excellent tackle and recovery on 34 mins. Decent enough with his covering.

Scarles:6 Very solid but him taking corners from the opposite side of the pitch throws the team out of balance. Times his tackles beautifully but too often caught out for pace.

Soucek:7 Pops up far too much on the right flank for my liking but always committed and made a wonderful tackle in the first half to break a Spurs attack. For the second game running made some telling first time passes.

Fernandes:8 Missed a tackle during Spurs first attack but really West Ham were seriously outnumbered in midfield. Earned an assist when he played in Summerville. Some really lovely stuff but I think we’re just going to have to accept that he’ll get caught dribbling out of defence in every game. Overall an impressive contribution and got fouled a lot.

Bowen:5 Should have been more switched off when his goal was ruled out for offside. Took a yellow for the team and worked hard but nowhere near his best.

Summerville:7 Cut in well from the left flank and saw his deflected shot hit the back of the net. At the heart of everything the Hammers did well. Cleverly managed to get Gray and Romero on early cards. Like everyone else, faded in the second half.

Pablo:5 Won a header against Gallagher in the first minute and got a bump to the head in the process. Played his part in the opener with good hold-up play. Fully committed but at times has the first touch of an oil tanker. Attempted an overhead kick which wasn’t too far off. Worked hard but was exhausted after an hour.

Castellanos:6 Carded after 50 seconds for arguing with the referee. Had a half chance following a knock known from Summerville. Heavy and poor touch saw him waste excellent work from the same player. Should have scored from a decent corner routine. Played an excellent flicked ball to Summerville in the second half.

Substitutes

Rodriguez: Replaced Pablo cleared off the line at the end.

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá is being strongly linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur this evening, with multiple outlets reporting a £26m offer from Spurs.

As a result, Claret & Hugh have spoken directly to somebody very close to Paquetá within the past hour to clarify the situation.

We have been told with absolute, cast-iron certainty that “Paquetá will not be leaving West Ham to join Tottenham in this transfer window.”

I understand the wording of that statement may lead to further speculation that the Brazilian could leave for Spurs in the summer, but that is not the intention. That said, Paquetá will leave the club before next season starts, and we have been informed that this is 100%.

No Talks, No Deal

West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo considers Paquetá to be his best player and will not sanction a move away.

Without putting too fine a point on it, someone very close to the player has asked Claret & Hugh to make it clear that there are no negotiations for a move to Tottenham.

Hopefully that clears it up, although I’d still expect the story to continue.

Hammers Chat my first game was West Ham 10-0 Bury . . . seriously!

We than went and bought Bury's central defender 😬⚒️ Irons

Started Hammers Chat alongside my partner in crime Geo back in 2014 and brough in to Claret & Hugh by my old mate Hughie to produce videos a couple of years later.

Give West Ham opinions on Sky Sports News and even did a bit of moonlighting on BBC Football Focus.

Sometimes feature on BBC Radio 5 Live and once ate a biscuit in Tony Gales shed.

Connoisseur of salted caramel doughnuts and I love a Sloppy Giuseppe pizza although I'm slightly suspicious where the name came from.

When I'm not moaning about West Ham I can be found walking a dog that looks like a sheep and tinkering with pinball machines.

More West Ham moaning is done on a daily basis here 👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/@HammersChatForum

Tottenham Hotspur have once again been linked with a move for West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen… nothing new there then. Only this time, Spurs are said to be “leading the race to sign Bowen”, which of course is complete nonsense.

Why? Because at present there is no race to sign the Hammers’ second top scorer of the Premier League era.

Pretty much every West Ham fan is fully aware that relegation would mean Bowen leaves to continue playing at the top level. Personally, I’d be amazed if manager Nuno Espírito Santo is still in the Hammers’ hot seat at the end of this season.

Why West Ham Won’t Sell Bowen in January

The only reason he’s currently still in the job is because the club still hope he can pull us out of the relegation zone. And it is entirely that same hope which will stop West Ham selling Jarrod Bowen in the January transfer window.

Whilst the West Ham board seem to be mismanaging the club into oblivion, they know they’ll not get away will selling the clubs prized asset now.

As for selling Bowen in the event of relegation… I doubt we’ll have much say in the matter, because the club’s debt will dictate that he is sold to the highest bidder.

Hammers Chat my first game was West Ham 10-0 Bury . . . seriously!

We than went and bought Bury's central defender 😬⚒️ Irons

Started Hammers Chat alongside my partner in crime Geo back in 2014 and brough in to Claret & Hugh by my old mate Hughie to produce videos a couple of years later.

Give West Ham opinions on Sky Sports News and even did a bit of moonlighting on BBC Football Focus.

Sometimes feature on BBC Radio 5 Live and once ate a biscuit in Tony Gales shed.

Connoisseur of salted caramel doughnuts and I love a Sloppy Giuseppe pizza although I'm slightly suspicious where the name came from.

When I'm not moaning about West Ham I can be found walking a dog that looks like a sheep and tinkering with pinball machines.

More West Ham moaning is done on a daily basis here 👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/@HammersChatForum

West Ham have held secretive and informal (whatever that means) talks in an effort to beat Tottenham Hotspur to a signing.

That’s the latest claim from football journalist Graham Bailey and Football Fancast, who seem adamant there is genuine interest in Ivan Toney. Their reports suggest that Spurs are further along in negotiations to bring the striker—who has something of a bad-boy reputation—back to London. However, there have apparently also been discussions with the Hammers.

As Claret & Hugh reported on Thursday, we were told by a trusted transfer source that there have indeed been conversations among the West Ham hierarchy about the former Brentford striker. Speaking earlier this week, our source said: “Of course there is interest, but he is earning nearly £250k per week net in Saudi.”

West Ham Missed the Bargain, Now Face Premium Price

More importantly, Toney is scoring goals in the Saudi Pro League—which is no surprise, as the forward guarantees goals wherever he plays. For that reason, he’d have been an ideal signing for West Ham, who could have landed him for just £3m back when he was at Peterborough.

It’s understood that Toney is keen to return to the Premier League on loan in a bid to boost his chances of making Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad. It appears to be a classic “out of sight, out of mind” scenario as far as the England manager is concerned, and the striker wants to remind Tuchel he’s still a viable option.

That said, last week’s alleged arrest for reportedly assaulting a fan outside a nightclub won’t have helped his case—either with Tuchel or his current Saudi employers, Al-Ahli—despite scoring 42 goals in 62 appearances.

As for West Ham, if the reports are to be believed, we’re currently in talks with anyone capable of kicking a football. That said, in this particular case, there does appear to be genuine interest in Toney. As for what exactly informal talks mean—well, your guess is as good as mine.

Hammers Chat my first game was West Ham 10-0 Bury . . . seriously!

We than went and bought Bury's central defender 😬⚒️ Irons

Started Hammers Chat alongside my partner in crime Geo back in 2014 and brough in to Claret & Hugh by my old mate Hughie to produce videos a couple of years later.

Give West Ham opinions on Sky Sports News and even did a bit of moonlighting on BBC Football Focus.

Sometimes feature on BBC Radio 5 Live and once ate a biscuit in Tony Gales shed.

Connoisseur of salted caramel doughnuts and I love a Sloppy Giuseppe pizza although I'm slightly suspicious where the name came from.

When I'm not moaning about West Ham I can be found walking a dog that looks like a sheep and tinkering with pinball machines.

More West Ham moaning is done on a daily basis here 👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/@HammersChatForum

West Ham are set to raid Tottenham Hotspur for one of their top academy stars, according to Hammers ITK ExWHUEmployee. It’s also understood that Spurs are far from happy about the prospect of losing one of their brightest young players.

The youngster in question is England youth international Frankie Day, a highly rated forward emerging from Spurs’ academy. The move is viewed as a big feather in the cap for West Ham, with Mark Noble playing a key role in securing the deal for the 16-year-old.

“West Ham are set to sign England youth international Frankie Day from rivals Spurs,” said Ex, on his West Ham Way patreon. “The deal is currently going through the Premier League five-step process before it can be completed.

“Frankie is a prolific forward who has scored many goals at his age group and while playing above his years. This is considered a bit of a coup for the club, with Mark Noble being very much behind the deal.”

This isn’t the first time Noble has been instrumental in bringing young talent to the academy. Last season, the former West Ham captain risked the wrath of Celtic and Brendan Rodgers when he persuaded another prolific striker, Daniel Cummings, to reject a new deal with The Bhoys and join the Hammers instead.

Noble’s Influence and Nuno’s Youth Pathway

Recruiting top young prospects may be becoming increasingly easier for West Ham, particularly under manager Nuno Espírito Santo. Since arriving at the club, Nuno has shown a clear willingness to give academy players meaningful opportunities, a factor that undoubtedly makes the London Stadium an attractive destination for rising talent.

Hammers Chat my first game was West Ham 10-0 Bury . . . seriously!

We than went and bought Bury's central defender 😬⚒️ Irons

Started Hammers Chat alongside my partner in crime Geo back in 2014 and brough in to Claret & Hugh by my old mate Hughie to produce videos a couple of years later.

Give West Ham opinions on Sky Sports News and even did a bit of moonlighting on BBC Football Focus.

Sometimes feature on BBC Radio 5 Live and once ate a biscuit in Tony Gales shed.

Connoisseur of salted caramel doughnuts and I love a Sloppy Giuseppe pizza although I'm slightly suspicious where the name came from.

When I'm not moaning about West Ham I can be found walking a dog that looks like a sheep and tinkering with pinball machines.

More West Ham moaning is done on a daily basis here 👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/@HammersChatForum

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

Hermansen:5 Managed to get his hand of one of Tottenham’s numerous corners as Spurs started the first half slowly and finished with a flourish. Will have been pleased to get to half time at 0-0. Poor positioning for Spurs second. Made an excellent double save against Kudus and Johnson to stop it being 4-0.

Walker Peters:5 Nice run forward against his former club opened up a good Hammers attack. Looked to get on the front-foot when possible. Equally responsible for Tottenham’s second with Mavropanos.

Mavropanos:5 Promising sign early on as Dinos beat Xavi Simons for pace then won his first three headers. Called into action more and more as the first half went on and was a brick wall in the first half. Went to sleep as he lost Bergvall from open play.

Kilman:4 Sloppy mid and long range passing but made an important block at the beginning of the game. Not happy with his role in the zonal marking at corners which seem to be easily unpicked by the opposition. Very bad for Van de Ven’s goal and Tottenham’s third after 65 mins.

Diouf:5 Dangerous early cross almost found Bowen in the box and looked to have the start of a partnership with Summerville. Easily manhandled by Bergvall from marking Sarr as Spurs predictable went ahead from corner after 47 mins.

Ward Prowse:3 Worked hard as usually but his consistent inability to win loose balls continues to be a problem. Did produce a good delivery from a set-piece which Kilman should have done better with.

Soucek:4 Forced into an early block within the first minute and won a number of 50/50 balls early in the game. So important when defending from corners and crosses where he often became a third central defender. Sent off for a lunge with studs showing, no complaints but killed the game as a contest and Spurs scored their second two minutes later.

Fernandes:5 Created an excellent chance for Paqueta early in the game. No doubt Fernandes will become a crowd favourite with his skill and willingness to scrap.

Bowen:4 Not involved at all in the first half. Had an early shot from range at the start of the second period. Created West Ham’s first corner of the game forcing Vicario into a save.

Summerville:4 Impressed with how he was willing to graft and help out Diouf deal with Kudus.

Paqueta:4 Should have scored after 13 minutes and his influence on the game lessened from that point.

Substitutes

Guilherme: On for Summerville in the 60th minute

Magassa: Replaced Fernandes as part of a joint substitution. Probably unfair to rate or assess the substitutes considering they were introduced with the team losing and down to 10 men.

Wilson: Brought on for Paqueta at 3-0 down after 65 mins.

First game back after the international break that has interrupted the Premier League and West Ham will hope to continue their upward trajectory which began with the somewhat surprising three-nil victory away at Nottingham Forest. The Tottenham Hotspur derby always draws interest and hopefully will provide a more feisty and entertaining spectacle than last season’s dire 1-1 borefest.

The sub plot of Mohammed Kudus returning to east London hopefully ensures a spicy welcome for the former Hammer who hasn’t been slow to pour out words guaranteed to alienate his former fans.

Graham Potter has to decide how best to deploy the additions made to his squad during the summer window: Whilst Fernandes is a shoe-in, the likes of Magassa and loanee Igor Julio will be hoping for involvement. Like most Hammers fans, we are hoping for a 4 -3 -2-1 or 4-3-3 line up rather than the 5-3-2 which quickly becomes nine last ditch-defenders and has failed either to impress or entertain.

Here we give our own predictions on Graham Potters starting eleven, not the XI we’d like to see…

West Ham predicted starting XI: 4-3-2-1

Hermansen | Walker Peters, Mavropanous, Kilman, Diouf | Soucek, Fernandes, Ward Prowse | Paquetá, Bowen | Wilson

Sean 0-3 Spurs win

Gonzo 2-1 West Ham win

Matt 1-0 West Ham win

Martin 2-0 West Ham win

We will have the full line up for you at 4.15 so check back for Graham Potter’s starting line up. We’ll also have Gonzo’s ‘player ratings’ and ‘final whistle, first impressions’ articles after the game to which you can add your own opinions on the Hammers performance in the comments sections.

It would be fair to say that former West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus could be in for a rough ride when Tottenham arrive at the London Stadium on Saturday.

The Ghanaian departed the Hammers in less-than-ideal circumstances during the summer and started Spurs’ season brightly, creating a couple of goals in their Premier League opener.

Since then, however, Kudus’ performances have dipped, and he’s drawn criticism from sections of the Tottenham fanbase. That said, his struggles seem to have coincided with Spurs’ own lacklustre displays, and there’s little doubt he’ll be fired up to face his old mates this weekend.

Inevitability about West Ham return

It almost feels written in the stars that Kudus will score against West Ham. But the Hammers have their own ex-Spurs man with a point to prove. Kyle Walker-Peters, who came through the ranks at Tottenham, was close to rejoining them from Southampton but instead found his way to East London. The versatile 28-year-old impressed on his full debut against Nottingham Forest and will be battling to keep his place ahead of the now fully-fit Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

So both sides could field players with revenge on their minds. While many West Ham fans disliked the manner of Kudus’ departure, it was clear he had no future under Graham Potter.

Adding an extra layer of intrigue, Tottenham made a late bid for Lucas Paquetá in the summer, and there have even been wild rumours linking Hammers skipper Jarrod Bowen with a move to north London.

As for Saturday, El Hadji Malick Diouf will face a stern test up against Kudus. But if Potter can deploy Crysencio Summerville ahead of him, it could pin the £55m man back and give West Ham the edge they desperately need. Not to mention, it would hand Hammers fans the bragging rights and just a sprinkle of revenge.

As West Ham gear up for their London derby clash against Tottenham Hotspur, the rivalry extends far beyond the pitch. Despite finishing above Spurs last season, many Hammers fans still cast envious glances towards North London, where Tottenham’s lavish transfer spending, world-class stadium, and recent European appearances paint the picture of a club on the up.

But beneath Spurs’ financial bravado lies a different story. According to a report in the New York Times, Tottenham Hotspur currently have a financial charge registered at Companies House, held by Macquarie Bank. This charge is tied to future Premier League payments due between December 2025 and May 2026.

Rather than wait for the money to arrive in instalments, Spurs chose to take the cash upfront. Macquarie advances the funds and gets paid back as the Premier League makes its central distributions — pocketing interest in the process. It gives Spurs instant liquidity to act fast in the transfer market or cover running costs without delay.

Sound familiar? It should — West Ham’s owners have used similar methods, including a reported £145 million loan facility from Barclays, plus borrowing from Rights and Media Funding Limited.

West Ham borrow but won’t spend

But the frustration in East London lies in Tottenham’s willingness to invest. In December last year, ENIC — Spurs’ ownership group — injected £35 million directly into the club via share issuance. That’s something West Ham’s board have notably refused to do.

For Hammers fans, this isn’t just about borrowing money. It’s about ambition. Risk appetite. The feeling that their club is willing to push boundaries and compete at the top.

As the two teams prepare to face off, it’s clear the real battle isn’t just for three points. It’s a fight for prestige, direction — and the future.

Still, we’ll gladly take the points on Saturday!