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They may be bitter rivals but the future fate of West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur may be intrinsically linked.

Going into this Premier League campaign West Ham and Tottenham were widely tipped to challenge for the European places again.

It says everything about just how far the Hammers and Spurs have fallen below expectations that they are 16th and 14th respectively with nine games to go – and unlikely to finish any higher than 13th.

That has already cost West Ham flop Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten their jobs.

Word is it will soon cost Ange Postecoglou his at Tottenham too.

West Ham and Tottenham managerial choices intrinsically linked

Reports this week claim Postecoglou will be axed by Spurs even if they win the Europa League this season – qualifying for the Champions League as a result.

There is no love lost between West Ham and Tottenham on or off the pitch. And particularly between the two boardrooms.

Former friends Daniel Levy and Karren Brady, the West Ham vice-chair, reportedly no longer speak after a spying scandal when the London rivals were battling it out for the Olympic Stadium.

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Brady made it clear she wanted Postecoglou at West Ham as the replacement for David Moyes.

The Hammers chief felt the Aussie could take the Premier League by storm.

After initial enthusiasm for his swashbuckling style, Postecoglou has become a figure of fun among many of his own fanbase.

When West Ham finally decided to pull the trigger on Lopetegui – three months too late as far as many fans were concerned – Spurs had a lot to do with it.

Because behind the scenes their London rivals were reportedly eyeing Graham Potter as their next manager as pressure increased on Postecoglou.

In fact just before the turn of the year it emerged Spurs were backing Hammers majority owner David Sullivan into a corner over Potter.

Levy could embarrass West Ham chief Sullivan with Spurs gamble

Sullivan had the former Chelsea boss on standby for a month.

It was reported Potter was the number one target for Levy at the time.

Ultimately the threat of Spurs helped force West Ham’s hand over Potter according to reports.

Potter was not necessarily West Ham’s first choice, though.

Now Levy could seriously embarrass West Ham chief Sullivan with ‘rock and roll’ Spurs gamble

Andoni Iraola has been making the headlines this season.

When Lopetegui was facing the axe, reports stated Sullivan was targeting Iraola for West Ham.

The Spaniard is doing a superb job at Bournemouth.

Iraola has the Cherries up where West Ham and Tottenham fans expected to be this season.

Their style of play is electric too, with Iraola being described by Sky Sports analysts as a manager who plays ‘rock and roll’ football.

Speculation is now rife Iraola is set to replace Postecoglou at Spurs this summer.

Experts at The Athletic claim Tottenham will be taking a big risk appointing Iraola with doubts over whether his style can work at a bigger club.

Now clear why Hammers left £10m Iraola at Levy’s mercy

Many Hammers fans feel the ex Rayo Vallecano boss should have been the man to take over from Lopetegui.

But it’s now clear why West Ham quickly moved on to Potter, who has showed signs of promise during a somewhat inauspicious start to life in east London, leaving Spurs a clear path for an exciting summer appointment.

The Athletic has claimed Iraola has a £10m release clause in his contract.

And West Ham cynics would say that meant there were 10 million reasons Sullivan would have pulled back on trying to lure Iraola away from the south coast.

The fact Potter was a free agent after 20 months out of the game was a big reason he became West Ham’s new manager.

There is hope he can turn the club around once he gets his own players in this summer.

But if Iraola does go in at Spurs and brings exciting, rock and roll football to north London then it will leave the Hammers thinking what might have been.

Sunderland can no longer dismiss a star’s links to West Ham as paper talk but there’s concern for Spurs too.

West Ham are already involved in two transfer battles with rivals Tottenham Hotspur – that we know about.

Now a third can be added to what’s likely to become an ever-growing list.

Sunderland hold the keys at the moment – but not for too much longer.

West Ham and Tottenham are fighting it out for Lille’s soon-to-be free agent duo Jontahan David and Angel Gomes.

Spurs and Hammers battling for third star

Sunderland meanwhile are fighting to get back in the big time so they too can one day be in the mix for those kind of top talents again.

In the meantime the Black Cats have done a brilliant job of assembling a hungry team of young stars in their bid to return to the Premier League.

Sunderland now look set for a play-off spot at best, though. So promotion is very much in the balance.

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That is clearly giving both West Ham and Tottenham encouragement over yet another player the London rivals are said to be battling it out for.

It was reported at the weekend that West Ham are just £10m away from a deal for Chris Rigg.

No sooner had the Hammers been linked with Sunderland’s 17-year-old sensation than Spurs have arrived on the scene.

With both clubs massively underperforming this season, they will once again be shopping in the same market this summer.

Although Tottenham still have the possibility of securing a window advantage over the Hammers by securing Champions League football – if they go on and win the Europa League.

The Hammers’ interest in Rigg is more invested than Tottenham’s in terms of timescale.

Tottenham have just arrived on the scene whereas West Ham were linked with Sunderland’s England Under 18 after Graham Potter and new head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay arrived in January.

Sunderland will be worried by source of new Rigg leak

Rigg is labelled as an ‘attacking midfielder’. But in reality his game is being a high energy, box-to-box central midfielder who can do a bit of everything.

His dynamic displays have helped Sunderland push hard for a return to the top flight.

So they would be loathe to lose the homegrown star.

But Sunderland will be worried by the source of a new leak as West Ham surge ahead of Spurs for the star.

It was recently claimed that Rigg’s family are pushing him towards the Hammers, where they believe he will have the best opportunity of developing.

Sun journalist Alan Nixon claimed at the weekend that West Ham were £10m away from Sunderland’s valuation of Rigg.

Nixon has strong contacts in the game but there’s been a fresh claim from an even better source.

Sunderland fans may have written the Rigg rumours off as the usual pre-summer window paper talk.

Especially coming during an international break.

But now another journalist with very strong links to West Ham’s owners has made a new claim about Rigg’s future.

Jacob Steinberg – a reporter for The Guardian – is well connected inside the London Stadium.

So Sunderland should be concerned that he is now reporting on the serious move West Ham are preparing for Rigg.

Tottenham should be concerned too.

West Ham surge ahead of Spurs for star says Steinberg

Because Steinberg says Spurs have also started tracking Rigg but it is West Ham that have put themselves into a very strong position to ‘advance’ the deal.

Steinberg says Potter and Macaulay love Rigg and that it has been made clear to the Hammers board the Sunderland star is a player they want at West Ham.

The journalist’s long-established contacts at West Ham add considerable weight to the Rigg claims.

It is now looking increasingly likely that he could be the poster boy for West Ham’s rebuild around energetic young stars this summer.

So Tottenham may have to look elsewhere.

It’s not all bad news for Sunderland, though.

Because Steinberg does make the point that the Black Cats are in a strong position to get closer to their valuation for Rigg as he will have two years left on his contract.

After all the speculation Jonathan David himself has made something perfectly clear amid links to West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham have made no secret of their desire to sign Lille striker Jonathan David this summer.

But Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal joined the race for David at the weekend.

And it has raised the stakes for arguably the most coveted free agent of the summer transfer window.

West Ham manager Graham Potter has been quietly confident of beating David’s boyhood club Barcelona to his signature.

He was proved right too with Barca pulling out of the race for the Canada forward.

The Gunners and Spurs were said to be in ‘active and concrete’ talks with David’s representatives over a move to north London this week.

That has not seen West Ham give up hope, though.

In fact reports have claimed the Hammers have since made it clear to David they want to build Potter’s new-look team around him.

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The 25-year-old raised his profile even further by scoring his 177th goal for club and country by netting in Canada’s win over the USA.

Given his availability on a free, it always looked a long shot for West Ham to sign David.

But missing out to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur would undoubtedly sting.

Now David himself has spoken out to deliver West Ham and Spurs a final demand.

West Ham will not have European football to offer David.

But the big hope for the Hammers was that offering David the position as the club’s guaranteed starting striker might give them the edge over the elite, where the forward would have to fight for his place.

David speaks out to deliver West Ham and Spurs final demand

Now David has addressed his future after helping his country beat the US.

And his comments all but end one club’s hopes while tantalisingly dangling a carrot to the other.

Unfortunately it looks like being bad – albeit not unexpected – news for West Ham.

Although it will only be good for Spurs on one condition.

Because David says when he does leave he ‘has to play at the highest level’.

Worse still for West Ham, he is also more than willing to fight for his place at a top club.

West Ham hopes dead but David dangles carrot to Spurs

So his final demand is only good for Tottenham if they can win the Europa League and thereby qualify for Europe’s elite competition.

“If I do end up going I think I have to push myself at the very highest level,” David told CBS.

“When you play for a big club your position is never guaranteed and you have to fight…

“I’m never guaranteed anywhere I go to start every game. I have to perform.

“I’m willing to fight. I know it’s an important year, it’s a big decision, so I’ll make a wise decision.”

It will still be a big ask for Tottenham to win the Champions League and lure David.

Especially with the likes of Arsenal and a host of other clubs at that level reportedly interested.

This might not actually be the worst news for West Ham, though.

It always seemed like pie-in-the-sky stuff for the Hammers given they have no European football.

The last thing the club needed was another long-running striker saga which ends in disappointment.

At least now the death knell has been tolled on West Ham’s David pipedream.

It means Potter and Kyle Macaulay can now focus on signing someone else.

Sol Campbell has left Gary Neville, Ian Wright and the watching millions stunned with a shocking new West Ham and Spurs revelation.

When West Ham fans think of former Tottenham and Arsenal star Sol Campbell, minds undoubtedly drift back to one particular game at Highbury.

In 2006, West Ham became the last team to beat Arsenal at their old ground before the move to the Emirates.

West Ham were having an excellent season and would go on to reach the FA Cup final.

That would come just after lasagne-gate which saw the Hammers deny Tottenham Hotspur a Champions League place, much to the delight of beneficiaries Arsenal.

The likes of Thierry Henry and his Gunners teammates were singing West Ham’s bubbles anthem that day in recognition of them beating Tottenham.

It was one of a host of big stories from that memorable season.

Another was West Ham’s game at Highbury, which was remembered for one huge moment in Premier League history.

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A 31-year-old Campbell was given a torrid time by Alan Pardew’s side that February day as he made a hash of an attempted clearance to allow Nigel Reo-Coker to put the visitors ahead.

Ex Spurs striker Bobby Zamora then held off a challenge from Campbell, who had been one of the world’s great centre-backs of his time, to put West Ham 2-0 ahead.

Campbell asked to be substituted at half-time and promptly left the ground.

Arsene Wenger later admitted that game and incident persuaded him Campbell’s time at the club was over, as reported back then by the Guardian.

Campbell was born in the heart of West Ham territory, in Plaistow – a stone’s throw from the club’s beloved former Upton Park home.

But he would go on to make his name playing for and captaining bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Campbell burned his bridges with Tottenham, though, when he famously completed a shock free transfer to Arsenal, being unveiled at a press conference alongside Wenger in dramatic scenes.

Campbell stuns Neville and Wright with shocking new West Ham and Spurs revelation

The much-maligned character has never been shy in expressing his true feelings since retiring.

Now Campbell has stunned Gary Neville and Ian Wright with a shocking new West Ham and Spurs revelation.

The former defender, now 50, was a guest on the latest episode of Sky Sports show, The Overlap.

When speaking about the start of his career he made a claim about an incident which meant he ended up playing for Spurs instead of West Ham.

Campbell actually started out as a striker in his youth team days.

And he started life at West Ham – not Tottenham.

When asked who he supported as a boy, Campbell revealed it should have been West Ham as they were his local team.

“But I never really connected with them,” Campbell said.

“One of my mates took me to a game at Upton Park, last 15 minutes they’d open the gates.

“But I couldn’t afford to go to football games, no chance. That was it really. I used to like Man United for different reasons. They were one of the teams, when I was at Lilleshall, that had a lot of black players playing for them, that was why I liked them.”

He may not have connected with West Ham as a fan.

But he could have ended up playing for the Hammers, though.

Until an incident which saw him walk out on the club and join Tottenham.

Campbell reveals why he walked out on West Ham for Spurs

“I was at West Ham, that was my first club West Ham,” Campbell revealed.

“I wasn’t signed, I didn’t like signing (schoolboy forms) with anybody, I liked to just play football.

“And I left West Ham because a few things happened there at 13 years old.

“There was one scenario happened after training, you kind of come off Chadwell Heath – I think they still train at Chadwell Heath – and I’m saying ‘Right I’m not to happy’ then finish training and one of the guys said ‘Oh cheer up Sol, you’re 2-1 up’.

“I said ‘What do you mean 2-1 up?’, (and he said) ‘Well you know West Indies 2-1 up against England in the cricket’.

“I thought (exhales sharply) ‘What’s that all about?’. He was mixed race as well the guy.”

Neville and Wright are left stunned by the admission. Neville asks: “You left straight away?” while Wright interjects, saying: “You left for that?”.

Campbell added: “Yea. I said I’m not having this anymore, went back to district football and they picked me up again, one of the scouts for Spurs, used to train there, Becks (David Beckham) would rock up, it was good, all local lads, he’s from Chingford, I’m from Plaistow.”

After making his breakthrough for Tottenham, Campbell then admitted he almost left in the first couple of years for Forest as he was angry at a lack of opportunities.

“I was giving myself two years (at Tottenham), if it wasn’t happening I’m gone,” he said.

The Overlap panel were amazed at Campbell’s mindset and self-belief.

And it did take something from growing up as an east Londoner, crediting that for his mentality.

“East London, Plaistow, Stratford (is the reason for my mentality) have you been there? It’s not easy,” Campbell added.

Elite striker Jonathan David has finally broken his silence over his future after Arsenal and Spurs joined West Ham in the race to sign him.

With 176 goals for club and country in his career so far, soon-to-be free agent Jonathan David is arguably the hottest ticket in town for clubs this summer.

West Ham have been linked with the Lille and Canada striker for over two years.

But London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal joined the race for David this weekend.

Hammers boss Graham Potter was already quietly confident of beating David’s boyhood club Barcelona to his signature.

So the emergence of serious interest from the Gunners and Spurs won’t necessarily see West Ham throw the towel in.

David could – and perhaps should – not even be an option for Arsenal or Tottenham right now.

David speaks on future as West Ham fend off Arsenal and Spurs

Because he would already be playing for West Ham, has David Moyes not turned down signing David for just £20m in the summer of 2023.

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Moyes felt at the time that David was not up to Premier League standard.

Now the Hammers will have to hope the 25-year-old doesn’t prove their former boss wrong by shining on their doorstep at Arsenal or Spurs.

The Scot did a superb job in east London. But David joins a migraine-inducing list of forwards he turned down during his West Ham tenure including – by his own admission – Julian Alvarez, as well as Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike.

Potter made West Ham aware he wants David the moment he arrived in east London in January.

The Hammers confirmed their interest in David amid those claims.

And it has been reported that Potter is determined and convinced West Ham can sign David ahead of the likes of Barcelona.

The Catalan giants were said to have effectively pulled out of the running this week.

That may explain the sudden emergence Arsenal and Tottenham.

But the same report stated the Hammers have made an ‘irresistible’ offer.

David talks up Premier League but makes preference clear

West Ham’s London rivals are said to be in ‘active and concrete’ negotiations to sign a David, who is free to talk to clubs over a pre-contract agreement.

It’s easy to see why Potter, Mikel Arteta and Ange Postecoglou want to bring David to London.

The versatile forward has 23 goals and five assists in 32 starts for Lille this season.

That includes nine goals and two assists in 12 Champions League games – seven in the competition proper after scoring twice in qualifying.

Now David has broken his silence on his future as West Ham try to fend off Arsenal and Spurs.

There is some encouragement for the Premier League trio.

But David has made his future preference is clear.

“The Premier League is much faster and more physical than any other league,” David said when asked where he wants to play next in a Canada press conference, as reported by Foot Mercato.

“But for me, I grew up watching La Liga a lot and, for me, it’s my favourite league.

“It’s the league I enjoyed watching the most, so one day I’d like to play there.”

Striker keeps London trio on the line in case Barca don’t bite

While that does not rule West Ham, Arsenal or Tottenham out – David is clearly fluttering his eyes at the likes of Barcelona.

Earlier this week it was claimed Barca’s hierarchy are not convinced internally about signing him.

David’s agent, who is based in London, has reportedly given Barca an April deadline to emulate the Hammers, Gunners and Tottenham by making a concrete offer.

That might be why David is so clearly keeping his Premier League options open by praising the English top fight and stating he would like to play in La Liga ‘one day’.

Although West Ham may be having second thoughts after their leggy midfielder Edson Alvarez had David in his pocket when playing as an emergency centre-back in Mexico’s 2-0 win over Canada on Friday.

There is no love lost between them on the pitch, now Arsenal and Spurs are set to do battle off it – and it’s terrible news for West Ham.

It sums West Ham’s season up that it could be argued the club’s biggest achievement was put another spanner in the works for Arsenal’s title hopes.

Fellow London rivals Tottenham Hotspur have not been much better, though.

Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten paid the price for West Ham’s failings.

The Hammers pulled the trigger in order to appoint Graham Potter – who was reportedly in Daniel Levy’s sights for Tottenham as doubts emerged over Ange Postecoglou.

Given Arsenal have faltered in another title challenge, fans of all three clubs will be expecting better next season.

And one thing the Hammers, Gunners and Spurs all undoubtedly need to achieve that is a new striker.

Many Tottenham fans are unconvinced by Dominic Solanke.

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West Ham wanted Solanke heading into last summer.

They had even held talks with his family.

West Ham, Spurs and Arsenal all hunting a striker

But the Hammers’ owners conceded they could not match the huge £65m fee Spurs paid.

West Ham signed ageing forward Niclas Fullkrug instead. But he has spent the vast majority of the season out injured.

Arsenal are under pressure to make a big striker signing having paid the price for failing to have back-up options again this term.

Potter helped West Ham beat the likes of Spurs and Arsenal to Evan Ferguson in January.

But he has barely played and the deal is not expected to be made permanent.

Soon-to-be 35-year-old Michail Antonio set to be back-up at best, if he is handed a new one-year deal.

Danny Ings is being released and West Ham are said to be open to offers for Fullkrug.

New Arsenal vs Spurs transfer battle is terrible news for Potter

The new man at the London Stadium helm is already working on his summer striker plans with head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.

But Arsenal and Spurs are now set for a new transfer battle and it’s terrible news for Potter’s West Ham plan.

When he was appointed in January, Potter told West Ham two players he wanted most this summer.

One of those was Lille striker Jonathan David.

Canada striker David is out of contract in June and won’t be signing a new deal.

The 25-year-old has scored 176 goals for club and country in his career so far.

West Ham actually confirmed their interest in David in January.

Gunners and Spurs in ‘active concrete’ talks to sign David

And it was recently claimed Potter is determined and convinced West Ham can sign David ahead of his dream club Barcelona, due to the Spanish side’s financial issues.

There was encouraging news for the Hammers from the Catalan giants earlier this week too..

It was claimed there is no consensus among Barcelona chiefs about David and interest has cooled.

The reports also claimed West Ham had made an ‘irresistible’ offer to the striker and his agent, who is based out of London.

Potter’s plans may have been crushed, though, by news emerging from France this weekend.

In a major exclusive, top French outlet Le10Sport claim Arsenal and Tottenham are now in ‘active and concrete’ negotiations to sign a David on a free transfer.

David is free to talk to clubs and agree a pre-contract deal.

And that’s exactly what Postecoglou and Mikel Arteta are doing according to the report.

Man United are also said to have registered an interest.

Death knell for West Ham’s David pipedream

But the report claims it is the Gunners and Tottenham who have come from nowhere to be battling it out for David’s signature.

One would think Champions League football, and the fact Arteta has his side challenging at the top of the Premier League, might swing those talks in Arsenal’s favour.

However, Tottenham could well secure Champions League football themselves if they win the Europa League.

It is devastating news for West Ham.

The deal always looked highly unlikely from the outset.

And West Ham might have felt confident fighting off Tottenham given David will be a guaranteed starter in east London.

But Arsenal’s need for a new forward, the bigger wages they can undoubtedly afford to offer and what is likely to be regular Champions League football is surely the death knell for West Ham’s David hopes.

Billionaire co-owner Daniel Kretinsky offered West Ham a star on a silver platter and now Chelsea or Spurs could make them pay for snubbing him.

Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be locked in a new transfer battle which could prove embarrassing for West Ham.

You only have to take one look at the Premier League table to realise West Ham and Tottenham have plenty of work to do in the transfer window this summer.

For Chelsea it may be more a case of some fine-tuning.

All three London rivals share one big thing in common, though.

They need to improve defensively.

Kretinsky arrived at West Ham with offer to sign star

That has reportedly put Chelsea and Spurs on a collision course for a new centre-back.

And it will make things a touch awkward in the West Ham boardroom.

Daniel Kretinsky arrived at West Ham in November 2021, buying 27% of the club for £150m.

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It is no coincidence the Hammers have rivalled Tottenham and Chelsea as the sixth biggest spenders in the Premier League since then.

West Ham have a first trophy in 43 years to show for it in that time.

But their failure to accept an offer from Kretinsky just a couple of months after his arrival in east London could come back to haunt the Hammers now.

West Ham snubbed Kretinsky’s offer to sign star, now he’s set for Chelsea or Spurs

Because West Ham snubbed billionaire co-owner Kretinsky’s offer to sign a star and now he’s set for Chelsea or Spurs.

Czech Kretinsky, whose net worth has more than doubled to over £13bn since his arrival in east London, also owns his boyhood club Sparta Prague.

When he arrived at West Ham, Kretinsky recommended the Hammers sign then Sparta defender David Hancko.

West Ham had the chance to sign Hancko for a reasonable fee according to reports at the time from the likes of Give Me Sport.

Sadly passed former Hammers insider Hugh Southon revealed at the time West Ham did look at the centre-back on Kretinsky’s recommendation.

Hammers didn’t think Hancko was up to Premier League

But the Hammers didn’t believe he was ready for the Premier League.

“He’s not ready for the Premier League – maybe one day,” Southon’s West Ham source stated at the time.

Kretinsky went on to sell Hancko to Feyenoord for just £4m in the next window.

Hancko has been one of Feyenoord’s leading players since, racking up 130 appearances in three seasons.

West Ham’s hunch that he wasn’t good enough for the Premier League may have been true at that stage. We will never know.

But the Hammers may find out next season as the 6ft 2in star looks set for a move to either Chelsea or Tottenham.

That’s according to TEAMtalk journalist Rudy Galetti, who has confirmed the Blues and Spurs are set to do battle for Hancko, who is now valued at a whopping £42m.

Galetti says the London rivals have stepped up their interest in the Slovakia defender in recent weeks, especially Chelsea.

West Ham could have signed £42m star for just £4m

The reporter states his sources have confirmed that Chelsea and Tottenham are the two Premier League clubs leading the race for Hancko.

Even Juventus and Atletico Madrid are interested in the man Kretinsky offered to the Hammers for a pittance by modern standards.

The fact he could now be sold to one of the club’s big rivals for 10 times that amount will be galling.

Particularly for Kretinsky, who has a proven track record of knowing how to turn significant profits.

It is another embarrassing transfer clanger to add to a long list for West Ham.

Especially as they club are looking for a new centre-back this summer.

And West Ham’s plan to bring back Nayef Aguerd looks futile according to a top football correspondent.

Next time Kretinsky offers some input, perhaps West Ham should listen.

After all he’s worth £13bn for a reason.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have had a lot to thank West Ham for in the last three years despite their intense rivalry.

There is little love lost between West Ham and Tottenham – on or off the pitch.

Frosty relations on the terraces are mirrored in the boardroom.

Both the Hammers and Spurs have bigger, fiercer rivals in the shape of Millwall and Arsenal.

Tottenham fans have found themselves in an awkward position in recent years when it comes to West Ham.

Last week Spurs were toasting a famous West Ham win against the Gunners at the Emirates.

The result is widely considered to have ended the Premier League title hopes of Tottenham’s arch rivals.

Not for the first time either.

Spurs found themselves grateful to the Hammers for a 2-0 victory over Arsenal which ended up costing them the title last season.

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And a 2-2 draw the season before derailed Arsenal’s hopes of a first title since 2004 too.

West Ham, the Premier League’s great party poopers

West Ham have always had a reputation for being one of English football’s great party poopers.

Whether it was stopping Man United winning the league, derailing Tottenham’s Champions League hopes with a side-serving of dodgy lasagne or their recent hat-trick of Arsenal title obstructions.

But one of the biggest and most significant victories West Ham have ever conjured against a rival is often understated or forgotten altogether.

In fact it was nine years ago this week a West Ham star did something that will haunt Spurs forever.

West Ham have plenty of bogey teams and bogeymen who are a thorn in their side.

But the Hammers also possess one of their own when it comes to Tottenham Hotspur.

Michail Antonio is a bona fide West Ham hero.

Unfortunately the striker has been out of action since his horrific car crash back in December.

Antonio is West Ham’s history maker. And he wants to make more as he targets a miraculous return before the end of the season.

Antonio scored the last ever goal at Upton Park and the first Premier League goal at the London Stadium.

He became the scorer of West Ham United’s first goal in European football proper in over 40 years away at Dinamo Zagreb in 2021 – not including the Intertoto Cup.

The Hammers’ all-time top Premier League scorer, who turns 35 this month, is also known for being the first visiting player to score at Tottenham’s new stadium, resulting in their first ever defeat there too.

But it was another of his goals against Spurs back in the first week of March 2016 which arguably had the biggest impact.

West Ham star did something that will haunt Spurs forever

Antonio likes scoring against Tottenham. He has six goals and an assist in matches against West Ham’s London rivals.

None more significant than his stooping header from an impossible angle on anther memorable night in the Farewell Boleyn campaign, though.

West Ham won 1-0.

The Mirror reported at the time the goal had ‘seismic ramifications’ for Tottenham’s bid for the Premier League title. They were right.

That goal and win denied Tottenham the chance to be in top spot in March for the first time in over 50 years.

Had Tottenham overcome West Ham that night, many feel they would have gone on to beat Leicester City to the title.

West Ham fans will shudder at the thought of Tottenham having a Premier League title to lord over them right now.

Nine years ago Antonio stopped Spurs winning the title

While West Ham ended their own 43-year major trophy drought in the summer of 2023, Spurs’ wait for silverware enters a 17th year.

Antonio’s goal that night actually put Slaven Bilic’s side just one point off fourth-placed Manchester City at the time.

Forget stopping Arsenal winning the league, Antonio’s diving header ultimately stopped Spurs doing the same.

It also ensured Leicester completed that unforgettable fairytale – one of the greatest sporting achievements in history.

Tottenham fans still look back with deep regret on that season, feeling that was the biggest chance they will ever get to lift the Premier League title.

It is a moment that will forever haunt Tottenham.

And one that West Ham will never forget for that very same reason.

You can relive the goal below, but while we’re talking about Antonio and Spurs it would be wrong not to pay West Ham’s rivals their due.

Because Tottenham showed true class to Antonio and West Ham when he was involved in his car crash.

They put rivalry aside to send their best wishes to West Ham and the striker, showing there really are some things more important than football.

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.

The game against Tottenham Hotspur was a tipping point for a frustrated Mohammed Kudus at West Ham this season.

Mohammed Kudus enjoyed a scintillating first season at West Ham.

But the Hammers star boy has – by his own admission – failed to hit the same heights this season.

West Ham’s struggles in the most wide open Premier League season for 12 years have been less headline-grabbing given that rivals Tottenham Hotspur are struggling too.

Not to mention the likes of Manchester United.

West Ham have little but pride and league position to play for in the last 12 games of the campaign.

Victory at Arsenal has given West Ham’s season some semblance of meaning, stopping their London rivals winning the title – again.

There is no love lost between the Hammers and Spurs. But make no mistake that win would have gone down well among Tottenham fans.

Another carrot dangling for Graham Potter’s side is to finish above Tottenham.

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Beating Leicester will see West Ham draw level on 33 points with Spurs with 11 games left.

Kudus responds when asked cheeky Spurs question

With the likes of Kudus finally showing some form, hopes will be high for a positive end to the season.

In many ways Kudus has been indicative of his team’s form and performances this term.

The Ghanaian was dismissed after the red mist descended in the Premier League defeat to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur back in October.

Kudus gave the Hammers the lead in that game.

But West Ham, as they did all too often under Julen Lopetegui, capitulated to lose 4-1.

It was during that collapse that a ruckus ignited when Kudus kicked the ball against Tottenham defender Mickey van de Ven while he was on the floor as he tried to tackle the Hammers man.

Van de Ven jumped up, pushed Kudus and called him ‘crazy’. Kudus then shoved the Dutchman in the face and he went to ground.

Pape Matar Sarr joined him there when he confronted Kudus, who retaliated by shoving him in the face too.

Kudus was initially booked but had his yellow upgraded to red after the intervention of VAR.

When giving testimony to the FA as they considered what ban to dish out, Kudus said he had been provoked by Tottenham players.

He also argued he was stressed from the backlash he and the Ghana national team were facing at the time.

So it is fair to say Tottenham might not be the West Ham star’s favourite club.

Smiling Kudus can have the last laugh over Tottenham

Now Kudus has responded when asked a cheeky Spurs question after West Ham training.

The 24-year-old stopped to sign autographs for fans on his way out of West Ham’s Rush Green training ground.

Winding the window down on his Mercedes ALM, Kudus was asked his thoughts on Tottenham by a Hammers supporter.

“One question, what do you think of Tottenham?” the fan asks Kudus while laughing.

Kudus pauses for a moment then just laughs with a knowing smile – much to the amusement of the gathered fans.

@all_london_memorabilia

Top bloke 👍🏼😂 #fyp #alllondonmembroblilia #viral #cars #whatdoyouthinkoftottenham @H̷S @Kuku Moh

♬ original sound – London_Memorabilia

West Ham’s most individually talented player was back to something like his best at Arsenal.

The Hammers welcome Tottenham to the London Stadium in May.

So they will be hoping he keeps that up to exact some revenge on Ange Postecoglou’s side.

Kudus has an £85m release clause in his West Ham contract, active this summer.

The Hammers have conceded they will have to ‘be creative’ with a ‘minimal’ transfer budget in the next window.

So they may be forced to sell Kudus to raise funds.

Although it is highly unlikely anyone will activate his release clause after a quiet season, West Ham will still hope to fetch around £60m for the attacker if he does depart.

An eye-catching end to the season certainly won’t hurt his or West Ham’s cause if his stay is to last just two seasons.

And if he helps the Irons finish above Tottenham, then Kudus will have the last laugh.