Sources: Tottenham and West Ham race to complete marquee deal
Tottenham and West Ham are in a race to complete the appointment of Brentford director Lee Dykes, sources have told Football Insider.
Both London clubs are looking to appoint a new director of football this summer and Dykes has emerged as a top target for both sides.
The 39-year-old has built a great reputation in English football after leading Brentford’s recruitment over the past four years and becoming the club’s technical director in 2022.
Tottenham are looking for a new director to fill the vacancy left by Fabio Paratici after he was handed a 30-month ban by Fifa for his involvement in the Juventus scandal.
Football Insider sources revealed last Friday (12 May) that Spurs opened talks with multiple director candidates, including Dykes, over the role.
Club chairman Daniel Levy is eager to appoint a director as soon as possible so that the North London club can shift all focus onto hiring a new manager.
But Spurs are set to face competition from West Ham after this site revealed that the Hammers have also held talks with Dykes over a sporting director role.
The West Ham board are disappointed by their transfer business under Moyes and are preparing to bring a director to the club to improve their recruitment.
It is understood that departing Monaco director Paul Mitchell and ex-Liverpool chief Michael Edwards are also on West Ham’s director shortlist.
Dykes is also admired by a number of other English clubs, but Tottenham and West Ham lead the race to appoint him after holding concrete talks and discussing their club’s vision.
In other news, Tottenham open Arne Slot talks as new manager to be appointed next week