West Ham have launched a move for a brilliant 31-goal star but Spurs want him too and have an obvious advantage.
If there are any doubts that West Ham and rivals Tottenham Hotspur need major work this summer, just look at their records in 2024.
It says a lot about how well West Ham and Tottenham did in the first half of the season that they will still finish fifth and ninth respectively.
There was a point halfway through the season that West Ham were just three points behind Spurs.
But things have fallen away badly in the second half of both their campaigns.
David Moyes is leaving and Hammers technical director Tim Steidten is working on a big rebuild for his replacement Julen Lopetegui.
West Ham and Spurs face overhauls
Ange Postecoglou has not been shy in saying Tottenham need an overhaul this summer too.
And it seems that has put West Ham and Spurs on a collision course over one player.
West Ham have launched a move for a brilliant 31-goal star but Spurs have an obvious advantage.
According to an exclusive report overnight, the Hammers want to sign Celtic’s London-born Danish midfielder Matt O’Riley this summer. But Tottenham want him too.
The 23-year-old has 31- goals and assists for Celtic this season, scoring 15 and laying on 16.
Give Me Sport claims their sources have told them West Ham and Tottenham are battling it out for O’Riley’s signature.
And both clubs have been encouraged by the player who feels ready to test himself in the Premier League for the first time.
West Ham move for Celtic star but Spurs have advantage
The report claims O’Riley, who was born in Hounslow, will not make things difficult for Celtic but is keen to listen to what West Ham and Spurs have to say.
It is also pointed out that O’Riley has out-performed West Ham star Lucas Paqueta and Tottenham’s James Maddison in various metrics – albeit in a far inferior league.
The problem for West Ham, though, is obvious.
Postecoglou gives Tottenham a clear advantage given that O’Riley played under the Australian at Celtic.
West Ham were actually heavily linked with Postecoglou before he joined Tottenham.
But the Hammers elected to stick with Moyes for the last season of his contract.
O’Riley also ticks a big box for both West Ham and Spurs due to his homegrown status.
Blimey O’Riley
The report claims Celtic want at least £25m for O’Riley, whose statistics show him as a player with ‘no significant weaknesses’.
The 6ft 2in midfielder has plenty of strengths, though. Football data experts WhoScored show he has a stunning average match rating of nearly 7.6/10.
Hardly surprising then that he has just won Celtic’s young player of the year award.
O’Riley is rated as very strong on key passes and strong on general passing, through-balls, dribbling and taking set-pieces.
One of his notable talents is being involved in intricate one and two-touch play around the opposition box.
Whether Steidten and Lopetegui can convince him to try something different rather than reunite with Postecoglou and play in a system he knows well, remains to be seen.
We won’t have long to find out, though.
The summer transfer window opens for domestic deals on June 14th.
West Ham and Spurs fans can check out O’Riley in action in the video below.