There has been a potentially major development in a new transfer battle between West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur for an exciting star.
There is no denying both West Ham and Spurs have seriously underperformed this season.
The 13th-placed Hammers are two points and one spot above rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League table.
That has cost Julen Lopetegui his job as West Ham replaced him with reported Tottenham target Graham Potter.
But Ange Postecoglou continues to cling on despite admitting himself that results and performances have not been good enough for Spurs this season.
Given the poor seasons both are enduring, West Ham and Tottenham are being linked with a number of players in the January transfer window.
And that has put the London rivals on a collision course over one in particular it seems.
Exciting powerhouse stars to impress West Ham and Spurs scouts
West Ham are desperate to sign a new striker having lost Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug long-term.
Dominic Solanke is struggling to carry the weight of his big £65m price tag at Spurs.
Ironically, it is that price tag which Hammers chief David Sullivan admitted stopped West Ham signing Solanke in the summer.
Sullivan is back in ultimate control of West Ham’s transfers.
And it seems he is going to have to take on old foe Daniel Levy to get his hands on one of West Ham’s top targets.
Because there have been two major developments overnight regarding Ivory Coast forward Evann Guessand.
The exciting powerhouse starred to impress scouts as Spurs try to hijack a West Ham move.
The likes of The Daily Mail and journalist Dharmesh Sheth have claimed that West Ham are the leading contenders to sign the 23-year-old Nice striker Guessand.
It’s reported that West Ham have conducted an extensive scouting mission on Guessand over the last few weeks.
Spurs try to hijack West Ham move for Guessand
Lines of communication are well established between West Ham and Nice too after the Hammers signed Jean-Clair Todibo from the INEOS-owned club in the summer.
Guessand has been one of Nice’s standout players this season.
The pacy forward, who can operate across the front three, has scored eight goals and laid on four assists in 17 Ligue 1 games this season.
Given the interest from West Ham, there was a very significant development overnight.
Nice were playing away at Lille in what is a massive game for each club’s respective European hopes.
Fifth-placed Nice sat above Lille by one point going into the clash.
Hammers News understands West Ham had scouts in attendance once again to watch Guessand.
It was notable that Guessand started the game, suggesting a deal is not yet close.
But West Ham may need to get their skates on.
Hammers and Tottenham target stands out
Because Spurs were watching him too.
And Guessand really impressed as Nice’s best player albeit in a 2-1 defeat as Lille jumped above them and up to third.
The likes of Spurs Web and Football Fan Cast have claimed Tottenham’s failure to get a deal done for rumoured Hammers target Randal Kolo Muani has seen them switch attentions to Guessand.
That might drive the price up for the Hammers, who made a new £40m bid for Jhon Duran a couple of weeks ago.
West Ham may hold the ace cards on this one, though.
Because if it comes down to a straight choice for the player, he will be a guaranteed starting striker at West Ham, whereas he’d have to compete with Solanke at Tottenham.
It should also be noted that the scouts would have been casting an eye over Lille striker Jonathan David too.
The Canada forward, who like Guessand can play across the forward line, has been linked with West Ham, Tottenham and a host of other clubs ahead of being a free agent in the summer.
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