Spurs have pounced on unrest to try and derail a West Ham move for Tim Steidten’s number one summer target.
New Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten could be forgiven for being sick of rivals Tottenham Hotspur already this summer.
It seems whichever way West Ham turn in search of new signings, Spurs appear on the scene.
Lopetegui and Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou have both made it clear to their bosses they need several signings this summer.
There will undoubtedly be mutual targets between the two London clubs.
But West Ham could be forgiven for feeling Tottenham are actively watching and rivalling Steidten’s transfer activity.
Hammers and Tottenham rivalry spills into transfer market
West Ham have been heavily linked with Dominic Solanke this summer.
But after reports emerged, Daniel Levy was suddenly being linked with a move to lure Solanke to Spurs instead.
Tottenham then reportedly tried to hijack West Ham’s move to sign key Lopetegui target Youssef En-Nesyri.
The two clubs are rivalling one another for Ivan Toney.
And Tottenham even took things a step too far by making an approach for Jarrod Bowen which West Ham told Hammers News was ‘delusional’.
Well now Spurs have pounced on unrest to try and derail West Ham’s move for Steidten’s number one target.
Spurs pounce on unrest to derail West Ham’s Wesley move
The first player West Ham tried to sign this summer was Corinthians star Wesley Gassova.
Steidten flew to Brazil as his first order of business and was working on a £20m deal for the Brazil Under 20 attacker.
The move hit a wall and West Ham signed Wesley’s fellow Brazil teen sensation Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras instead.
But two weeks ago the Hammers reignited a move for Wesley as they continued their search for a new left-sided attacker.
Since then serious unrest has erupted at Corinthians with fans storming the club’s training ground.
Supporters are angry about the team’s underperformance so far as they sit in the relegation zone after 12 games.
The unrest has seen several of the club’s star players linked with moves away.
And Spurs are trying to take advantage it seems by moving to sign Wesley before West Ham.
Italian side Napoli are also linked but have seen a bid rejected and according to Area Napoli cannot compete with the interest from Premier League duo West Ham and Tottenham.
Spurs to submit Wesley bid in July
The report states Corinthians want £25m for Wesley plus -essentially – a huge sell-on fee as they only want to give up 50 per cent of the star’s rights.
Worryingly for the Hammers, it claims West Ham will not go higher than their £20m and that has left the door open for Spurs, who almost certainly will with the north Londoners ready to make an official bid in July, the new PSR period.
“The contenders for Wesley have increased, with three Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Tottenham – who have entered the race,” the report states.
“(That is) further increasing the price: the former have put 25 million on the table, being told that, for that amount, Corinthians now only wants to give away 50% of the player’s rights.
“The Hammers didn’t go beyond 20; the Spurs, however, could present their proposal in July. In any case, the Sao Paulo company also intends to secure at least 10% on resale.”
West Ham and Tottenham fans can see what Wesley might bring to their side in the video below.