Something bigger than the fight for a European spot and bragging rights could be on the line when West Ham play Tottenham Hotspur.
When the fixture list is released every summer one of the first games West Ham and Tottenham fans look for is against one another.
Spurs like to play down the rivalry with the Hammers.
But make no mistake this is just as big a game for Tottenham as it is West Ham nowadays.
West Ham and Tottenham have both spent money improving their squads over the summer.
The Hammers have been one of the busiest clubs in the league, signing nine players and counting.
Spurs meanwhile beat West Ham to Dominic Solanke – a player Hammers News was exclusively told majority owner David Sullivan would loved to have brought to the London Stadium.
Arguably West Ham’s biggest capture of the window was defender Jean-Clair Todibo.
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The French centre-back was genuinely wanted by Man United and Juventus in the summer.
West Ham will have big Todibo news against Spurs
UEFA blocked Man United from signing him due to strict multi-club ownership rules as a result of INEOS’ involvement with Nice and the Red Devils.
Former Barcelona defender Todibo had looked set to sign for Juve.
But West Ham managed to beat the Italians to the 24-year-old ball-carrying centre-back.
After a disrupted pre-season, Todibo has only made one start for West Ham so far in a win over Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup.
He looked understandably rusty in that game. But West Ham fans saw enough to serenade their new start with the William Saliba chant.
So the international break has come at the perfect time for him to catch up.
Although he has been relatively good thus far, Konstantinos Mavropanos is expected to make way for Todibo in the starting line-up long-term – starting after the international break.
The match against Tottenham will be on the horizon by then.
Permanent West Ham move will be sealed if all goes to plan
And West Ham will have big news about Todibo against Spurs if all goes to plan for Julen Lopetegui.
When West Ham announced the signing of Todibo from Nice it was stated it was “an initial season-long loan, with an option to make the transfer permanent in summer 2025”.
But it has since been claimed the deal in actually contains an obligation to buy for around £30m.
“It’s a virtual obligation,” the top West Ham spokesman told Hammers News when the deal was sealed.
The Times also revealed the precise details of the clause and fee. And for around £7m cheaper than being reported elsewhere.
“Todibo’s initial loan from Nice will turn into a permanent deal worth £26.8million next summer if he starts five Premier League matches,” The Times reports.
That’s where Tottenham Hotspur come in.
A win at Spurs and a new signing?
Because should Todibo come into the side at Fulham after the international break – and assuming he stays fit – he will make his fifth Premier League start away at Spurs on October 19th.
What better way to announce yourself as a permanent West Ham signing than helping them beat fierce rivals Tottenham in their own back yard?
That will be the hope and plan for Lopetegui.
There is a feeling at West Ham that Todibo can prove himself to be one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League alongside the likes of Saliba and Tottenham’s own Micky van de Ven.
The Hammers will be hoping they have a win and top new signing to celebrate after the trip to north London next month.