West Ham end war of words with Sporting Lisbon over doomed William Carvalho transfer saga

Last summer there was a dramatic war of words between the two clubs, which culminated in the Portuguese club's president branding David Sullivan and co-owner David Gold “the dildo brothers”

West Ham and Sporting Lisbon have patched up their differences (Getty)

West Ham United claim “friendly relations” with Sporting Lisbon have resumed, after an explosive war of words between the two clubs this summer culminated in the Portuguese club’s president branding David Sullivan and David Gold “the dildo brothers”.

The two clubs entered into an extraordinary public dispute when the transfer of William Carvalho from Lisbon to West Ham collapsed during the summer.

In September, West Ham announced that they were pursuing legal action against Sporting’s communications director, Nuno Saraiva, who claimed West Ham had never made an offer for Carvalho before branding Sullivan a “parasite”.

West Ham then leaked two emails purportedly sent from Sullivan to Sporting Lisbon, which appeared to prove the club did make an offer for the player.

However, on Tuesday West Ham published a statement which claimed the two clubs were once again on good terms, ahead of January 1^st when the transfer window reopens.

The statement said: “West Ham and Sporting Clube de Portugal acknowledge that a breakdown in communication based on contacts between representatives from both clubs in respect of a possible transfer of William Carvalho was the cause of a misunderstanding.

“Subsequent to this, the clubs have had positive communications and the matter is now resolved.

“On this basis, friendly relations between the clubs will resume and there will be no barriers to both clubs negotiating or working together in the future.”