Tottenham Hotspur has unexpectedly extended an unusual act of goodwill towards West Ham United, arguably their fierce rivals, in the ongoing January transfer window.

Despite the historic rivalry between the two clubs, Tottenham’s recent action may just shift the perception of the North London side in the eyes of West Ham supporters. It can be said that Tottenham has, in fact, done a substantial favor for their rival in the transfer market.

Both Tottenham and West Ham are currently in the market for a striker, with reports indicating that RB Leipzig outcast Timo Werner sparked interest from both clubs. Early reports suggested that Spurs had “beaten” West Ham to the “capture” of the former Chelsea forward Werner. This move was met with some skepticism, as the idea of signing a player who struggled to make an impact at Chelsea and had a poor recent goalscoring record seemed ill-advised.

Questions have arisen about whether West Ham’s apparent interest in Werner was merely a calculated maneuver—a feigned interest designed to manipulate the situation while pursuing their actual targets. If West Ham had indeed shown genuine interest, then it appears that the actions of Daniel Levy and his colleagues have potentially saved them from making an imprudent move.

It is noteworthy that fans of rival clubs such as West Ham, Arsenal, and Chelsea have been openly critical of Tottenham’s decision to sign Werner, citing his struggles since arriving in England. While Werner enjoyed success in Germany, his time at Chelsea was marked by missed opportunities rather than prolific goal-scoring.

While Tottenham supporters may hope for Werner to rediscover his previous form under Ange Postecoglou, there seems to be a prevailing sentiment among West Ham fans that Tottenham can have Werner, given the circumstances.

In the grand scheme of things, Tottenham’s surprising acquisition of Werner, although met with skepticism by some, has inadvertently provided West Ham with a potential escape from an ill-advised move. This unforeseen turn of events may very well alter the usual narrative of fierce rivalry between the two clubs, at least in the context of this transfer episode.