Tottenham have added insult to injury for West Ham by leapfrogging them in the race to sign one of their key targets to replace Mohammed Kudus following his controversial move.
West Ham did the unthinkable when they sold Mohammed Kudus to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur last month.
Worse still the Hammers’ desperate financial situation meant they were forced to sell Kudus to Spurs at a knockdown £54.5m in the first deal between the clubs for over 14 years.
West Ham fans have already had to suffer the ignominy of selling captain Declan Rice to London rivals Arsenal.
Now Tottenham supporters have wasted little time goading the Hammers over snapping up the Ghanaian.
Hammers on hunt for Kudus replacement after Spurs move
There are very real fears in east London that Kudus could leave David Sullivan with egg on his face by exploding back to his best in a Spurs shirt.
So far this summer West Ham have signed two full-backs, a goalkeeper and ageing, injury-prone striker Callum Wilson.
West Ham are now focusing on signing two new midfielders, one of whom will be the replacement for Kudus following his switch to Spurs.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
The move caused outrage among many Hammers fans and tarnished Kudus’ reputation among them forever more after he declared he ‘only wanted Spurs’ when he was unveiled.
Aston Villa midfielder Jacob Ramsey is a top target for West Ham
Photo by Jeff Dean/Getty Images
Kudus further antagonised West Ham supporters when he said ‘Tottenham is in his heart’ in a video documenting his medical.
Graham Potter did not feel Kudus worked in the system he wants West Ham to play.
So he is looking at attacking midfielders who are more versatile and can play centrally.
One of West Ham’s targets to replace Kudus is Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.
When reports emerged that the 24-year-old midfielder could move to east London in June, West Ham’s owners made a big Tottenham revelation about Ramsey in a Hammers News exclusive.
Spurs leapfrog West Ham for their Kudus replacement
The top spokesman for the Hammers’ hierarchy confirmed interest in the Villa star but revealed they expected Ramsey to join bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur instead.
Since then, Spurs have signed Kudus from West Ham.
But Thomas Frank continues to rival Potter with an interest in Ramsey.
In fact Unai Emery has given Ramsey a decision to make amid interest from the Hammers and Spurs with three weeks left until the window closes.
It seems Ramsey is not the only mutual target West Ham and Tottenham share right now, though.
And Spurs have leapfrogged West Ham for their Kudus replacement to rub salt in the wound.
Bilal El Khannouss applauds the travelling Leicester City fans after the Premier League match with rivals Nottingham Forest
Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images
Last month Hammers News exclusively revealed West Ham have an exciting plan B target to replace Kudus if the Ramsey move doesn’t come off.
That being Leicester City’s tricky playmaker Bilal El Khannouss.
The 21-year-old Moroccan international is said to be pushing for a move back to the Premier League and Leicester need money.
Lines of communication are open between the Hammers and the Foxes after the £18m deal which saw ‘keeper Mads Hermansen become Potter’s latest addition at the weekend.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claimed last week that West Ham are set to approach Leicester over a deal for El Khannouss, claiming it will be a ‘relatively easy deal’ because the attacking midfielder’s release clause is £22.5m.
Levy rubs salt in West Ham wound with move for El Khannouss
Jacobs revealed West Ham are pushing for El Khannouss ahead of rivals Tottenham while there is also interest from Leeds.
Now sources close to the midfielder’s situation have informed Tottenham site TheBoyHotspur that Daniel Levy is preparing to activate El Khannouss’ release clause and has already held initial talks with the player’s representatives.
With West Ham stating they need to offload fringe players before making their midfield signings, it very much puts Tottenham in the box seat for the skilful talent, who was a rare ray of hope during Leicester’s relegation campaign.
West Ham made their first bid for another midfielder overnight, further suggesting they may have given up hope of beating Spurs to El Khannouss.