West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur will be locking horns for a host of targets in the summer window according to reports.
As far as Premier League rivalries go, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur is right up there nowadays.
Both clubs have bigger rivals of course, in the shape of Millwall and Arsenal.
But the rivalry between West Ham and Tottenham has grown in intensity over the last 20 years.
Whether it has been dodgy Lasagnes, unofficial transfer embargoes, former players biting current ones and battles over a stadium.
West Ham and Tottenham is a rivalry that’s had some very interesting sub-plots.
Hammers and Spurs set for transfer tussles
Relations are also extremely frosty between the two boardrooms.
Spurs chief Daniel Levy was criticise by the Hammers hierarchy when he pulled the plug on a deal for Emmanuel Adebayor at the 11th hour back in 2015.
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The London rivals also found themselves going through the courts over an alleged spying scandal where West Ham vice-chair Karren Brady was the target.
The rivalry is even extending to takeovers with Spurs and West Ham the subject of Qatari links.
Both West Ham and Tottenham have already been linked with a number of mutual summer targets.
Jonathan David and Angel Gomes are two of the names on the radar of both.
West Ham battle Spurs for star Potter loves
Another is Southampton talent Tyler Dibling.
The Hammers have been keeping a close eye on Southampton sensation Dibling this season, as reported by Caught Offside earlier in the campaign.
The site reported West Ham chiefs “have been monitoring” Dibling’s performances with the Saints set for an instant return to the Championship.
Sky Sports News also reiterated West Ham’s interest last month, stating they are one of the clubs most keen on signing the teenager.
But Tottenham have been heavily linked too.
In fact Spurs star Heung-min Son was seen sweet-talking Dibling after a clash with Southampton.
Now there is a clear leader between West Ham and Spurs for the star Graham Potter loves.
West Ham’s new manager Potter is determined to lower the age of his squad.
The Hammers have the oldest squad in the Premier League.
Hammers News understands Potter and head of recruitment Kyle Macauley ‘love’ Dibling.
The problem is so do Spurs and a host of other Premier League clubs.
It is claimed the Saints have set an asking price of “at least” £20 million for the 19-year-old.
West Ham vs Spurs for Dibling and one club is confident
Now talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook has delivered a major update on the situation.
Crook has confirmed the England under-21 international is set to leave Saints this summer.
His fee is reduced by virtue of the fact he will be entering the final year of his contract and is ‘unhappy’ with the terms of the new contract on the table.
In a major blow to Potter and West Ham, Crook claims Spurs believe they are leading the race for Dibling.
West Ham do have a potential ace or two up their sleeve, though.
Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta are widely expected to be sold by West Ham this summer.
That, and a host of other sales, will provide more than adequate funds to compete with Tottenham for Dibling.
Hammers have potential ace card
But it also gives the young star the guarantee of being a regular starter for the Hammers.
At Tottenham, Dibling would be up against star player Dejan Kulusevski as well as the likes of Brennan Johnson and others for a starting spot.
So West Ham can play on that and show Dibling he would be better served joining them.
Another factor to consider if that Saints and West Ham have done plenty of business together recently.
Nearly £50m has changed hands between the clubs in the last two years with James Ward-Prowse joining West Ham for £30m and Flynn Downes signing for the Saints for £18m last summer.
Maxwel Cornet was also loaned to Southampton by West Ham.
So lines of communication are very established between the two clubs.