Spurs deliver West Ham a crushing blow as Alex Crook lifts the lid on striker hijack
Spurs have delivered West Ham a crushing blow as Alex Crook lifts the lid on a striker deal hijack launched by the club’s bitter rivals.
West Ham and Tottenham both ended their season with some fans not bothered about losing to Man City given what it meant for Arsenal.
That’s a measure of the fact neither the Hammers or Tottenham Hotspur had anything to play for.
To change that major work is needed to improve the squads available to incoming new West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui and his Spurs counterpart Ange Postecoglou.
If there are any doubts that West Ham and Tottenham need summer overhauls, just look at their records in 2024.
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Investment needed at West Ham and Spurs
It says a lot about how well West Ham and Spurs had done in the first half of the season that they still finished fifth and ninth respectively given their drop off in form since the turn of the year.
Now the work begins to make the signings to ensure they can stay the course next term.
The two clubs are already being linked with mutual interest in a number of players such as Celtic midfielder Matt O’Riley.
The key position that needs to be addressed for West Ham and Tottenham, though, is up front.
West Ham have been linked with the likes of Youssef En-Nesyri, Serhou Guirassy, Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke.
But Spurs have delivered West Ham a crushing blow as Alex Crook lifts the lid on a striker hijack.
Spurs deliver West Ham blow with hijack
According to talkSPORT transfer reporter Crook, Tottenham are launching a move to sign Solanke from Bournemouth.
Back in March it was reported that West Ham had already held talks with Solanke’s family over a summer move to the London Stadium.
The Hammers were keen to show Solanke how serious they are about building their new-look team around him.
But now Crook says Tottenham have launched their own move.
“Tottenham are one of the clubs contemplating a summer swoop for Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke,” Crook says.
“Cherries owner Bill Foley has admitted the club could cash in on the former Liverpool front-man this summer.
“Spurs are looking for a new number nine, with Richarlison one of the players manager Ange Postecoglu is willing to move on to fund a rebuild after missing out on a Champions League place.”
Solanke the perfect answer for Hammers and Spurs
While Tottenham may have indeed missed out on the Champions League, they do still have European football to offer Solanke.
So that may give Spurs a distinct advantage over the Hammers in signing the 19-goal star.
Solanke’s link-up play, pace, strength and all round game which has blossomed at Bournemouth.
The Hammers had promised to more than double the 26-year-old’s wages to £115k per week.
It remains to be seen whether that is enough to tempt him to east London over north.
Both West Ham and Spurs could make a case for plenty of game time leading their respective forward lines.
Solanke would undoubtedly get many more chances playing in a better side.
He’d have some superb players feeding him at either club. Solanke would be playing with Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen either side of him at West Ham.
And he would have Son Heung-min and the likes of Dejan Kulusevski at Spurs.