The war of words between West Ham and Sporting Lisbon has escalated following the breakdown of a transfer move for Portugal midfielder William Carvalho, with the Premier League club vowing to take legal action over the failed summer deal.
Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho referred to West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold as the with a derogatory term on Wednesday in an interview with Sporting TV, according to Portuguese newspaper Record.
The Hammers' proposed £23 million deal for the Portugal midfielder broke down before the transfer window closed last week.
Sporting claimed West Ham had never submitted an official bid for Carvalho, leading the Hammers to vow to sue the Portuguese club.