Thursday, July 8

Daily WHUFC News - 8th July 2010

Hitz exclusive on WHUTV
WHUFC.com
The man known as 'Der Hammer' as given his first interview to the club's
online TV service
07.07.2010

Thomas Hitzlsperger has spoken to WHUTV about settling into life at West Ham
United after his summer move to the Boleyn Ground. The Germany midfielder -
nicknamed 'Der Hammer' because of his powerful left foot - joined up with
his new team-mates for the first time this week and has wasted no time in
becoming one of the group. Although he only knew Carlton Cole from his time
at Aston Villa, Hitzlsperger said he had received a warm welcome from
everyone.

"It has been fantastic," he said during a break from double training at
Chadwell Heath. "I have had a good long summer and since I signed I have
been looking forward to the first day and being here training with the lads.
There is a good atmosphere at the training ground and I am just looking
forward to the new season.

"It is exciting to meet my new team-mates. I knew Carlton Cole when we
played together at Aston Villa and I knew a few of the other guys that I
have played against. It is always interesting. You get to know the players,
they are all very nice kindly guys and hopefully we are going to have good
success."

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Poles call for Modelski
WHUFC.com
Filip Modelski has been included in the Poland U18 squad for two friendly
meetings with Sweden
07.07.2010

West Ham United Academy defender Filip Modelski has been included in the
Poland Under-18 squad for a home friendly double-header with Sweden next
month. Modelski will join up with his international team-mates for a
training camp on 8 August ahead of meetings with the Swedes in Koszalin on
10 August and Szczecinek on 12 August. The right-back, 17, has been a
regular for his country at age-group level, featuring in U18 friendly
fixtures against Bulgaria and Belgium last season. Modelski joined West Ham
from Polish club Arka Gdynia in the summer of 2009 following a successful
trial. The defender's Academy team-mate, Deniz Mehmet, is preparing for
Turkey's U18 friendly double-header with Estonia next week. Mehmet will join
up with his international team-mates in Istanbul ahead of the fixtures,
which will take place at the Ozel 2 Mac stadium on Tuesday 13 July and
Thursday 15 July. The 17-year-old's call-up is the latest step in what has
already been a successful international career for the London-based stopper.
Mehmet, who has a Turkish father, was part of his nation's squad at the 2009
UEFA European U17 Championship finals, keeping a clean sheet as Turkey
defeated England 1-0 in the group stage. Later last year, the goalkeeper
played four times as Turkey reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U17 World
Cup in Nigeria before losing to Colombia in a penalty shoot-out.

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Gosling to leave Toffees
Trio line up star after Premier League ruling
Last updated: 7th July 2010
SSN

Everton midfielder Dan Gosling has left the club and is available on a free
transfer after a contract error. The Premier League were asked to make a
ruling after the England Under 21 prospect was not given a new contract
offer in writing. Everton claimed they offered Gosling a new deal verbally,
but nothing was sent to him in writing by the due date. The Premier League
have now ruled Gosling is free to move on as Everton did not make a written
contract offer. As revealed by skysports.com last week Newcastle are leading
the chase for the versatile star, with Sunderland and West Ham also in the
hunt for Gosling's signature. Gosling will miss the start of the new season
as he is currently recovering from a serious knee injury, but it seems he
will be at a new club next term

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Sullivan admits Klose woe
Hammers likely to miss out on Germany international
Last updated: 7th July 2010
SSN

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed the club had a deal in place
to sign Miroslav Klose before his excellent World Cup campaign. The
32-year-old Bayern Munich striker has been in top form for Germany this
summer, and is only one goal away from equalling Ronaldo's record of 15 in
World Cup tournaments. Klose hardly played for Bayern last season and
Sullivan says he was ready to make the switch to Upton Park before the start
of the next campaign. But following his goalscoring exploits in South
Africa, a number of Europe's top clubs are now thought to be sniffing around
him. Sullivan believes a deal is unlikely. He told Soccernet: "We had a deal
in place before the World Cup, after he had a bad season in Germany.
"However, as a result of what he has done at the World Cup, it's unlikely to
happen." Klose scored just six goals in 38 appearances for Bayern Munich
last term, but it remains to be seen if the Bundesliga outfit will now be
willing to sell. His contract at the Allianz Arena is due to expire next
summer, having signed for the club in 2007 from Werder Bremen.

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Hammers want Green stay
Co-owner insists keeper is part of their plans
Last updated: 7th July 2010
SSN

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists that Robert Green is very much part
of their plans. A number of the current Hammers squad have been linking with
moves away from the club, and Sullivan himself previously said that Scott
Parker was the only West Ham player who was not for sale. But Sullivan now
insists that they have no plans to sell the England international. "I hope
[Robert] does have a long-term future at West Ham," Sullivan told The
Guardian. "We've got a fantastic new goalkeeping coach [David Coles, who has
joined from Portsmouth] who I think will improve him dramatically. "You're
never too old to learn and I think he'll learn a lot."
Green had a horrendous World Cup, and was dropped after England's opening
game with USA - after he gifted them the equaliser in the 1-1 draw. But
Sullivan is backing the keeper not to let that affect him, saying: "You
judge any player over a season, not one incident in one match. "I'm sure
he's got the character [to bounce back from the World Cup] and absolutely
he'll get the support from West Ham. "I still can't quite work out what
happened. The ball probably swerved off the bounce, because that ball did
bounce about very strangely, and that's why his body wasn't behind it. It
came off at an angle. "But that said and done, the whole England team
didn't play well. I'm sure you wouldn't buy a single England player on the
basis of what went on out there."
Green has two-years left on his contract and Sullivan says they will look to
hold talks with him and others later in the season. "All the players with
two years to go - we will look at them in January, when there is 18 months
to go," said Sullivan. "We will see how they're playing and how the club is
doing and we'll see what offers we can put to them."

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Hammers close on Velthuizen
West Ham reported to be close to signing promising Dutch keeper
By Gerrit van Leeuwen Last updated: 7th July 2010
SSN

West Ham United are close to signing goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen, according
to Dutch football magazine Voetbal International. The 23-year-old Dutch
international is currently at Eredivisie outfit Vitesse Arnhem, who are
thought to be willing to sell as they offload players to decrease costs.
Velthuizen, who earned his only cap in a friendly against Japan in 2009, was
a surprise omission from coach Bert van Marwijk's World Cup squad. The young
Vitesse Arnhem goalkeeper was overlooked in favour of more experienced FC
Twente shot-stopper Sander Boschker.

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Hammers not Klose to deal
Published: 07 Jul 2010
The Sun

WEST HAM'S ambitious attempt to sign Germany's World Cup star Miroslav Klose
looks unlikely. Hammers' co-owner David Sullivan admits a deal to land the
striker is unlikely to go through following his performances in South
Africa. Klose, 32, has scored four goals for Germany as they reached the
semi-finals of the competition. His club Bayern Munich were all set to let
the ace quit on a free transfer after he scored just six goals in 38
appearances for the Bundesliga side last term. But Klose's form in South
Africa has left him just one goal short of Brazilian Ronaldo's tally of 15
in the all-time World Cup scoring charts and as a result, he may now look to
move elsewhere in Europe. Sullivan said: "We had a deal in place before the
World Cup, after he had a bad season in Germany. However, as a result of
what he has done at the World Cup, it's unlikely to happen,'' The Hammers
have also played down suggestions that former Birmingham and Liverpool
winger Jermaine Pennant, now with Real Zaragoza in Spain, might be bound for
Upton Park.

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Hammers set to miss out on TWO strikers
Published 14:38 07/07/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

West Ham's attempts to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new
Barclays Premier League season appear to have stumbled on at least two
fronts.
The Hammers, who will officially unveil new manager Avram Grant before the
world's media at Upton Park tomorrow, have admitted defeat in their attempts
to sign Germany's World Cup striking star Miroslav Klose. In the meantime,
their hopes of landing for Portsmouth loanee Frederic Piquionne from French
club Lyon also hang in the balance. Piquionne enjoyed a successful loan
period with Portsmouth under Grant last season.

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Hammers keen to keep Green
Published 08:51 07/07/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan insists that he wants to retain the
services of Robert Green despite the keeper's World Cup howler. The
30-year-old, whose horrendous error gifted the United States an equaliser as
England drew the opening game of their woeful campaign in South Africa, has
been linked with a move away from Upton Park after becoming frustrated at
not being offered a new contract. But Sullivan insists he is keen for Green
to stay, and told The Guardian: "I hope Robert does have a long-term future
at West Ham. You judge any player over a season, not one incident in one
match. I'm sure he's got the character (to bounce back from the World Cup)
and absolutely he'll get the support from West Ham."

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Dan Gosling takes flight! Everton in shock as starlet eyes move to West Ham
By John Edwards
Last updated at 11:31 PM on 7th July 2010
Daily Mail

Dan Gosling is hunting around for the biggest pay day possible having held
talks with Newcastle after stunning his Everton bosses by taking them on at
a Premier League tribunal and securing an acrimonious release from Goodison
Park. West Ham hoped to close a quick deal to sign Gosling on a free
transfer but Newcastle are confident they will land the talented midfielder
following talks yesterday. Gosling, 20, left Everton chiefs furious and
dismayed by successfully arguing he was entitled to a free transfer after
they failed to put a contract offer in writing by a cutoff date in the
middle of May. The Goodison club last night launched an official appeal to
the Premier League although sources say it is doomed to failure. Everton
chairman Bill Kenwright and manager David Moyes both had to submit
statements to the Premier League panel and have been left fuming — not only
at the out come but at Gosling's conduct. Moyes (right) signed him from
Plymouth two-and-ahalf years ago and is aghast that he has rejected a pay
deal worth around £15,000 a week over the next two years after indicating it
would be accepted.
Everton would have handed him a five-year contract on his arrival from Home
Park, but players under 20 are forbidden from signing for that long. The two
parties settled for an initial three-year deal, with an understanding it
would be extended for a further two seasons on substantially improved terms.
With bonuses, he could have taken his earnings beyond £15,000 a week next
season, yet he left Everton chiefs reeling by claiming he had been
undervalued on and off the pitch. He evidently feels he merits a regular
starting place in his favoured central midfield role and, just as
remarkably, should be on terms comparable to the £25,000 a week recently
awarded to his Everton and England Under 21 team-mate, Jack Rodwell. Everton
will now miss out on compensation that could have been as much as £4million
because they did not put their offer in writing, but deny being guilty of an
administrative blunder. They insist similar deals in the past, with the
likes of Wayne Rooney and Rodwell, have been based on mutual trust and that
a similar gentleman's agreement existed with Gosling, who faces another four
months on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Gosling joined Everton from Plymouth in January, 2008 on an £8,000-a-week,
three-year deal. There was a verbal understanding it would be followed by an
improved, two-year contract. Everton believed an offer of around £15,000 a
week had been accepted but Gosling rejected it and went to a Premier League
tribunal to win his release. The tribunal ruled that a failure to put the
offer in writing meant Gosling was a free agent. The feeling within Goodison
is that putting their offer in writing should not have been necessary, given
the favourable feedback from Gosling. They feel they would have been
powerless to prevent him quitting once he changed his mind, anyway. The club
would have been due compensation but could not have forced him to stay. It
is a bitter blow for Moyes, who also faces unwanted disruption over the
future of key midfielders Mikel Arteta and Steven Pienaar. Mindful that
Manchester City's drawn-out pursuit of Joleon Lescott proved a costly
distraction last summer, Moyes was desperate to avoid any off-field
wrangling as he launched his preparations for the season with a trip to
Australia. His hopes have been dashed by continuing uncertainty over two of
his most creative players. Pienaar is yet to commit to a new contract that
would give him parity with Everton's highest earners and Goodison's
hierarchy are bracing themselves for an approach by Manchester City for
Arteta.
Pienaar stalled on Everton's £55,000-a-week offer at the end of last season
and headed home to South Africa in the belief that a high-profile World Cup
campaign might persuade Manchester United or Tottenham to sign him. Everton
have yet to receive an offer and fear the 28-year-old may see out the final
season of his contract and then leave.

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Hammers hope to snap up Gosling
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
July 7, 2010

West Ham have confirmed to Soccernet they are interested in signing free
agent Dan Gosling. The Premier League ruled Gosling, 21, was free to walk
away from Everton because the club failed to put an offer of a new deal in
writing before his contract expired. Everton would have been entitled to
around £4 million in compensation. Gosling told the Premier League tribunal
that he has not spoken to any other team, but now he will be heading for a
round of talks. Sunderland and Newcastle United are heading the chase for
the 21-year-old, who can play in midfield or as a full back, but West Ham
are also in the hunt. The England Under-21 international is currently
recovering from knee ligament surgery and unable to play for three months.

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West Ham reveal agreement was in place for Klose
Harry Harris
July 7, 2010
ESPN

Miroslav Klose is one strike away from Ronaldo's World Cup goalscoring
record © Getty ImagesRelated LinksNews:Hammers hope to snap up Gosling
West Ham have revealed a deal was in place to sign Germany star Miroslav
Klose from Bayern Munich before his World Cup performances put the transfer
in jeopardy. Bayern were ready to allow Klose, 32, to leave the club on a
free transfer after a poor season at club level that saw him net just six
goals in 38 appearances in all competitions. However, Klose has scored four
goals in four games so far for his country in South Africa and is now just
one behind Brazil legend Ronaldo in the all-time World Cup scorer charts,
and that has led Bayern to reconsider their decision to release the striker.
Hammers co-owner David Sullivan told Soccernet: "We had a deal in place
before the World Cup, after he had a bad season in Germany. However, as a
result of what he has done at the World Cup, it's unlikely to happen."
Klose, reported to be on £140,000 a week, could now look to seal a transfer
to one of Europe's leading clubs if he leaves Bayern.
Meanwhile, West Ham have confirmed to Soccernet they are interested in
signing free agent Dan Gosling. The Premier League ruled Gosling, 21, was
free to walk away from Everton because the club failed to put an offer of a
new deal in writing before his contract expired.

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