There has been a big twist in the Jacob Ramsey saga after Aston Villa boss Unai Emery put the ball firmly in the midfielder’s court after West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur made their moves.
West Ham and Spurs have both made contact over a potential move for Aston Villa star Jacob Ramsey, and now the next step is very much up to the player himself it seems.
When speculation was rife the midfielder could move to east London in June, West Ham’s owners made a big Spurs revelation about Ramsey in a Hammers News exclusive.
The top spokesman for West Ham’s board confirmed interest in the Aston Villa academy graduate but said they expected the 24-year-old to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
Since then, Spurs have signed Hammers star Mohammed Kudus – a controversial deal which angered fans and the first between the rivals in over 14 years.
West Ham and Spurs make their moves for Villa star Ramsey
So Tottenham’s interest in Ramsey pre-dates what is likely to be a season-ending ACL injury to James Maddison.
It should be no surprise then that Thomas Frank has reportedly upped the ante since Maddison’s bad news.
Ramsey remains very much West Ham’s prime midfield target.
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The Hammers also have the potential ace card as the Aston Villa ace is a client of agent Will Salthouse – a close friend of West Ham majority owner David Sullivan and his sons.
Jacob Ramsey during Fulham FC v Aston Villa - Premier League
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Salthouse has brought a host of players to West Ham down the years, most recently Callum Wilson last week and Hammer of the Year Aaron Wan-Bissaka last summer.
Ramsey has fallen down the pecking order at Villa Park under Unai Emery, particularly since the emergence of Morgan Rogers as one of the top stars in the Premier League.
West Ham were given a boost last week when Ramsey was an unused sub in a Villa pre-season friendly despite Emery making 11 changes.
There was further encouragement for the Hammers when it emerged that Villa were moving for an exciting Brazilian midfielder being touted as Ramsey’s replacement.
Emery puts ball firmly in Ramsey’s court over big decision
Since then Aston Villa have also signed another West Ham target – Evann Guessand – for the same £30-35m fee that has been reportedly placed on Ramsey’s head.
That is a significant fact given Villa’s PSR issues.
Now there has been a major development in the situation.
Because Aston Villa boss Emery has put the ball firmly in Ramsey’s court as West Ham and Spurs make their moves
Aston Villa FC v Chelsea FC - Premier League
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Villa play their hand to Ramsey – sign or leave
Caught Offside have claimed sources with a close understanding of the player’s situation have revealed the Hammers and Tottenham ‘have made direct contact’ with Aston Villa about signing Ramsey.
There has been a further twist to the situation on the same day that news has emerged, though.
Because Emery has now offered Ramsey a new contract at Villa Park according to Birmingham Mail.
Ramsey is into the last two years of his contract as things stand.
The Spaniard is effectively saying to Ramsey the choice is his – sign a new deal with Villa or take your pick between Tottenham and West Ham.
Ramsey would be a guaranteed starter at West Ham whereas that may not necessarily be the case at Tottenham given their greater squad depth.
Cynics would suggest that perhaps Salthouse and Ramsey are using the likes of West Ham and Spurs to strengthen his hand in negotiations over that new contract.
Now everything hinges on Ramsey.
Does he want to stay at his boyhood club and fight for his place or get out of Birmingham and down to London to be the main man and boost his England chances in a World Cup year.
Fans of Villa, Spurs and the Hammers don’t have to wait long to find out as the transfer window closes in just over three weeks.