West Ham are reeling after Spurs launched a bid to hijack their move for Julen Lopetegui’s prime summer transfer target.
West Ham technical director Tim Steidten has been working hard behind the scenes to bring in players for new head coach Julen Lopetegui.
But Tottenham Hotspur might be about to undo some of that transfer window hard work.
There is no doubt serious work is needed to improve the squads available to West Ham’s new boss Lopetegui and his Spurs counterpart Ange Postecoglou.
Anyone who has doubts about whether West Ham and Tottenham need summer overhauls, needs only to take a look at their respective records in 2024.
There is no love between West Ham and Tottenham.
Whether that’s on the terraces and social media between fans, who have a strong dislike for one another.
Hammers and Spurs do battle for deals
Or in the boardroom with an unofficial transfer embargo in place between the two clubs since Daniel Levy reneged on an agreement to send Emmanuel Adebayor West Ham’s way.
Followed of course the battle for the former Olympic Stadium which saw a friendship between Levy and Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady broken by a spying scandal.
West Ham and Tottenham have already been linked with mutual interest in a number of players such as Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley.
The key position that needs to be addressed for West Ham and Tottenham, though, is up front.
West Ham reportedly spoke to the family of Dominic Solanke about a move to the London Stadium.
Then Tottenham suddenly came on the scene by registering their own interest last month.
Now Spurs have launched a bid to hijack a West Ham move for Lopetegui’s prime target.
Spurs bid to hijack West Ham move for En-Nesyri
We reported on Sunday that it was all systems go on a West Ham move for Sevilla striker Youssef En-Nesyri.
Last month Hammers News exclusively revealed that En-Nesyri was the striker name on a list of targets Lopetegui handed to West Ham when being interviewed.
On Sunday the Spanish press claimed a deal to take the Moroccan to West Ham was in progress for £17m.
But it seems Tottenham are determined to interfere with West Ham’s best laid plans.
According to Santi Ortega of Radio Sevilla – as reported on Carrusel Deportivo – there has been ‘a lot of movement around En-Nesyri’s future’.
That’s amid Tottenham not only entering the race but ‘pushing hard’ to beat West Ham to signing the 27-year-old striker.
As a result of the rival interest, Sevilla are now trying to get £25m for En-Nesyri instead.
Sevilla want quick-fire sale
Tottenham have European football to offer En-Nesyri whereas West Ham – for the first time in four seasons – do not.
That may give Spurs a big advantage over the Hammers in signing the 20-goal star.
But En-Nyesri is an out and out striker and may get more game time at West Ham than Tottenham.
En-Nesyri was seen saying an emotional farewell to Sevilla in their last game of the season with claims he was waving goodbye ahead of a move to West Ham.
While he is certainly leaving, now it could be to West Ham’s bitter rivals Tottenham instead it seems.
That would leave Lopetegui reeling and Steidten under even more pressure amid difficulties landing players on a trip to Brazil.
Sevilla need a deal done quickly as they have to raise substantial funds by June 30th to avoid sanctions.
So we won’t have too long to wait to find out who wins the race.