West Ham have responded after a worrying claim about a Spurs move for star man Jarrod Bowen in the summer transfer window.
West Ham are well used to seeing their best players leave. But certainly not for bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Not since the dark days of seeing Hammers academy graduates Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick sold at ridiculously low fees to Spurs.
Heading into the summer transfer window West Ham fans were fully expecting to see Brazilian star Lucas Paqueta sold to Man City for £85m.
But the FA officially charging the playmaker has likely put paid to that, thus limiting West Ham’s transfer budget as a result.
So when journalist Graeme Bailey claimed yesterday that Tottenham Hotspur have made an approach to West Ham for Jarrod Bowen, nerves were rattled.
Tottenham’s Bowen approach rattles West Ham’s nerves
Some were concerned selling Bowen might just be a possibility given the club’s inability to sell Paqueta at this time.
Others were simply offended that Tottenham would even bother wasting their time asking the question for West Ham’s star player and talisman.
Especially as Bowen signed a new SEVEN YEAR deal only last season and said he wants to retire at West Ham.
Bailey originally told HITC – and has now since reiterated to Hammers News – that Tottenham made an enquiry about signing Bowen at the ‘highest levels’ between the rivals.
Essentially that suggests Spurs chief Daniel Levy contacted West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady, majority owner David Sullivan or technical director Tim Steidten about a deal for Bowen.
Bailey stated the Lilywhites saw that approach swiftly rejected by the Hammers who told Spurs they would have to stump up £150m for West Ham to even consider the sale.
Now West Ham have responded after a worrying claim about the Spurs move for Bowen.
West Ham respond to Spurs move for Bowen claim
The top spokesman inside West Ham United has spoken exclusively to Hammers News about Tottenham’s approach for Bowen.
And the good news is the key senior contact is as incredulous as most West Ham fans about Spurs’ ‘deluded’ enquiry.
“It is delusional rubbish Spurs could sign Jarrod,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
“Let me make this perfectly clear. He is not for sale.”
Ange Postecoglou may well want Bowen. Who wouldn’t?
Delusional Spurs wasted their time
He is everything that is good about West Ham.
But besides the fact he simply isn’t for sale and Tottenham wasted a phone call, they would have to go through Bowen’s father-in-law to be first.
Can you honestly imagine Bowen sitting down with West Ham fanatic Danny Dyer and telling him that he is signing for the second biggest rivals Spurs?
It is great to see West Ham delivering such an emphatic response.
Gone are the days the Hammers would entertain selling a key player to Tottenham.
The fact Spurs even enquires only serves to feed the perception that the north London club has delusions of grandeur about their status and standing.
While Bowen is still revelling in helping West Ham win major silverware just last summer, Tottenham’s wait goes on.
He would undoubtedly help that cause if Spurs did ever somehow manage to get Bowen in the door.
That, as West Ham have now made clear, is never going to happen.