West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur are involved in two separate transfer battles for a striker and a midfielder.
It will surprise nobody that West Ham and Tottenham are looking for signings in the January transfer window.
One look at the Premier League table tells you why that is.
Given their respective squads, the Hammers and Spurs being 14th and 15th in the league at this stage of the season is unacceptable.
Julen Lopetegui has paid the price for West Ham’s failings, being replaced by Graham Potter.
The new Hammers boss was reportedly on Tottenham’s radar as they were deliberating what to do about Ange Postecoglou.
Pressure is building on Daniel Levy after yet another Spurs defeat, this time at home to Leicester.
Not only to sack Postecoglou but sign players.
The same pressure is on David Sullivan given West Ham’s injury issues and poor squad composition – for which technical director Tim Steidten has also paid the price with his own job.
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A new striker and new midfielder is being sought by both the Irons and Tottenham.
That has put the London rivals on a collision course for Lille’s Angel Gomes.
Gomes is able to sign a pre-contract agreement with Premier League clubs this month for a free transfer in the summer.
West Ham and Spurs battling for two stars
Reports this week claimed Gomes has made his choice over his next club.
But Gomes broke his silence on claims he has chosen Spurs over West Ham.
Meanwhile West Ham have also been trying to fend off Tottenham for striker Brian Brobbey.
It has been reported Spurs have tried to hijack West Ham’s move for 22-year-old striker Brobbey.
The powerful Dutch forward flew to London for talks on Friday night.
But it emerged that West Ham looked set to win the Brobbey race as Spurs and Roma pulled out.
Negotiations have become protracted between the Hammers and Ajax, though.
West Ham only want an option to buy on their loan deal while the Dutch club want it to be an obligation.
West Ham’s hesitancy has left the door ajar for Tottenham.
It also comes after Ajax legend Frank de Boer ripped into West Ham’s move for Brobbey, questioning the striker’s ability to cut it in the Premier League.
But now an ex Spurs hero says West Ham are about to beat them to an absolute sensation.
Rafael van der Vaart knows all about Ajax having come through their Academy and going on to make 150 appearances for them.
Van der Vaart enjoyed an excellent spell with Tottenham too.
Ex Spurs hero says West Ham are about to beat them to sensation
And he completely disagrees with De Boer.
Van der Vaart has revealed he has heard West Ham are going to sign Brobbey not Tottenham.
The former Holland midfielder says West Ham are getting a player he believes will ‘100 per cent be a sensation’.
“I believe in this guy so much, but somehow it just doesn’t work out. I don’t know why,” Van der Vaart said on Studio Voetbal.
“But if someone pays that amount (£25-30m) and he can go to West Ham, then I would let him go immediately.
“But I’ll tell you, if he goes there, he will be a sensation. Trust me, 100 per cent.”
Whether Van der Vaart’s emphatic backing will spark a renewed push for Brobbey from his former club Tottenham remains to be seen.
You would think a player of his class, who also played for the likes of Real Madrid, knows talent when he sees it.
Brobbey certainly has the attributes West Ham are missing up front.
He is perfect for the high-pressing, high intensity approach Potter is implementing.
Brobbey’s hold-up play is also excellent.
His finishing has been questioned. But he is an unselfish player who has seven assists this season to make up for only netting three goals.
And last term he did net 20 goals and laid on eight assists.