There has been major development in the battle between Spurs and West Ham for a top striker with an official bid readied by one of them.
West Ham and bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur are on a collision course in this summer’s transfer window.
Spurs and the Hammers have already been linked with mutual interest in several players.
West Ham have been sounding out Celtic midfield star Matt ‘O’Riley for a summer move.
Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou then reportedly threw his hat in the ring for a reunion with the Dane.
West Ham allegedly had a secret meeting with the family of Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke over a move to the London Stadium to spearhead the new era under Julen Lopetegui.
That seemed to give Tottenham chief Daniel Levy FOMO.
Because no sooner had those claims hit the football press then Spurs were suddenly linked with a move to lure Solanke there instead.
The icing on the cake came when it emerged Tottenham are now trying to hijack West Ham’s move to sign Lopetegui’s prime target Youssef En-Nesyri.
West Ham technical director Tim Steidten is undoubtedly already sick of the sight of Tottenham.
Now they’ve taken things a step further regarding another top mutual target. Quite literally.
Because the battle between Spurs and West Ham for a top striker hots up with a first bid readied.
Spurs hovering around West Ham targets
Back in March journalist Graeme Bailey exclusively told Hammers News that West Ham had already touched base with the agents of Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
The England forward is for sale this summer and his options are dwindling, along with his original £60-70m price tag.
Bailey also claimed Tottenham were lurking in the background with an interest in Toney too.
“West Ham are doing their work on their attacking options, Premier League and foreign,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“With Toney’s price dropping from January levels – he is now emerging on West Ham’s radar as it does appear they could afford…
“Tottenham and now Manchester United are looking, but West Ham are certainly ready to compete.”
A few weeks later Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg claimed Toney is very much in West Ham’s sights for the summer.
Well now Spurs have leapfrogged West Ham in the battle for Toney.
Battle between Spurs and West Ham for Toney hots up
That’s because the north Londoners have put together the first bid for the striker.
According to the sources of Football Transfers journalist Steve Kay, Spurs have prepared a package of personal terms for the forward.
And Tottenham will move ahead of West Ham by officially submitting the first bid of £40m for Toney.
There is good news for West Ham, though, on two fronts.
Because Kay claims Tottenham’s bid is unlikely to be accepted this early with the window for domestic deals officially opening next week.
It is also good news for the Hammers in respect of their attempts to beat Spurs to En-Nesyri.
There’s no way Tottenham can or will sign both Toney and En-Nesyri.
So an official move for the former suggests the path will be clear for West Ham regarding the latter.
How do Toney and En-Nesyri compare?
But how do the two strikers compare?
Moroccan En-Nesyri has scored 93 goals and provided nine assists in 289 top level senior career games for club and country.
The Sevilla forward has been man of the match 17 times and has boasts an average match rating of 6.72/10.
Meanwhile Toney has played less games at the top level having spent his formative years in the EFL with Northampton and Peterborough.
Over 137 top level games for Brentford and Newcastle, Toney has scored an impressive 71 goals and laid on 23 assists.
He has been man of the match 23 times and has a better average match rating than En-Nesyri of 7.25/10.
Both players are excellent in the air and at holding up the ball and bringing others into play.
For Tottenham either would represent a replacement for the kind of attributes Harry Kane used to bring to their side.
At West Ham Tony or En-Nesyri would be the top class bonafide centre-forward the club has needed for some time.