According to a recent report, West Ham United are the club in pole position to sign Rico Browne this summer, despite an offer from the Hammers' London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

The report by Football Insider claims that, despite impressing on a trial with Spurs last month, Jose Mourinho's side failed to offer Browne a written contract offer, with the 17-year-old subsequently taking up West Ham's offer of a trial.

However, it is also reported that, despite Tottenham eventually offering the Birmingham City youngster a deal, the north London side have now fallen behind West Ham in the race to land the centre-back, whose future in the midlands appears uncertain as Birmingham consider ditching their current youth set-up.

Transfer Tavern Take

With The Athletic describing Browne as a 'highly-rated' youngster within the Birmingham academy, landing the 17-year-old would indeed appear, if David Moyes' side do end up beating Spurs to the signing the defender, quite a coup for the Hammers.

However, with the player still currently under contract at Birmingham, an offer will still have to be made to the midlands side, and, with Tottenham undoubtedly waiting in the wings, this is by no means a done deal just yet, and is certainly something for Hammers fans to keep an eye on over the coming weeks.

In other West Ham United news, many fans wanted this Premier League ace after a contract claim - find out more here!