Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a top West Ham star and it leaves David Sullivan with a seriously tough decision to make.
Hammers News exclusive
With big questions surrounding a longstanding transfer embargo and the valuation of the player, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy looks set to force David Sullivan into one of his most difficult decisions in 15 years at West Ham.
The Hammers have a major problem this summer transfer window and bitter rivals Tottenham might be their only way out of it.
West Ham fans are furious with Sullivan and the board, as they continue to insist there is no money for signings unless significant sales are made.
The Hammers say they have no wiggle room when it comes to PSR.
That’s despite manager Graham Potter promising an “exciting and interesting summer window” with a rebuild planned – and much-needed.
Tottenham meanwhile have been boosted to the tune of £80m after qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Tottenham flush while Hammers are like sitting ducks due to PSR
West Ham are banking on selling the likes of Mohammed Kudus, Nayef Aguerd, Niclas Fullkrug, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Emerson Palmieri and a host of others to raise funds.
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In fact the only players who are not for sale, unless the Hammers receive offers too good to refuse, are Jarrod Bowen, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Crysencio Summerville.
Although any club willing to pay a decent fee for Summerville might be able to sway West Ham’s thinking after the winger’s initial refusal to have an operation meant he will have been out for eight months when he returns in September.
While many clubs have to now sell to buy due to PSR, West Ham did not bank on having to make one of their biggest decisions of the last decades thanks to Tottenham.
West Ham United FC v Brighton & Hove Albion FC - Premier League
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Spurs have been linked with moves for Bowen and Kudus already this summer.
Levy reportedly enquired to Sullivan about signing Bowen last year.
The message then was that Bowen was not for sale having signed a seven-year deal until 2030 in the October before.
But Sullivan is said to have told Levy he would need to pay £150m to stand any chance of getting West Ham’s talisman.
Tottenham have been heavily linked with Bowen again in the last couple of months.
This time the minimum price has dropped to £100m according to sources close to Sullivan.
Spurs have been linked with West Ham duo Bowen and Kudus
Sean Whetstone revealed Levy has a cunning plan to try and prise Bowen away from West Ham and take him to Tottenham.
Bowen recently admitted his future is in Sullivan’s hands after Whetstone claimed Tottenham “will” bid for Bowen this summer to “test West Ham’s resolve”.
The Hammers insider stated that Levy thinks he can take advantage of West Ham’s precarious finances.
There has been no further news on a Tottenham bid for Bowen.
But it is now claimed Spurs do ‘like’ a top West Ham star as Sullivan faces an excruciating call on a transfer embargo and the fee.
The idea of selling a key player to Tottenham repulses Hammers fans.
There has been an unofficial transfer embargo in place between the rivals since a furious boardroom row erupted when Levy pulled the plug on Emmanuel Adebayor’s proposed move from Tottenham to West Ham in 2015.
Mohammed Kudus during West Ham United FC v Tottenham Hotspur FC in the Premier League
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Spurs ‘like’ Kudus as Sullivan faces excruciating West Ham call
Since then there has been a bitter fallout between Hammers vice-chair Karren Brady and Levy, who were once close friends, over a spying scandal which went through the courts during the battle for the Olympic Stadium.
There is absolutely no love lost between the Hammers and Tottenham on or off the pitch.
But since appointing Thomas Frank, Hammers News understands Tottenham do ‘like’ Kudus and are interested in signing him.
That information has also been reported in Tottenham circles after the north Londoners allegedly baulked at the fee being quoted for Kudus’ Ghana teammate Antoine Semenyo.
“Spurs were already considering trying to get Kudus for a lot less than the release clause,” a leading transfer source told Hammers News.
“Frank is a big fan so Tottenham are expected to give that a push now.
“West Ham’s issue is one, selling to Spurs and two, the fact Levy wants to try and get him for as little as £50m.”
If Sullivan agreed to that figure, it would represent a meagre £11.5m profit for West Ham.
When it was reported Arsenal were interested at the same price earlier this month, the Hammers board said such an offer for Kudus would be ‘laughed out of the room’.
Given the unofficial transfer embargo between West Ham and Tottenham, one would think Levy would have to pay a surplus if anything.
But desperate times call for desperate measures and Sullivan may be forced to not only sell to Tottenham but for a knockdown price too if no other suitors stump up for Kudus.
If Tottenham do come forward with an official bid it leaves West Ham between a rock and a hard place.
Not least because they need a quick sale in order to start making their own signings.
And Tottenham will know that.