West Ham board respond to worrying new claim Bowen could join bitter rivals Spurs after previously losing kudus
The West Ham United board have issued a firm response to growing speculation linking their star winger and captain, Jarrod Bowen, with a sensational January move to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur, at a time when the club is battling both financial strain and poor form on the pitch.
According to reports, the Hammers are bracing to announce record financial losses exceeding £100 million when their next accounts are released in December — a staggering figure that highlights the club’s current crisis. In stark contrast, Tottenham have already added roughly the same amount to their coffers this season merely by qualifying for the Champions League, underscoring the widening gap between the two London clubs.
This isn’t the first time Spurs have sought to exploit West Ham’s financial troubles. In the summer, Tottenham stunned the football world by snapping up Mohammed Kudus for just £54.5 million, taking advantage of West Ham’s delicate PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) situation. That transfer was not only financially painful for West Ham fans but also historically significant — it ended a 14-year unofficial transfer embargo between the two clubs.
Understandably, the sale of Kudus to Tottenham caused outrage among supporters, many of whom felt betrayed by the ownership. Selling a top player to a local rival, just two years after losing Declan Rice to Arsenal, did little to ease the frustration in east London — particularly as Kudus has since flourished under Thomas Frank’s guidance at Spurs.
Now, Tottenham appear to be circling again. Reports from Spain claim the north London side are preparing a £60 million bid for Jarrod Bowen in the upcoming January transfer window. The rumour suggests Spurs will once again try to take advantage of West Ham’s financial and on-field struggles — with the Hammers currently sitting in the relegation zone and in desperate need of back-to-back wins to climb out of danger.
Even more concerning for West Ham fans are suggestions that Bowen might be tempted by the move, given he is settled in Essex after purchasing a £3 million home with his wife Dani Dyer last summer. Several English outlets have since echoed the Spanish report, intensifying speculation that Tottenham are seriously planning a January approach.
However, the West Ham board have moved swiftly to quash the rumours. A spokesperson for the club’s owners told Hammers News in no uncertain terms:
“Total rubbish,”
when asked if there was any truth to the claims of Bowen joining Spurs in January.
That short but decisive response leaves no room for interpretation — West Ham have no plans to sell their talisman to Tottenham or any other club mid-season.
Bowen, 28, remains under a long-term contract after signing a seven-year deal in October 2023, which also includes an option for an eighth year. The club’s hierarchy, led by David Sullivan, has previously been adamant that Bowen is not for sale at any price, even slapping a £150 million valuation on him to deter potential suitors.
But West Ham’s situation has shifted dramatically in recent months. On the pitch, results have been disastrous, leaving the Hammers in danger of relegation before the season’s halfway point. Off it, the club’s financial state continues to worsen, with revenue shortfalls and rising debts putting significant pressure on the board.
Many pundits have started to question whether Bowen may need to leave West Ham to maintain his place in the England setup and continue his development at the highest level. With Thomas Tuchel set to announce his England squad ahead of the November international break, the winger’s chances could hinge on playing for a more competitive side — a scenario that could only strengthen Tottenham’s resolve to test West Ham’s resistance.
For now, though, the club’s official stance is unwavering. Bowen is not for sale, and any talk of him switching claret and blue for white and navy is being dismissed outright by those inside the London Stadium.
Still, with Tottenham’s growing financial power, their Champions League status, and West Ham’s ongoing struggles, fans remain uneasy. The Kudus saga proved that money and pressure can sometimes force even the most reluctant hands. If West Ham’s form does not improve — and their PSR problems intensify — Tottenham may yet return with an offer too tempting to ignore.
Until then, West Ham supporters will cling to the words of their board:
“Total rubbish.”
But as history has shown, in football — and especially in the cutthroat world of London rivalries — no statement is ever truly final.