Mauricio Pochettino claims Tottenham are now one of the most appealing clubs in the world for players to join.

Spurs have won a single trophy this century and have competed in the Champions League just once since its inception in 1992 — but Argentine Pochettino believes his teams’ performances this season will have caught the eye of all their transfer targets.

The head coach has earned praise for his continued promotion of young English players this season, in which he has guided Spurs to fifth.

“Today, Tottenham are one of the most attractive clubs in the world for all players, not just the young ones,” he said. “[You look at] the way we show respect for the players, the way we try to play and the way our philosophy is.

“For the big players and the young players it’s a fantastic club, with a fantastic structure. We are starting to be attractive and we have reached a certain point today, in England and Europe.

“But we have only a few places in the squad. We can’t bring in 20 or 30 players. Now we need to be careful and clever to make sure we keep improving. If we are to win the title in the future, it is not only about developing players. This is our challenge, our objective.”

Player Ratings: Tottenham vs West Ham 22 show all Player Ratings: Tottenham vs West Ham 1/22 Hugo Lloris: 6 This was one of the easiest games the France captain has had since he joined Tottenham in the summer of 2012. 2/22 Kyle Walker: 8 After a difficult start against Victor Moses, he quickly came out on top and was a very useful attacking threat, as he showed with the fourth goal. Booked. 2015 Getty Images 3/22 Toby Alderweireld: 8 Solid as ever at the back and scored the second goal with a header from a corner after a clever run to the near post. 4/22 Jan Vertonghen: 7 Like Lloris, the centre-back had a relatively simple afternoon. Kept Carroll quiet with dealt easily with what little danger West Ham caused. 5/22 Danny Rose: 6 Not always precise, but always committed, in both attack and defence on the left flank. Rose is slowly recapturing his best form. 6/22 Dele Alli: 7 Pushed further forward into the No10 role, he was involved in the majority of his team’s attacks, though needed to be calmed by his manager after a needless spat with Mark Noble. Booked.



Ryan Mason: 6



Missed one good chance and hit the post from distance late on. 7/22 Eric Dier: 7 A calming presence in the centre, his job is to move the ball on swiftly to his attacking players, which he does effectively. 2015 Getty Images 8/22 Mousa Dembele: 8 Deployed deeper in midfield rather than in the No10 role, the Belgian maintained his recent form with another fine game in both disciplines. 2015 Getty Images 9/22 Christian Eriksen: 7 Starts on the left flank but usually drifts inside where he helps link the play with clever passing and movement. Created the second and third goals. 10/22 Heung-min Son: 6 Making his first start for nearly two months after injury, the South Korean kept Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell honest throughout.



Josh Onomah: 6 2015 Getty Images 11/22 Harry Kane: 8 Two goals – eight in five games now – one missed chance and lots of clever, unselfish work throughout the game from Spurs’ star man.



Tom Carroll: 6 12/22 Adrian: 5 Could do little about the first two goals but he allowed Kane’s shot to slip under his body for the home side’s third. 2015 Getty Images 13/22 Carl Jenkinson: 5 Allowed Kane to turn far too easily in the penalty area for Tottenham’s opener and struggled to contain Rose and Eriksen. 2015 Getty Images 14/22 James Tomkins: 4 Shaky display was summed up when, under no pressure, he gifted possession to Eriksen, who set up Kane for Tottenham’s third goal. 2015 Getty Images 15/22 Wiston Reid: 5 A tough day for the New Zealander, who lost Alderweireld for Spurs’ second and was too often caught out of position. 16/22 Aaron Cresswell: 5 At his best, he is an effective attacker from left-back but Walker and Son ensured he spent most of the afternoon in his own half. 17/22 Cheikhou Kouyate: 6 Hit the bar with an overhead kick in the first half that would have made it 1-1 and was one of his team’s better performers on a day to forget. 2015 Getty Images 18/22 Mark Noble: 6 Showed his customary energy and dedication in midfield but once Tottenham scored their first, West Ham’s gameplan went out of the window. Booked.



Alex Song: 6 19/22 Victor Moses: 5 Made a very bright start and caused Walker problems, but faded quickly thereafter as Walker and Son gained the upper hand. Substituted along with Carroll. Mauro Zarate: 6



Pushed wide on the left but failed to offer anything of note. 20/22 Manuel Lanzini: 6 Required to provide the creative spark in Dimitri Payet’s absence, the Argentine was deployed in a midfield three and scored a cracking goal – when it was far too late. 2015 Getty Images 21/22 Diafra Sakho: 6 Worked as hard as anyone but he would surely be more useful to his team through the middle, rather than on the flanks. Booked. 22/22 Andy Carroll: 5 Well policed by Alderweireld and Vertonghen throughout, the centre-forward received little service from the flanks and was subbed just after the hour mark. Nikica Jelavic: 6



Could do no better than Carroll. 1/22 Hugo Lloris: 6 This was one of the easiest games the France captain has had since he joined Tottenham in the summer of 2012. 2/22 Kyle Walker: 8 After a difficult start against Victor Moses, he quickly came out on top and was a very useful attacking threat, as he showed with the fourth goal. Booked. 2015 Getty Images 3/22 Toby Alderweireld: 8 Solid as ever at the back and scored the second goal with a header from a corner after a clever run to the near post. 4/22 Jan Vertonghen: 7 Like Lloris, the centre-back had a relatively simple afternoon. Kept Carroll quiet with dealt easily with what little danger West Ham caused. 5/22 Danny Rose: 6 Not always precise, but always committed, in both attack and defence on the left flank. Rose is slowly recapturing his best form. 6/22 Dele Alli: 7 Pushed further forward into the No10 role, he was involved in the majority of his team’s attacks, though needed to be calmed by his manager after a needless spat with Mark Noble. Booked.



Ryan Mason: 6



Missed one good chance and hit the post from distance late on. 7/22 Eric Dier: 7 A calming presence in the centre, his job is to move the ball on swiftly to his attacking players, which he does effectively. 2015 Getty Images 8/22 Mousa Dembele: 8 Deployed deeper in midfield rather than in the No10 role, the Belgian maintained his recent form with another fine game in both disciplines. 2015 Getty Images 9/22 Christian Eriksen: 7 Starts on the left flank but usually drifts inside where he helps link the play with clever passing and movement. Created the second and third goals. 10/22 Heung-min Son: 6 Making his first start for nearly two months after injury, the South Korean kept Hammers left-back Aaron Cresswell honest throughout.



Josh Onomah: 6 2015 Getty Images 11/22 Harry Kane: 8 Two goals – eight in five games now – one missed chance and lots of clever, unselfish work throughout the game from Spurs’ star man.



Tom Carroll: 6 12/22 Adrian: 5 Could do little about the first two goals but he allowed Kane’s shot to slip under his body for the home side’s third. 2015 Getty Images 13/22 Carl Jenkinson: 5 Allowed Kane to turn far too easily in the penalty area for Tottenham’s opener and struggled to contain Rose and Eriksen. 2015 Getty Images 14/22 James Tomkins: 4 Shaky display was summed up when, under no pressure, he gifted possession to Eriksen, who set up Kane for Tottenham’s third goal. 2015 Getty Images 15/22 Wiston Reid: 5 A tough day for the New Zealander, who lost Alderweireld for Spurs’ second and was too often caught out of position. 16/22 Aaron Cresswell: 5 At his best, he is an effective attacker from left-back but Walker and Son ensured he spent most of the afternoon in his own half. 17/22 Cheikhou Kouyate: 6 Hit the bar with an overhead kick in the first half that would have made it 1-1 and was one of his team’s better performers on a day to forget. 2015 Getty Images 18/22 Mark Noble: 6 Showed his customary energy and dedication in midfield but once Tottenham scored their first, West Ham’s gameplan went out of the window. Booked.



Alex Song: 6 19/22 Victor Moses: 5 Made a very bright start and caused Walker problems, but faded quickly thereafter as Walker and Son gained the upper hand. Substituted along with Carroll. Mauro Zarate: 6



Pushed wide on the left but failed to offer anything of note. 20/22 Manuel Lanzini: 6 Required to provide the creative spark in Dimitri Payet’s absence, the Argentine was deployed in a midfield three and scored a cracking goal – when it was far too late. 2015 Getty Images 21/22 Diafra Sakho: 6 Worked as hard as anyone but he would surely be more useful to his team through the middle, rather than on the flanks. Booked. 22/22 Andy Carroll: 5 Well policed by Alderweireld and Vertonghen throughout, the centre-forward received little service from the flanks and was subbed just after the hour mark. Nikica Jelavic: 6



Could do no better than Carroll.

Spurs are likely to try to sign back up for Harry Kane, who is the only senior centre-forward at the club, during the January transfer window.

In the meantime, Pochettino and his players face another demanding week as they try to make progress at home and abroad.

Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Qarabag in Baku, Azerbaijan, requires a round trip of nearly 5,000 miles to a time zone four hours ahead of the UK. Just 64 hours later, Spurs begin their game against Chelsea — a midday kick-off on Sunday.

Dele Alli is likely to feature against Qarabag as he is suspended for the Chelsea game after picking up five bookings this term, while there could also be a place in the squad for Nabil Bentaleb.

Bentaleb has not played for Spurs since August 29 due to an ankle ligament injury. He returned to action for Algeria in their recent World Cup qualifiers, but aggravated the problem in last week’s game against Tanzania. Pochettino said: “He could be available for Qarabag or Chelsea.”