Daily WHUFC News - 30th May 2016

Payet's France face Cameroon
WHUFC.com

Euro 2016 hosts France take on Cameroon on Monday night and Hammers star Dimitri Payet could be involved for Les Bleus. The 29-year-old was included in Didier Deschamps' European Championship squad earlier this month thanks to a collection of terrific performances for both his national and club side. Payet was named Hammer of the Year at the Boleyn Ground after a sublime debut season in English football, in which he bagged 12 goals and set up 15. His goal tally for Slaven Bilic's side included four world class free-kicks and just days after the fantastic set-piece strike against Manchester United at Old Trafford, he replicated it for France in a friendly win over Russia. Ahead of the match against Cameroon in Nantes, fans' favourite Payet said: "Of course I'll do my very best in what will be a very important tournament held by my country France, the host nation. "It has been a magnificent first year for me and looking back at the results I've had for club and country it has been really fantastic and also the individual accolades are lovely to receive. "Of course it is fantastic to receive recognition from fellow players and, on top of that, it's in the hardest league in the world so it is really a great feeling and I feel very honoured [to win Hammer of the Year]."
As hosts, France did not have to qualify for this summer's tournament and have therefore been contesting friendly matches since 2014's FIFA World Cup ended. Scoring in his country's last match – the free-kick against Russia – Payet also followed that up with an assist as France were 4-2 winners over England's fellow group stage side.
As Payet joined West Ham last summer, the Frenchman had not featured in an international match since June 2015, however as he continued to impress for the east Londoners, Deschamps could no longer ignore the midfielder. Hosts France, who face Cameroon at 8pm on Monday, will battle with Romania, Albania and Switzerland in Group A for a place in the knockout-stages of the tournament which begins on 10 June.

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Oxford looks back on breakthrough season
WHUFC.com

Defender Reece Oxford admitted he has enjoyed an amazing breakthrough season at West Ham United and expressed his delight at picking up the Young Hammer of the Year award. The centre-back made 12 first team appearances for the Hammers this season, and also led the Development Squad to U21 Premier League Cup glory as captain. The campaign for the teenager began with three UEFA Europa League games before he made his Premier League debut at title contenders Arsenal, helping the Hammers to record an opening day 2-0 victory. Looking back on the campaign, Oxford said: "It's been unbelievable. I won the Dylan Tombides award last year, so to win the Young Hammer of the Year award is unbelievable. It is a real pleasure. "I feel like my hard work has paid off now so I'm happy that I have been awarded [the award] by the Club. I didn't think I'd have moved to where I am now so quickly. "I did think I was going to push on, but I'm just happy I'm here right now doing what I'm doing. Hopefully I'll be playing week in, week out [in twelve months' time]."

Oxford's progress has been overseen by Academy Director and Head of Player Coaching and Development Terry Westley, and he believes Oxford has been nothing but outstanding this term. "He's just got one award left to win!" Westley exclaimed. "Next year he could be our Player of the Year! His progress has been exceptional this year. "It could have been one of anyone this year because the standard has been so good. Reece is the stand out player. "Anyone who is an U16 and plays every week for the U21s and is captain, and the following season plays in the first team, just shows you his progression. He fully deserves the accolade he's getting."

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Slaven Bilic NBA special - Part One
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has shared his love for the sport of basketball in a revealing two-part interview with NBA UK.

Bilic hails from the traditional European basketball powerhouse of Croatia, which has provided dozens of players to America's fabled NBA (National Basketball Association) league.

Speaking ahead of the Hammers' US Tour 2016, which will see Bilic and his squad visit Seattle, Washington and Cary, North Carolina, in July the manager told of his passion for basketball, its players and its coaches.

In Part One, the manager reveals his long-time love of the game and his respect for Croatia's greatest-ever player, the late Drazen Petrovic.

Slaven, you were born in the city of Split in the former Yugoslavia in what is now Croatia – countries which have had a great tradition in basketball…

"At one time in the 1990s when there weren't a lot of foreign players in the NBA, but at that moment there were more players from the city of Split in Croatia in the NBA than from the rest of the whole world.

"There were five or six of them, I think – Toni Kukoc, Drazen Petrovic, Dino Rada, Stojko Verankovic and Zan Tabak – from the same hometown, than from the rest of Europe.

"I was more of a football fan growing up in Yugoslavia and then, as it is now in Croatia, it was football and then basketball as the two main sports. The team from my town, Split, were three-times European champions in 1989, 1990 and 1991 with some of those future NBA players.

"We had a big basketball culture and tradition in the former Yugoslavia, it was unbelievable. Even now, Croatia is OK, Serbia and Slovenia are good and have sent a few players to the NBA.

"At that time in the late 1980s and early 1990s there were also many from Serbia at that time – Vlade Divac, Halilovic, Paspac and Peja Stojakovic with the three-pointers!

"We are a very tall people and are very good in team sports. We have three Croatian players in the NBA now – Bojan Bogdanovic with the New Jersey Nets, Mario Hezonja for Orlando Magic and Damjan Rudej with the Indiana Pacers – then they are all talking about Dario Saric who went very high in the draft in 2014 but still plays in Europe, in Turkey. We have good tradition."

You were born four years after Croatia's greatest-ever player, Drazen Petrovic, a guard who played in his homeland with Sibenka and Cibona, before rising to greatness with Real Madrid in Spain and then the NBA with the Portland Trailblazers and New Jersey Nets.

Drazen was tragically killed in a car crash in Germany at the age of 28 in 1993, but presumably you still have great memories of his career and a fabulous time in Croatian basketball…

"In 1992, we were in the Olympic final and we were leading 25-23 at one stage, but then of course the American Dream Team was much better.

"Drazen was great, because he wanted to show himself. He was unbelievable. When he died in that car crash, he was a role model of a sportsman who was so crazy about the game that he trained 24/7.

"He was such a different player when he played in Sibenka, then Sabona, then Real Madrid, Portland and New Jersey. He was skinny and all that, but he scored 62 points in the European Cup Winners Cup final for Real Madrid in 1989.

"When he died, he was on the verge and we were hoping he would become an All-Star. In Portland, he had two guards in front of him in Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter so he didn't get very many minutes, but with the Nets he really shone."

The successful San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was born in the United States to a Serb father and a Croat mother and has often talked about how important his heritage is to him. However, there has yet to be a European head coach in the NBA. Is that a situation you would like to see change?

"I never met Gregg Popovich, but I know he has Croatian roots from reading and watching interviews about that. When I was in Turkey, he came with his San Antonio Spurs to play against Fenerbahce.

"I have spoken a few times about the similarities in coaching between the two sports, but more about European basketball than NBA.

"My good friend is Neven Spahija, who was a coach in Turkey and Croatia and was Drazen Petrovic's friend. He is now an assistant coach on the staff with the Atlanta Hawks and of course there are similarities.

"There should be European coaches in the NBA. The Italian Ettore Messina was in CSKA Moscow when I was with Lokomotiv and he has been very successful, winning four Euroleague titles.

"We have good coaches in Croatia but the one who impresses me the most is Zeljko Obradovic, who is with Fenerbahce and was there when I was with Besiktas. What he has done is amazing, winning eight Euroleague titles and dozens of domestic leagues and cups.

"I don't know if there is anyone in any sport who has been so dominating. Guardiola, Ancelotti, Mourinho and Ferguson are nowhere near Obradovic – everywhere he goes, he wins!"

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Slaven Bilic NBA special - Part Two
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has shared his love for the sport of basketball in a revealing two-part interview with NBA UK.

Bilic hails from the traditional European basketball powerhouse of Croatia, which has provided dozens of players to America's fabled NBA (National Basketball Association) league.

Speaking ahead of the Hammers' US Tour 2016, which will see Bilic and his squad visit Seattle, Washington and Cary, North Carolina, in July the manager told of his passion for basketball, its players and its coaches.

In Part Two, the manager reveals his respect for legendary coach Phil Jackson and picks his all-time greatest NBA starting five...

Slaven, we talked in Part One about the similarities between coaching in football and basketball. Which NBA coaches do you look up to?

"When I was preparing myself for this job, one of the best books I ever read was Phil Jackson's book Sacred Hoop. It's unbelievable. Everything is in there about tactics, management, how to cope with Michael Jordan and the other guys, and the two ways basketball was played in the United States, college style with a one-man team and then professional style.

"He talked about how he changed that and went from one style to the other without Jordan losing his importance and used other big stars like Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman."

As in basketball, is tactical knowledge the most important coaching quality you can possess in football?

"Without tactical knowledge you can't apply for the job, but knowing that is not everything because you are dealing with people.

"As important as tactics is man-management because basically you are coping with up to 25 young athletes who have big egos because they wouldn't be there if they weren't strong characters.

"Ten or 12 of them might be unhappy to start with, but during the course of the season you will have to call on them so you have to learn how to cope with them and keep those who don't play less unhappy and motivated."

Who were your favourite players growing up?

"I was a big Utah Jazz fan, with the Mailman Karl Malone, John Stockton, Jeff Hornacek. I remember during the 1998 World Cup in France and we had beaten Jamaica in the first game, I was rooming with Robert Prosinecki who was also NBA-crazy, and we came back to the hotel at 1am and watched the famous NBA finals game against the Jazz when Michael Jordan scored the winning shot and I was gutted!

"Of course the Chicago Bulls had my fellow Croatian Toni Kukoc but I was a Jazz fan and we'd stayed up all night to watch it!

"I also loved Detroit Pistons with Rasheed Wallace and the Bulls. Now, they have Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors and he is not human! I saw Jordan and all them but what he is doing you think 'this is really not possible' because he does it whenever he wants - it's unbelievable!

"I also love Derrick Rose, and I liked Allen Iverson, who played for Besiktas in Turkey at one time!"

Slaven, it would be remiss of us not to ask you to name your all-time NBA starting five...

"Of course I would have Drazen Petrovic. The guards would be Isiah Thomas... Actually no, the guards would be John Stockton and Drazen, then the Mailman and Michael Jordan. For my big man, I'll have Toni Kukoc."

Finally, who will win the 2016 NBA Finals?

"I didn't like when LeBron James left Cleveland and now he has come back and I would like them to win it."

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Mears ready for Hammers reunion
WHUFC.com

The Hammers will be coming up against a familiar face when they play Seattle Sounders as part of their 2016 summer tour to America on Tuesday 5 July. Tyrone Mears played at the Boleyn Ground back in 2006/07 and will always remember his brief spell in east London. The 33-year-old has now made a successful switch to the United States and is enjoying his football at the Sounders who are the best-supported and most-valuable franchise team in Major League Soccer (MLS). Mears is looking forward to welcoming Premier League opposition to Seattle and knows it will be a memorable occasion when the two teams meet at CenturyLink Field. Mears said: "West Ham are a great club. When I went there they had just got to the FA Cup Final under Alan Pardew. "We had a good group of players. The one thing that stands out about West Ham is the fans support. "I know they have been talking about the move to the new Stadium and I think it is great for the club. "There is a lot of history at the old ground, but moving forward it is massive for the club and they can easily join the top four teams in the Premier League now."

West Ham will also face North American Soccer League (NASL) team Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday 12 July as part of their Stateside tour.

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I'm still improving, says Dimitri Payet
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Dimitri Payet may be hitting his 30th birthday before the 2016/17 season is complete - but still believes he can improve as a footballer. The French international, who is set to represent his country this summer at the European Championships told 442 magazine that his career had taken a major upturn in the last two years - his last at Merseille and his first with West Ham. And he fully expects to continue his progression with United at the Olympic Stadium. "It's true that the last two years have been the best [of my career], but I still hope to progress," he said. "You can always learn and I work hard to be able to raise my level."
Payet, who was named as the KUMB.com Player of the Year earlier this month also laughed off reports of a move away from the club. "Journalists have placed me everywhere!" he said. "But I currently have no contact [with any other club] and I signed a very long contract with West Ham - so it is very likely that I'll still be here next season."

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West Ham's Champions League pedigree
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe last night as they beat Atletico Madrid in a tense penalty shootout to claim the Champions League title in Milan. Following 120 minutes of football, spot kicks were required to separate the two Spanish clubs and Cristiano Ronaldo struck the winning penalty shortly before midnight to win Real their 11th European Cup/Champions League title. And although West Ham have never qualified for the competition in their history (thanks this season to some dreadful refereeing), United have produced more Champions League finalists than any other English club - bar Manchester United. According to an article for Bwin, West Ham's three home-grown Champions League finalists - Frank Lampard (who represented Chelsea in 2011's all-English Final), Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick (Man Utd) - have only been beaten by the Red Devils with six (Nicky Butt, Paul Scholes, Wes Brown, David Beckham, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs). And even Arsenal, who appeared in the Final back in 2005/06 when they were comfortably beaten by Barcelona have only produced two players to feature in the big game (Ashley and Andy Cole) - the same number as clubs such as Dinamo Zagreb, Cesena and Montenegro's FK Buducnost Podgorica.
All in all, just 26 clubs have produced more than one player to feature in the Champions League final - with Barcelona topping the lot having prodcued nine players from their Academy (Valdes, Puyol, Pique, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Pedro and Garcia).

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Clyde Best autobiography due soon
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th May 2016
By: Staff Writer

Clyde Best, one of the first black players to represent West Ham United will tell the story of his fascinating journey in a new book coming out later this year.

The as-yet-untitled retrospective looks back at Best's career as a professional player in both the UK and abroad, plus his subsequent career as a football administrator.

And by way of a little bonus to Hammers fans, publishers deCoubertin Books are asking supporters to send in questions for the big man which will appear in the book's appendix.

If you'd like to see your question appear in the final publication, simply visit the following thread on the KUMB Forum and post it there. (Please note that whilst all questions will be considered for publication, space may preclude some from being used.)

He became part of the first black triumverate - alongside Clive Charles and Ade Coker - to feature in a top-flight English team when West Ham beat Tottenham 2-0 on April Fools' Day 1972

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DG hits out at Spurs digs
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 28, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has again hit out at crazy complaints that West Ham are ripping off taxpayers in the Olympic Stadium deal. DG becomes more heated on the subject than any other and once again has slammed those who have been taking a pop on Twitter. Tottenham have reached a deal to play their Champions League home games at Wembley next season. The Premier League club also has the option to play all home league and cup matches, as well as any European games, at the national stadium during the 2017-18 campaign. Spurs are having a new £400m stadium built next to their existing White Hart Lane ground.
And following the news a Tottenham twitter account commented: "Why are West Ham fans angered? #THFC are paying for Wembley out their own pocket, unlike #WHUFC where taxpayers are paying for their stadium." That immediately started the fur flying and DG immediately reacted: "THFC are paying rent for Wembley out of their own pockets. WHUFC are paying rent for OS out of their own pockets. dg"

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Olympic Bell re-installed next to Iron's new home
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 30, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

The £1million Olympic bell has been re-installed in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park just outside the stadium in Champions place. The bell will never toll again due to concerns it is so loud that it will disturb residents living nearby.

The Olympic Bell was commissioned and cast for the 2012 London Olympic Games, and is the largest harmonically-tuned bell in the world.The bell is cast in bronze and is two metres high with a diameter of 3.34 metres, and weighs 22.91 tonnes.

The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, a few miles from the Olympic Stadium, was commissioned to make the bell in 2011.

The bell has the lowest tone in the world – a sound that can be heard for miles around – and was first rung by Sir Bradley Wiggins during the £27million Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2012.

The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) paid to re-install the 23-ton bell, however, it will be purely ornamental as it is feared that the sound would be so loud that it would be totally unbearable for anyone living in the area.

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Majority of stewards will move to the OS
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 30, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Claret and Hugh understands that 138 West Ham stewards from the Boleyn Ground are registered to carry on working at the former Olympic Stadium, 53 of whom are already working at the new Stadium stewarding previous non-football events.

While some stewards have opted not to transfer when they were told that their location within the stadium could not be guaranteed sources close to the club say the vast majority have registered.

We have been told that the club went to huge lengths to ensure that every steward who wanted to transfer to the new Stadium was able to do so with minimum difficulty, and the large majority have done so. That process started six months before the end of the season, with letters and emails sent to every single steward.

Six meetings were held for them to talk them through that process on match days so that everyone would know they were happening and be able to attend. Individual meetings were offered to every member of staff.

The stewards will be employed by event management company OCS and French stadium operators London Stadium 185 and all costs will be covered by the stadium owners E20 Stadium LLP.

If you were a West Ham steward who decided against moving to the new stadium we would like to hear from you at mrwesthamfootball@gmail.com to hear your story.

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Hammers linked with Juventus bid
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 30, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham has again been linked again with Roberto Pereyra from Juventus. Italian football website, Tuttosport claims West Ham have actually made an offer for the Argentine playmaker.

They suggest the Hammers have made a €15 million (£11.4 million) bid for the player.

The midfielder joined Juventus from Udinese in 2014, initially on loan, and the deal was made permanent last summer for a fee of around €14m, after an outstanding debut season for Juventus with 52 appearances, six goals and four assist he failed to live up to expectations last season racking up only 14 appearances and one assist. A couple of injuries have undermined his consistency but the Argentinean has never proved to be at the same level of the previous campaign this season.

Juventus are ready to listen to any offers and Italian press say West Ham are the club in pole position to sign the 25-year-old midfielder. Pereyra has earned ten international caps for Argentine and has a contract until 2020 with Juventus.

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DG confirms an iconic move
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 30, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

David Gold has confirmed that the famous World Cup statue will be taken to our new home in Stratford.

Several Twitter followers were concerned that the iconic statue (pictured above) would be left behind but Mooro and the boys will be given a place of honour with the OS.

Commenting on Twitter the co chairman said: "The World Cup statue will becoming with us to the new stadium. dg"

The work is a one-and-a-half times life-size bronze piece, 16 feet (4.9 m) tall and weighing four tonnes and has stood at the junction of Barking Road and Green Street since 2003.

At the time it was unveiled Paul Hayward, writing in The Telegraph described it as "stunning", and that it "radiates golden light and transforms a mundane road junction into a shrine both to England's finest hour and West Ham's contribution to the game in these isles"

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Take Payet at his word!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 30, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Footballers don't necessarily have the final say over their destiny.

The club which may be after them, or the one by which they are currently employed , plus agents , family, friends and an army of conflictng emotions can influence a major decison.

So when a major star declares that "it's very likely" he will be with his club the following season you can normally take that as meaning exactly what it says.

That's why I was entirely unperturbed by Dimi Payet's choice of words when asked the qustion whilst away preparing for duty at Euro '16.

Some were worried that he didn't give a catergorical "I'm staying" declaration but how can he? The matter can always be taken out of his hands should a massive bid be made – IT HASN'T !

Payet was trying to tell everyone exactly that – a position ClaretandHugh can confirm – and that he is ready to enjoy the summer tournament and return to the Irons ready for action.

We spoke to a major Hammers source immediately following Dimi's words in a press conference and were told: "There have been no inquries or bids. He is our player on a new deal and is all set for another big season.

"He is key to everything that is happening at this club and the manager has already made it clear he helps other players perform. We have no interntion of selling him."

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Irons move in on Danish striker
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 29, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham are understood to be in for Toulouse striker Martin Braithwaite whose 12 goals played a major part in keeping the French club up this season.

And the goals came despite him figuring mainly in a wide role.

Braithwaite has a year left on his contract and the Irons have been scouting him throughout last season after he was told he'd be allowed to leave if the club stayed up.

He is represented by agent Mark McKay with whom the Hammers have a close relationship and the agent commented: 'Martin has fulfilled his part of the promise he made to Toulouse and now wants to take his career to the next level in the Premier League. It is an exciting opportunity for him.

This is not the major signing the Hammers are looking to ae this summer but it is in in line with their vlue for money policy which could see him come to the club for as little as £4milion – which is beleived to be their latest offer.

De facto Director of Football David Sullivan insists the " pack will be shaken up this summer" and should Enner Valencia leave as a result for around £10 million the club will see that as great business.

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This agent's name marks the Irons spot
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 29, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H

The fact that agent Mark McKay is being quoted on a Hammers move for Toulouse striker Martin Braithwaite means the story reported here earlier can be trusted.

His name marks the spot when Hammers transfers are under the microscope.

McKay was the guy involved in the move which brough Dimi Payet to West Ham and at the time he was famously quoted as claiming that had his company not been involved it could have cost the Irons around £25 million instead of the £10 plus ultimately paid.

The young man is the son of controversial Willie McKay who was involved in much, often adverse publicity, in the 80s and 90s.

However, young Mark has become one of David Sullivan's most trusted agents – hardly surprising given the Payet coup.

And at this time of the year – with so may ridiculous stories doing the rounds – the name McKay alongside a Hammers related story is a good guide to its authenticity.

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MANCHESTER UNITED LODGE OFFICIAL BID FOR OXFORD!
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 30 MAY 2016 AT 9:37AM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

We can exclusively confirm (through ExWHUEmployee's sources) that Manchester United have lodged an official bid for highly rated youngster Reece Oxford. There has been a lot of speculation in the press about this and we can reveal that an official offer in the region of £15m has arrived at the club for Bilic to consider. This proves a tricky problem for the manager to face. The club had offered Reece a new deal but his agent has been gunning for more money and the terms have not been signed. Manchester United and their new manager Jose Mourinho are long term admirers of the talented youngster. Mourinho thinks that Oxford could be a perfect short term replacement for Michael Carrick or equally be able to slot into the defence (his natural position) this season especially in the Europa League.

Oxford has two years remaining on his current terms and it will be up to the manager Slaven Bilic to agree to the move. He faces having an unhappy youngster should he reject it (unless a change of heart happens) or he faces losing a highly talented youngster who will no doubt be a regular international player in a few years time. Should the bid be accepted this would bring better news for the likes of James Tomkins and Reece Burke who will see their major competition for a place leave the club and make their futures more secure.

Whatever happens with this deal and others make sure you check regularly with the West Ham Way and our ITK team for exclusive breaking transfer news. We have seen many websites and national newspaper claim our news as their own, we would urge you to quote the site as we seek legal advice on this matter.

As a site we hope that Oxford will chose to stay at the club as he has a great future, as do we as a club and the gulf between us and Manchester United is no longer as great as it used to be.

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HAMMERS OFFER VAN DER WIEL A CONTRACT
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 28 MAY 2016 AT 4:57PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

AS Roma, AS Monaco and West Ham United have all submitted formal offers to PSG right-back Gregory van der Wiel, who is a free agent at the end of next month.

It is GFFN's understanding that the player has yet to make a decision on his future, unsure as to where to go next.

Publicly, Mino Raiola remains the player's agent, but privately the relationship between Raiola and van der Wiel is understood to be at breaking point, the two individuals having had a large difference of opinion concerning the two contract extension offers that PSG made for the player over the course of the last 18 months.

Time is on van der Wiel side, what is certain is that he will make his own decision, with or without Raiola on his side.

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WEST HAM MAKE OFFER TO FENERBAHCE STAR?
BY BRIAN KNOX ON 28 MAY 2016 AT 5:08PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

Fenerbahce full-back Gokhan Gonul has received Premier League interest according to his agent Ahmet Bulut. Bulut stated: "Other than Besiktas there have been five offers which have come from England and Spain." Besiktas have been closely linked with Gonul but Bulut underlined that an agreement has not been reached. Bulut also confirmed that he will not hold talks with Fenerbahce over extending the contract of Gonul. The experienced Turkish international full-back is available on a free transfer after the Yellow Canaries failed to extend his deal.

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