Tottenham's first approaches for priority transfer target rejected

Tottenham are aiming to do business with West Ham for the first time since 2011, but their opening two bids for Mohammed Kudus have reportedly been rejected by the Hammers.

Our rivalry with the east London club—a relatively lopsided one, may I add—and documented tension between the two hierarchies, means Tottenham will have to break an unofficial transfer embargo to bring Kudus to N17.

When we have dipped our toes in the West Ham well, we've generally been pretty successful. Scott Parker was the most recent arrival from the Irons 14 years ago, while Michael Carrick and Jermaine Defoe were also signed from the East End.

West Ham rejected Tottenham's first two bids for Mohammed Kudus

Ghanaian international Kudus has spent two seasons at the London Stadium after joining West Ham in a £37m deal from Ajax in 2023. He was superb in his debut campaign but underwhelmed in 2024/25, with many Irons supporters irked by the playmaker's perceived bad attitude.

As a result, many are okay with selling the 24-year-old this summer... just not to us.

Kudus is believed to have a £85m release clause in his West Ham contract, but Spurs are confident they can sign him for considerably less. However, so far we have had two bids rejected by the East Londoners, with TBR Football suggesting the latest was worth £55m.

West Ham reportedly want at least £60m, but it seems as if Karen Brady and company are okay with conducting business. They were just as bad as us last season, only without a European trophy to compensate, and Graham Potter is keen to oversee a mini-rebuild this summer. The self-assured Kudus seemingly has little interest in staying, and his sale could help the club bring in a couple of Potter's guys.

Agreeing a deal with West Ham is a significant obstacle, but there's also the possibility of a hijacking from another interested party. While Kudus is said to be open to joining Thomas Frank's project, other teams boasting Champions League football may well sway the Ghanaian international's thinking.

Chelsea scare me, and they're supposedly not out of the race despite their moves for Jamie Gittens and João Pedro. The innate pessimist within all of us suggests that the Blues will steal Kudus from under our noses, following the consumption of many compilation videos that led us to believe the 24-year-old was the chosen one.

If you're going to do it, Boehly, sooner rather than later, please.