Tottenham & West Ham Consider Shock Move for Championship Star - Report

Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Fulham are all mulling over bids for Watford striker Troy Deeney, reports suggest.

The 25-year-old, whose flurry of goals towards the end of last season helped fire Gianfranco Zola's side in to the Championship play-off final, has picked up from where he left off by striking four goals in his opening two appearances for the Hornets this season.

A number of reports including from the Daily Mail and the Independent suggest Andre Villas-Boas has turned his attention to the powerful striker as he seeks to strengthen his striking options ahead of his side's season opener against Crystal Palace this Sunday.

Although the club have broken their transfer record to bring Spanish international Roberto Soldado to the club, the Portuguese manager is still short of forward options.

Clint Dempsey has already left White Hart Lame this summer to join MLS side Seattle Sounders while the club would appear keen to offload Emmanuel Adebayor after his meagre return of six goals last season.

That leaves Jermain Defoe as the club's only alternative, but the England international is once again wanted by Harry Redknapp at Queens Park Rangers, although Villas-Boas' latest comments suggest any bids from Loftus Road will be swiftly turned down.

Deeney missed the start of last season after serving a three of a ten month prison sentence for his part in a nightclub attack in May 2012, but responded by scoring 20 goals for Watford last season.

Having signed Stewart Downing from Liverpool today, West Ham could still be in the market for a striker before the transfer window closes on September 2.

The Hammers co-owner David Gold confirmed earlier in the summer that the club were still on the lookout to find someone to partner Andy Carroll at the forefront of their attack and with the former Newcastle man set to miss the start of the campaign, that need for an addition up front has grown.

Former West Ham boss Zola is aware that Watford may have to brace themselves for bids for Deeney.

After seeing his striker fire a hat trick in a 6-1 win over Bournemouth at the weekend, the Italian coach said: "That could be a problem. But I'm relying on the fact that here he has a good environment and also that we can help him improve. So I'm really expecting and hoping he'll stay with us."