Tottenham may have to sell defender Emerson Royal to help fund moves of their own in the summer transfer window. (Football Insider, external)
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Emma Smith
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty ImagesSpurs would have gone fourth if they had beaten West Ham by two clear goals. Despite their early goal, that never looked likely.
Ange Postecoglou's side looked toothless up front after being pegged back, too often rushing the final ball or picking the wrong option.
It resulted in them having only four shots on target, including Brennan Johnson's early opener and Destiny Udogie's last-gasp volley.
Postecoglou said he wished he could control his players with a joystick, but this is no video game and he cannot reset after a disappointing result.
Instead he must accept this is a chance missed, particularly with fourth-place Aston Villa facing the stiff ask of a trip to Manchester City on Wednesday.
As it is, Spurs have only won one of their last six Premier League away games, a record which could cost them Champions League football.
Image source, Getty ImagesTottenham boss Ange Postecoglou speaking to BBC MOTD:
"Yeah it was [tough physically] and it's what you expect when you come here. They are a strong team and they sit compact so you have to be patient. I thought we handled it OK. Disappointed not to get a better outcome but a tough game."
On the goal: "It was a well-worked move. We have been working on that. A couple of other times we just weren't in the right areas."
On Timo Werner being in better positions: "We are working with all the guys all the time to try to get a better understanding. I thought in the front third, some of our decision-making and clarity of thought let us down a little bit."
On Yves Bissouma's performance: "I thought he was outstanding. Yves did the defensive work which was always going to be important today. The general effort from the lads was strong. It's a tough place to come.
"There's a lot of games to go still. I will be very surprised if all games aren't tight. Everyone is fighting for something. We have to maintain our levels."
Here are the key facts and figures following the Premier League draw between West Ham United and Tottenham:
West Ham United have lost just one of their past 11 Premier League home games (W4 D6) whilst they have now won 14 points across nine London derbies this season (W4 D2 L3), their best return in such games since 2018-19 (17 points in 10 matches).
Tottenham have won just one of their past six away games in the Premier League (D3 L2) after winning five of their first nine on the road this season - Spurs have also failed to win on any of their past four league visits to the London Stadium (D2 L2), since a 3-2 win in November 2019 under Jose Mourinho.
Since the start of the 2020-21 season, only Gabriel Magalhaes (14) has scored more Premier League goals among defenders than Kurt Zouma (11), whilst only Harry Kane (18) has scored more headed goals in the competition in that time; 13 of his 15 overall goals in the competition have come via corners.
Tottenham's Brennan Johnson has been directly involved in six goals in his past seven Premier League appearances (three goals, three assists) whilst overall the Wales international has 12 goal involvements in 24 outings in the competition for Spurs (five goals, seven assists), one more than he managed in 41 appearances for Nottingham Forest (11).
Son Heung-Min made his 400th appearance for Tottenham in all competitions though he failed to score or assist for the sixth time in seven appearances away to West Ham in the Premier League (six at London Stadium, one at Upton Park).
Tottenham missed the chance to move into the Premier League top four after being held by West Ham at a rainy London Stadium.
Brennan Johnson's tap-in put Spurs ahead after five minutes, but they were pegged back when Kurt Zouma headed home from a corner.
Spurs were left frustrated in a game where both sides showed endeavour but lacked a cutting edge.
It means Ange Postecoglou's side remain two points off Aston Villa in fourth.
West Ham, meanwhile, stay seventh as both Newcastle and Wolves failed to win and overhaul David Moyes' side in the Europa Conference League qualification place.
Tottenham led when Johnson - brought in as one of three changes to the Spurs starting line-up from Saturday's win over Luton - turned in from close range after Timo Werner was allowed behind the left side of West Ham's defence to fire in a low cross.
But West Ham responded well, and their tactics of swinging in corners to put Spurs goalkeeper Gigi Vicario under pressure worked when Jarrod Bowen's set-piece was nodded in from five yards by Zouma.
The hosts came closest to finding a winner after the break, but Michail Antonio shot straight at Vicario after the Jamaica international had overpowered Micky van de Ven to get one-on-one with the keeper.
Were you at the match or did you follow it from elsewhere?
West Ham fans - let us know your thoughts on the game here
Five matches make up Tuesday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.
All kick-off times BST
Follow all of the action and reaction here
Around the grounds - listen to BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of all things Premier League
