Tottenham failed in a bid to sign Cheikhou Kouyate from West Ham, the midfielder - now at Crystal Palace - has claimed.
The 30-year-old versatile player joined the Hammers in the summer of 2014 from Belgian side Anderlecht and went on to make 129 league appearances for the side, scoring 12 goals.
Kouyate’s performances generated interest from Tottenham and they were keen to secure his signature by making a formal bid to sign him.
The Senegalese international claims he rejected interest from Tottenham to put pen to paper.
“Tottenham wanted to sign me," Kouyate told Belgian outlet DH.
"I was being pushed to go there, but I hesitated. Slaven Bilic was my manager and wanted to keep me at West Ham, who were offering me a great contract.
“Tottenham wanted to sign me," Kouyate told Belgian outlet DH.
"I was being pushed to go there, but I hesitated. Slaven Bilic was my manager and wanted to keep me at West Ham, who were offering me a great contract.
“We’d come out of a good season after often being in the relegation zone. I preferred to stay."
"I changed clubs a bit later, maybe too late. I could tell that to a young player: a big club doesn’t always come twice.”
Kouyate has made 64 league appearances since his arrival at Selhurst Park and this season he has featured in 34 games across all competitions for Roy Hodgson’s men.
The midfielder, who started his career in his home country with Yego Dakar, has two years left on his current contract with the Eagles.
