Daily WHUFC News - 15th July 2014

Health checks for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's players went through a range of health screening tests on
Monday
14.07.2014

West Ham United's players underwent a series of health screening tests on
Monday to make sure they are in the best possible condition ahead of the
2014/15 Barclays Premier League season. A range of healthcare professionals,
including staff from the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) heart screening
charity, an optician and a dentist visited the Club's Chadwell Heath
training ground on Monday to run the rule over the entire first team squad.
Hammers head of medical Stijn Vandenbroucke told West Ham TV how useful the
screening process would prove over the course of the season. "Monday was the
screening day for the players," he said. "They came in groups of four from
8am to 7pm and we screen the heart, which is compulsory for the Premier
League and the FA, we screen the teeth which are important and connected
with the prevention of injury. We also screen their eyes because it's
obviously important for players to see the ball! "It's important not to have
any surprises during the season, because if you have a painful tooth that
may cost you one or two games. "So we try to be proactive on it and deal
with it before the season. Everyone is looking very good - body weight, fat
percentage and condition-wise. I have no complaints with that thanks to my
sports science department, who gave a very good off-season programme to the
players, and to the players themselves for following them very well. I'm
happy."

Professor Sanjay Sharma, a Professor of Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions
and Sports Cardiology at St George's Hospital in London, and representing
the team from CRY, explained the importance of identifying players with
potential heart problems across all sports. He said: "We're here with the
Cardiac Risk in the Young screening team to test all the players for
conditions of the heart that could result in sudden cardiac death. "We're
making the players fill in a health questionnaire which asks them about
symptoms of heart disease and their family history. The latter is quite
important because most of the conditions which cause sudden death in
sportsmen are genetic. "Clearly if there's a football player whose father
died at 40 or so, that makes us slightly more concerned about how detailed
we are with our assessment. "We also do an electrocardiogram (ECG) which
gives us some idea of electrical faults of the heart and a cardiac
ultrasound, which gives us some ideas of abnormalities, if any, of cardiac
structure. This is the most important test because it picks up very serious
conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which are the commonest
causes of sudden cardiac death in sportsmen. "Being here at West Ham, one
thing we can never forget is the brilliance of Marc-Vivien Foe, who played
here and went on to die three or four years later during a Confederations
Cup game, which was televised [in 2003]. "That really did create shockwaves
in the entire sporting community and we have come a long way in the ten
years since. We saw what happened with Fabrice Muamba, we saw the awareness,
the speed with which the doctors and paramedics were on the pitch, and those
amazing heroic efforts on the pitch, which led to a young man who is alive
and kicking now. "The Premier League should be acknowledged for what they're
doing in this field - it's very laudable and in general every single club
ensures their players are tested once a year. "I'm delighted to report that
everyone at West Ham is in good health and also in very good shape with the
season coming up."

For Diego Poyet, recently signed from Charlton Athletic, such an extensive
examination was something new. "Monday was a new experience for me, it's the
first time I've done it, but apparently everything has gone fine so I'm
pleased with that," he confirmed. "The awareness when it comes to heart
screening is growing all the time, especially when you think of cases like
Fabrice Muamba's. "It's important for players to know that they're well
whilst they're playing, but also for when they stop."

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Four Hammers games moved
WHUFC.com
Four of West Ham United's early-season fixtures have been moved to new
kick-off times
14.07.2014

Four West Ham United fixtures have been moved during the opening months of
the 2014/15 Barclays Premier League season. The Hammers' home fixtures with
Liverpool and champions Manchester City have both been allocated new
kick-off times, while the visit of newly-promoted Queens Park Rangers and
away game at Hull City have been moved to new dates.

The quartet of matches will now take place at the following times and dates:
*Hull City v West Ham United, Monday 15 September 2014, 8pm
*West Ham United v Liverpool, Saturday 20 September 2014, 5.30pm
*West Ham United v Queens Park Rangers, Sunday 5 October 2014, 4.15pm
*West Ham United v Manchester City, Saturday 25 October 2014, 12.45pm

Don't forget, the only way to guarantee your seat for every home game is to
purchase a Season Ticket. To do so, please click here. In the meantime, West
Ham will contest six further pre-season matches ahead of the big kick-off at
home to Tottenham Hotspur at 3pm on Saturday 16 August. Wednesday evening
will see the Hammers make the short trip up the A12 to Ipswich Town, where
tickets are still available for a 7.45pm kick-off at Portman Road. The
following day, Sam Allardyce and his squad will board a plane to the other
side of the world for the Football United Tour of New Zealand. That trip
will see West Ham take on A-League Wellington Phoenix in Auckland on 23 July
and Sydney FC in Wellington on 26 July. Tickets for both games are selling
fast but are still available to buy here. It is then off to Germany for the
Schalke 04 Cup in Gelsenkirchen over the weekend of 2/3 August, when the
Hammers will square off against the host club and Spanish side Malaga.
Tickets for the Schalke 04 Cup are available to buy here. West Ham will
complete their pre-season schedule by welcoming Italian Serie A club
Sampdoria to the Boleyn Ground for a 3pm kick-off on Saturday 9 August. To
secure your seat now, click here. **Supporters should note that all fixtures
are subject to change.

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Big Sam ready for Ipswich test
WHUFC.com
West Ham United travel to Ipswich Town on Wednesday for their next
pre-season fixture
14.07.2014

Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing new signing Aaron Cresswell take
on his former Club Ipswich Town in the Hammers' latest pre-season fixture on
Wednesday. The left-back has arrived in east London from the Tractor Boys,
having impressed hugely during three seasons at Portman Road. Voted into the
2013/14 PFA Championship Team of the Year by his fellow professionals, the
24-year-old has long been considered one of the best players outside the
Barclays Premier League. Now, he will be given a chance to prove that he can
excel at the highest level too, and manager Allardyce is predicting that he
has the physical, technical and mental attributes to make a positive impact
in a Hammers shirt. Tickets for Wednesday's game at Ipswich, which kicks off
at 7.45pm, are available by clicking here. Adult tickets are priced at just
£15 and concessions £10 "Aaron is a very interesting case because, as far as
we looked at other targets, when I looked at his career history, spoke to
[Ipswich manager] Mick McCarthy and looked at what he has done in the last
couple of years, he was right on the doorstep," Big Sam told West Ham TV.

"He started at 17 at Tranmere Rovers and played 70 games and Paul Jewell
took him to Ipswich when he became manager there. He has played nearly every
game over the last three seasons, so he never misses any games through
injury. "He is 24-years-old and there has been a very good, steady
development over those years. He has over 200 games in the bag and, after
moving from League One to the Championship. He was in the PFA Team of the
Year last season, so all of the players he played against saw him as the
best left-back in the Championship. "Of course, the price was right, which
was the biggest factor in our transfer dealings this season - if the player
is right and the price is right, we do the deal. The biggest stumbling block
is the size of the fees that are being asked for today. "This one was a
very, very good signing indeed, not just for right now but also for the
future."

Cresswell is very much a modern-day left-back - he is quick, technically
gifted, eager to get forward and possesses the ability to provide accurate
and telling deliveries into dangerous areas. Having missed just six
Championship matches over the previous three seasons, the Liverpool-born
full-back has also developed a reputation for his consistent level of
performance. Now, Big Sam says Cresswell's biggest challenge is taking that
consistency into one of the most competitive and best divisions in the
world. "Today, physical capabilities are a big part of your recruitment
process - he is a 24-year-old with great physical attributes as well as
great technique," confirmed his new manager. "I think learning about playing
in the Premier League is what we hope he can take up quickly. "The physical
attribute is there because the physical impact of playing in the
Championship is greater than that of playing in the Premier League -
something I learnt for the first time when I took West Ham up after joining
the Club in 2011. "Of course, in the Premier League, there is the mental
pressure and the extra bit of quality, living against some of the best
players in the world. That's what he needs to learn and cope with and all
the rest will fall into place.
"Hopefully it will be a smooth and easy transition for Aaron and we look
forward to him making a big contribution this year."

Cresswell will return to Portman Road with his new West Ham team-mates for a
pre-season fixture with Ipswich on Wednesday 16 July.

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West Ham United close in on Ecuador striker Enner Valencia
BBC.co.uk

West Ham United hope to sign Ecuador striker Enner Valencia from Mexican
club Pachuca this week. Valencia, 24, scored three goals at the Fifa World
Cup - two against Honduras and one against Switzerland - before Ecuador's
group-stage elimination. He was understood to be undergoing a medical at
West Ham on Monday. Valencia made his debut for Ecuadorian club side Emelec
in 2010 and went to make more than 100 appearances before joining Pachuca in
January this year. The forward scored 18 goals in 23 league games last
season. Valencia would become West Ham's fifth summer signing following the
captures of midfielder Diego Poyet from Charlton, striker Mauro Zarate from
Velez Sarsfield, Anderlecht's Senegal international midfielder Cheikhou
Kouyate and Ipswich full-back Aaron Cresswell.

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2014/15 TV dates announced
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th July 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United are to be featured live on TV on four occasions during the
early part of the 2014/15 Premier League season.

The games - and the amended dates including broadcasters - are as follows:

Mon 15 Sept: Hull City v West Ham Utd (8pm, SS)

Sat 20 Sept: West Ham Utd v Liverpool (5:30pm, SS)

Sun 5 Oct: West Ham Utd v QPR (4:15pm, SS)

Sat 25 Oct: West Ham Utd v Man City (12.45pm, BT)

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Albion deny Downing approach
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th July 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Bromwich Albion have denied reports that they are attempting to sign
West Ham's Stewart Downing on loan. Over the weekend reports emerged that
the Baggies were preparing to make an offer for the former England
international, who joined West Ham from Liverpool a year ago. However the
Birmingham Mail's Chris Lepkowski revealed this morning that officials at
West Brom had denied any interest in signing the 30-year-old winger.
"Spoken to #wba regarding Downing rumours," wrote Lepkowski on his twitter
feed this lunchtime. "Baggies genuinely bemused by claims they've approached
WHU. They insist there has been no approach. "Sources close to WHU are
stating the opposite. Might be some crossed wires somewhere or just someone
trying to drum up interest."

And Downing himself appeared to have little intention of leaving the Boleyn
Ground when speaking about the imminent arrival of World Cup star Enner
Valencia, who is set to become the club's fifth summer signing. "We need
competition for places so if we do get that new signing then he will be a
good addition to the squad," he said. "It's a big boost for the club and
it's good for the fans too. They will get excited that they see there are
new players coming in. "For large amounts of last season we played without
a striker so we do need options. We can't rely on Andy [Carroll] all season.
Andy was the big signing but he struggled with injuries last season, so
hopefully the new signings will take the pressure off him a little bit."

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Valencia deal set for rapid conclusion
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th July 2014
By: Staff Writer

Enner Valencia will undergo a medical this afternoon ahead of a proposed
move to West Ham. The 24-year-old Ecuador international current plies his
trade in Mexico with CF Pachua but is set to become a Hammer should he
successfully complete the medical, which wakes place today. A centre forward
by trade, Valencia can also operate in an advanced position on either flank.
He scored three goals in the World Cup Finals despite his country failing to
qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament. Last month it was revealed
on KUMB how Valencia topped Sam Allardyce's summer transfer target list. The
fee, depending on which source you believe, will vary from £9million to
£15million. Chairman David Sullivan revealed at the weekend how he hoped the
club would complete its fifth summer signing 'within 72 hours'. "The players
we have signed so far were all high up on our list of priorities and I know
they will all add something different to our squad - exciting attacking
play, goalscoring and experience as well as potential," he said. "The
recruitment drive will carry on, though, as there are at least three more
positions we would like to strengthen. We are in advanced talks to secure
another one of our top targets and all being well we should get that deal
over the line in the next 72 hours."

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West Ham new boy Aaron Cresswell to make Ipswich farewells on Wednesday
Last Updated: 14/07/14 2:07pm
SSN

Former Ipswich full-back Aaron Cresswell is looking forward to a "proper
goodbye" at Portman Road when he returns with new club West Ham in a
friendly on Wednesday evening. The 24-year-old left Town this summer to sign
a five-year deal with the Hammers. He told the Tractor Boys' official
website: "It's great to have the chance to come back to Ipswich and properly
say my goodbyes to the players, the staff and the supporters. "Ipswich put
faith in me and I want to put on record my sincere thanks to the owner, Mick
McCarthy and Paul Jewell - who signed me - and the fans at Ipswich for their
fantastic support over the past three years." Cresswell came through the
system at Tranmere before moving to Ipswich in 2011, where he would go on to
make over 140 appearances. He added: "It was difficult to leave the club as
I'd built up a great relationship with everyone there but like any player I
want to play in the Premier League and joining a fantastic club like West
Ham is a great opportunity for me. "I genuinely wish Ipswich every success
for the season ahead and I'll be keeping an eye on their results."

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Enner Valencia undergoing medical at West Ham
Last Updated: 14/07/14 4:12pm
SSN

Ecuador striker Enner Valencia is undergoing a medical at West Ham. Valencia
will cost West Ham close to the club-record £15m they paid Liverpool for
striker Andy Carroll. The 25-year-old scored all three of Ecuador's World
Cup goals in Brazil this summer, attracting the attention of a number of
Premier League suitors in the process. But Hammers boss Sam Allardyce looks
set to have won the race to sign him, and provided he passes his medical and
agrees personal terms, the striker will leave his Mexican club Pachuca for
east London on a reported five-year deal. He will become West Ham's fifth
signing of the summer, joining Argentine striker Mauro Zarate, centre-back
or midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate, Ipswich Town left-back Aaron Cresswell and
Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet at the club. Pachuca chairman Jesus Martinez
said last week that he wants any deal to include clauses that would see
Pachuca benefit if Valencia was to move on. "There are various offers for
Enner Valencia, the strongest and closest to what the player and us are
demanding is from a club from England," he told Ecuagol. "I won't talk about
prices, but if he is sold, it will be the highest transfer fee ever in
Mexican football football, otherwise he won't be sold. We are seeking the
possibility that is convenient for him and the club and that he is sold for
the price that we like. We want to keep a percentage of the player in case
he is sold in the future to another big team in Europe. "It hurts me, I
don't want to sell him and neither does the manager or the fans but we can't
go against the career the kid aspires to."

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DO WE REALLY NEED ANOTHER FOUR SIGNINGS?
By Sean Whetstone 14 Jul 2014 at 17:38
West Ham Till I Die

Big Sam speaking ahead of the Stevenage game on West Ham TV was asked about
what further signings we could expect this summer:

"It depends on the budget, there is still room for a central defender
particularly a left footed done because we do run with three not four
ideally another left back to go along with Aaron and a front line player and
the possibility of a midfield player as well"

We all know the front line player Sam is talking about is Enner Valencia who
should be signing on Wednesday if everything goes to plan. If he joins he
will join Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Mauro Zarate, Ricardo Vaz Te but we
should also remember we have Jaanai Gordon, Paul McCallum, Elliot Lee and
Sean Macguire all with a first team squad number coming through and waiting
in the wings.

The central defender comment is a strange one, in addition to Winston Reid,
James Collins and James Tomkins we know that Kouyate can play centre back as
cover as it was his primary position up to very recently. If we needed a
fifth centre back why not blood the 6ft 3 youngster Reece Oxford on the
bench who is the interest of Chelsea and Arsenal. He has already trained
with the first team at the age of 15.

Sam also mentioned the Left Back position. It is assumed Aaron Cresswell
will be the primary choice for the left back position but we know Joey
O'Brien who play left back as well as right back and Stuart Downing can also
left back as cover as he did for Liverpool on more than one occasion. We
also shouldn't forget Dan Potts who signed a one year contract extension
this summer. He has made five first team appearances so far for the Hammers.
Another one coming through the ranks is supposed to be teenager Oscar Borg
who has attracted from elsewhere. Cresswell himself only missed four games
all of last season at Ipswich so if he makes the step up to Premier League
he won't want to give up his spot up any time soon.

As for another midfielder we have them coming out of ears in addition to
Matt Jarvis, Kevin Nolan, Ravel Morrison, Mark Noble and Stewart Downing we
have added Cheikhou Kouyate and Diego Poyet. We also have the following
youngsters with first squad numbers Blair Turgott, George Moncurr, Danny
Whitehead, Sebastian Lletget and Matthias Fanimo. Why would we need another
cheap midfielder?

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WEST HAM SET TO BREACH WAGE CAP TO KEEP REID
By Sean Whetstone 14 Jul 2014 at 13:30
West Ham Till I Die

West Ham are understood to have upped their previous offer of £50k per week
to £60k per week in an attempt to persuade Winston Reid to sign a new long
term contract. His advisers are believed to have asked as much as £75k per
week previously for a new contract. Reid and his advisors have been given
two weeks to decide but if he decides not to put pen to paper he may be
forced to play the next year on his existing contract terms barring a
transfer request in which case the Hammers would have little option but to
sell him.

The centre back joined West Ham in August 2010 on a three year contract for
a fee believed to be around £3m. This deal was later extended by two years
which takes him up to August 2015.His transfer fee was the subject of a
dispute between West Ham United and his former club FC Midtjylland as West
Ham withheld the fee to bring to UEFA's attention fees owing to them from
the sale of Alessandro Diamanti to Brescia.

He has made 93 appearances for West Ham scoring five goals against
opposition including against Milwall and Spurs. If the deal is agreed it
would make Reid the second highest earner in the club after Andy Carroll who
is though to earn £80k per week.

A 5 year deal would cost West Ham over £15m If he was sold this summer he
could raise around £6m but no official bids or inquiries have been received
to date.

The deal coincides with Reid going back to his New Zealand homeland for two
pre-season friendlies starting with Wellington Phoenix FC on 23rd July then
Sydney FC on the 26th July.Interestingly there doesn't appear to be an offer
on the table at the moment for Ravel Morrison if sources are to be believed.

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ALOU DIARRA INTERVIEW ON HIS TIME AT WEST HAM - BY GET FRENCH FOOTBALL NEWS
(GFFN)
By S J Chandos 14 Jul 2014 at 08:30
West Ham Till I Die

Get French Football News (GFFN) have published a interview with former
Hammer, Alou Diarra. It is interesting in that it covers his views on why
his time in East London was unsuccessful, the reasons for the early,
mutually agreed, termination of his West Ham contract and what the future
holds for him. The following is a summary of some of the main points arising
from the interview.

GFFN posed the question, what were his memories of West Ham, were they
primarily good or bad?

Diarra's reported reply was that:

'Mixed, in all honesty, in terms of football (sportingly) it was not
positive. I learnt some things over there, I had a good relationship with
the fans, I saw the great passion surrounding this club. But personally, in
terms of football, I did not have a good record there. I arrived at a club
that didn't want me there. I was very badly advised. my philosophy and style
of play was basically incompatible with the philosophy of the manager in
place. I had to match a desired profile, which was to support to the squad,
but that was all, nothing more. I learnt nothing in terms of football
(sportingly) when I was at West Ham. I do not want to blame anyone, the
coach had his own style which he had implemented for several years. It turns
out that in the end, it was a very bad career choice for me.'

GFFN followed that up by asking, you were under contract until 2015, why did
you terminate your contract by mutual consent a year early?

Diarra was reported as replying:

'I'm a competitor and the game time that I was receiving at West Ham was not
enough. I was not satisfied in the first year. The second year I tried to
make an effort but nothing changed. I think it is for the benefit of both
parties, to terminate the deal amicably and leave on good terms; because
aside from the fact that in terms of football the deal did not work, I have
a good relationship with the club. I couldn't not stay in such a situation
any longer. I am a competitor first and foremost, I have aims to fulfil. I
did not sign for West Ham to get a good salary and sit on the bench. I want
to enjoy the remaining years of my career. I am still in very good
psychological and physical shape. It was difficult to coexist with a manager
who did not play with the same philosophy as me. We did not have the same
footballing vision. I remained profession throughout in terms of my
commitment and nobody can say otherwise. Sadly, I did not progress enough in
this team; the manager had his plans and I was not part of them.'

Asked what he thought awaited him next season, Diarra replied:

'At a footballing level, I see myself on the pitch, I see myself competing.
I would like to join a club that plays continental football if possible. If
it is not a club that plays in Europe, I will compete for that club with the
same ambition, a project and a manager who knows my qualities. That is what
I am waiting for. I am hungry to compete, because that is what I have been
missing in the last two years. I cannot wait to play every weekend and make
sure I stay at the best physical level possible. I am ready to face a new
challenge.'

GFFN concluded by asking what his aims were for next season and Diarra
responded by stating:

'First and foremost, to put myself into a club with ambition, with a real
project, where I have a role to play. The European cups have always
attracted me. Joining a club that plays in Europe is certainly part of my
aims yes. I have missed that enormously when I was at West Ham and I would
like to get that feeling again that allows me to play at a European level.
It gives teams prestige. To go to a club that is either qualifying for or
already in a European cup for me would be the best possible choice I could
make.'
There are some interesting, as well as fairly predictable responses from
Alou Diarra. What is marked by its absence is any reference to the fact that
both of Diarra's seasons with the club were characterised by prolonged
injury absence. Surely that was also an important factor determining the
outcome of his time at West Ham?

Still, what is done is done, good luck to the player in his future career.
The truth is that it is time for both the player and club (and it does cut
both ways!) to put a poor move behind them and look ahead! Lets certainly
hope that the club have learnt from it and there will be no more such
expensive transfer mistakes in future.

SJ. Chandos.

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Valencia medical starts as contract crosses globe
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 14, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Enner Valencia's switch to West Ham came a step closer today as the player
went through the first stages of his medical procedure at the club. However,
it will take up to 36-48 hours for the deal to be sealed – assuming there
are no snags or breakdowns! ClaretandHugh can reveal that the contract has
been sent the player's South American lawyers but time differences will
delay completion – or otherwise. In the meantime Valencia has had scans and
had blood tests at Chadwell Heath with a full medical booked for later aty
Holly House. Despite on line reports the deal has been done, ClaretandHugh
can reveal that there is still "some way to go."

An Upton Park insider released to us exclusively the procedure involved and
the stage we are currently at in negotiations. He said: "We are 36-48 hours
away at best given the time differences.However, we havestarted the medical
procedures today which invovle scans, blood tests and such like." "The
contract has now been sent to lawyers in South America who are five hours
behind and obviously there are discussion to take place and the normal time
taken to respond in such situations."

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West Ham plot transfer of Antonio Rudiger as this summer's sixth new arrival
Jul 14, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
Hammers have made £8m move but face competition from Porto over the
21-year-old Stuttgart defender PLUS: Latest on Enner Valencia chase
The Mirror

West Ham are keen to make £8million Antonio Rudiger their sixth signing of
the summer. We revealed back in May that the Hammers had moved for the
21-year-old Stuttgart centre-back, regarded as one of the best young players
in the Bundesliga. Rudiger's has three years left on his contract but -
despite interest from Porto, whose centre-half Eliaquim Managala is a target
for Manchester City - the player is understood to be keen to play in the
Premier League. Confirming the Londoners' move, Rudiger's agent, Uli Ferber,
said: "We know about the interest of these two clubs [Porto and West Ham].
But we leave things to VfB [Stuttgart], to who Toni is under contract."
Elsewhere, the Irons are still at least 48 hours away from sealing their
fifth signing of the summer - £12million World Cup striker Enner Valencia.
The 25-year-old Ecuador international is set to sign a five-year deal, but
first has to complete a medical. West Ham will then attempt to secure a work
permit for him. Valencia scored all three of his country's World Cup goals
in Brazil, after netting 18 times in 23 games for Mexican side Pachuca last
season. West Ham have already signed striker Mauro Zarate from Lazio,
left-back Aaron Cresswell of Ipswich and midfielders Cheikhou Kouyate
(Anderlecht) and Diego Poyet, son of Sunderland manager Gus, from Charlton
this summer.

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Guy Demel wanted by Leicester City as West Ham ponder defender's future
Newly-promoted Foxes keen on move for Ivory Coast international
Hammers considering letting Demel leave on a free transfer
West Ham closing on the signing of Ecuador star Enner Valencia
By SIMON JONES
PUBLISHED: 22:29, 14 July 2014 | UPDATED: 22:29, 14 July 2014
Daily Mail

Leicester City are keen to sign West Ham defender Guy Demel. The former
Ivory Coast international featured 33 times for the Hammers last season, but
may be allowed to leave on a free. Nigel Pearson is busy bolstering his
Foxes squad following promotion from the Championship an is lining up a move
for the 33-year-old, who has also played for Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg.
Meanwhile, West Ham are continuing talks with Pachuca about an £11million
fee for striker Enner Valencia. The 24-year-old scored twice in three games
at the World Cup for Ecuador and is close to a move to Upton Park.

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