Daily WHUFC News - 30th March 2016

Paolo's emotional return
WHUFC.com

Paolo Di Canio admits it was an honour for him to come back for Mark Noble's Testimonial and hopes the talented midfielder can play another 400 games for West Ham United. Di Canio was one of a number of former heroes who returned to the Boleyn Ground to pay tribute to Noble who has spent 12 years with the east London Club and made over 350 appearances. The Italian forward has a special love affair with the West Ham supporters and received a hero's welcome as he made his final appearance on the famous Boleyn Ground pitch. Di Canio has nothing but admiration for the way Noble has stayed loyal to the Hammers and feels he can achieve even bigger things under Slaven Bilic over the next few years. Di Canio: "If you can call anyone a legend then he is the one. He has dedicated so much to the club and it is obvious that it has been an honour and a privilege for him to play for West Ham. "I am happy that he called me to participate in this big day and I hope he can keep going and play another 400 games for this club and pick up some trophies. "We are all sad that we are leaving this monument (the Boleyn Ground) but the Club moves on and it will give a different dimension to help them win something more often. "If you support West Ham you need to have a strong heart but this is the time that this Club starts to win things more often and the fans can enjoy it more. "I am sure with Bilic and his methodology that they can achieve something special. It is the perfect combination. "We have got to take it step-by-step. We have got one game to reach Wembley and then we have two games to do something special for everyone, including myself. We are waiting for this."

Di Canio has nothing but praise for the West Ham supporters and feels part of the family when he makes a return to east London. The Hammers legend enjoyed four memorable years at the Boleyn Ground where he enjoyed so many magical moments. Di Canio insists he will always have a special bond with the Hammers fans and will never forget his spell at West Ham. Di Canio added: "It is obvious that I feel at home when I come back here. I live in Italy but I miss them every day and this is a special occasion when all the fans are here. "They still make me feel welcome with their warmth and attitude. That is special for me, even if it is just a friendly game. They sing my name and they do it because they believe in it. "I gave my all for this club, my soul and heart, but what I get back is much bigger. It is sometimes too much for me! "But I thank them because the relationship is still very strong and I am part of this family."

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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com

The Boleyn Insider brings you exclusive insight into the behind-the-scenes goings on at the Boleyn Ground.

There has been continued speculation in recent weeks regarding the Club's search for a new striker as West Ham prepare to make their historic move into the new Stadium during the summer. With the prospect of European football next season a distinct possibility, Slaven Bilic and the Board are aiming high as they look to bring in even more quality signings so they can challenge once again at the top of the table. Fresh reports in the last 24 hours have suggested the Hammers are close to making a move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic. My understanding is that the Club have explored the option of signing the former Milan and Barcelona striker, but there is zero chance of a deal happening.
I have been told that the Board admire him as a player, but his contract would be out of all proportion to the wages earned by anybody at the Club or any player in the Premier League. There has been a lot of speculation linking the Hammers with moves for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi and Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette. My sources have told me that they are just two of a dozen potential strikers that the Board are looking at and the list will be reduced to two or three names by the end of the season. Once the transfer window re-opens they will be ready to make their move for the striker they want.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United

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Payet enjoying 'fairy tale' season
WHUFC.com

Birthday boy Dimitri Payet put his successful return to international duty down to his 'fairy tale' first season with West Ham United.

The outstanding playmaker, who turned 29 on Tuesday, made his first France appearance in nine months in Friday's 3-2 friendly win in the Netherlands, where he was involved in two goals.

Payet told the French Football Federation website that his fine performance were the result of how much he is enjoying his football at the Hammers.

Now, he is hoping that his consistently superb displays will translate into a place in Didier Deschamps' final 23-man squad for Euro 2016, which will be played in his homeland this summer.

"It's true that I'm in the best period of my career," said the No27. "I'm living out a fairy tale with my Club and if that could translate itself into selection [for Euro 2016] that would be marvellous. I'm going to work to ensure that my best years are still ahead of me."

Aside from feeling comfortable in a Claret and Blue shirt, Payet also said he returned to France duty with a new, more relaxed approach to both his life and his football.

With eleven goals and ten assists to his name for his Club, the Reunion-born star readily admits he is in the form of his life.

On Good Friday, his new approach was rewarded with an eye-catching 90 minutes against the Dutch, and Payet will be looking to mark his birthday with another top performance against Russia at the Stade de France - as he has done for West Ham all season.

"I was already happy to return to [the French national training centre] Clairefontaine, after a long period of absence," explained Payet, who has two goals in 16 caps for Les Bleus. "I've had a good week and trained well. And I don't think it went too badly in terms of the [Netherlands] match.

"It's one of my most successful [performances for France]. Where it's particularly satisfying is to have had the same variety in the game, the same effectiveness as with my Club. I began this meet with no pressure and it's been rather successful."

France host Russia in Paris on Tuesday evening at 8pm BST, before taking on Romania, Albania and Switzerland on home turf at Euro 2016.

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West Ham want to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic from PSG, says David Sullivan
By Jefferson Lake
Last Updated: 29/03/16 11:08am
SSN

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed the club want to sign Zlatan Ibrahimovic from Paris Saint-Germain this summer. The Sweden international has confirmed he will leave France when his contract expires at the end of the season and that there has been interest in him from the Premier League. Ibrahimovic has never played in England before and Sullivan hopes to tempt him to West Ham on a free transfer, although he revealed the club is considering making offers for players already in the Premier League. "We have a list of strikers all over Europe and most of our money will go into signing a striker," Sullivan told talkSPORT. "That is the plan for next season. "I'd love Ibrahimovic from PSG but whether he'd come to us I don't know. I know he's 34 and he's a fantastic player. "There are a number of top Premier League players we may be bidding for, top goalscorers, but I can't name them. I can't comment on players from other teams. "The squad we have at West Ham now is the best we've had in six years, by a long, long way. We will be adding to that squad in the summer and hopefully we'll be a bit better next year."

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Bon anniversaire, Dimi
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 29th March 2016
By: Staff Writer

Happy West Ham United's Dimitri Payet was treated to a special birthday surprise this lunchtime as he and his team mates prepare for the visit of Russia. The French are scheduled to play in Paris tonight for the first time since terrorist attacks disrupted their last home fixture against Germany back in November. And the sombre mood was briefly lifted when West Ham's Payet and fellow French international, Leicester's N'Golo Kante, were presented with a dual birthday cake ahead of tonight's friendly with Russia.

For Payet, it will be his second appearance for the French national team since returning to the fold having previously fallen out with national team coach Didier Deschamps. West Ham's #27 featured heavily in France's 3-2 win against the Netherlands in Amsterdam last Friday night, playing a part in the winning goal and hitting the post earlier on.

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Ravel honours Nobes
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 29, 2016 in News
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Ravel Morrison has sent a heartfelt message to Mark Noble after failing to appear in the captain's testimonial yesterday. He didn't explain his absence but in an Instagram message said: "Was a honor to play with you & today is your day a day you deserve. "What a Great footballer & what an amazing person you are I hope you have a wicked day. "I'm so Gutted I can not be there and play and spend some time with you Guys. "I hope one day we play together on the same team again God bless love & respect."

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AC makes Irons ambition clear
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 29, 2016 in News]
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Andy Carroll has made it clear the squad is targeting the Champions League. With Saturday's game against Palace almost demanding three points as the Hammers keep up their charge AC said: "We want a top four spot. "We'll have to concentrate game by game and see how it goes, I'm really looking forward to it, keeping myself fit. The team are doing very well right now." Meanwhile, a total of half a million pounds is believed to have been raised for the DT38 Foundation, Help For Heroes and Richard House Children's Hospice from Mark Noble's Testimonial.

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Board waits for Slav's summer target list
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on March 29, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham's board will await Slaven Bilic's summer shopping list before making any moves into the transfer mrket. Despite admitting having a list of around a dozen possible striker targets the manager is expected to soon supply his priority list. David Sullivan has admitted he like Zlatan Ibrahimovac in a talkSport interview and Christian Benteke is known to be another player the chairman admires. But it's not until Slaven gives the word that any meaningful moves will be made as has always been the case with the club's managers. Discussing the various names that have been thrown into the ring last night co chairman David Gold said: " There is no problem discussing the various names but it's all about Slaven and what he decides. We are still waiting to see his priority list. "The board will await that and take things from there as has always been the case. There is no rush and we will see what Slaven requires and go from there. "The manager is obviously the key person in this process."

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Tombides moving tribute to brother
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 29, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Former Hammer Taylor Tombides has paid a moving tribute to his late brother Dylan after scoring a deft chip during West Ham All Stars' 5-6 defeat to West Ham XI in Mark Noble's testimonial match on Easter Monday. His act bought a lump to the throat to the 35,000 capacity crowd as well as the hundreds of thousands watching live on TV. Dylan Tombides, tragically died at age 20 from testicular cancer in 2014 while still a West Ham player. In his memory, younger brother Taylor pointed to the sky after he scored the All Stars' fifth goal five minutes before the end of the match. The DT38 Foundatio is one of West Ham's official charities and directly benefited from the testimonial yesterday. Dylan's considerable legacy is now to be channelled through DT38, a new Foundation which is setting out to provide testicular cancer support and awareness through education and opportunity. DT38 becomes the Club's second official charity for the 2014/15 campaign, alongside the West Ham United Moore Family Foundation. With the overall goal of changing the way in which testicular cancer is diagnosed, DT38 is starting out with the following four primary objectives:

To fundraise for chosen charities that deliver services linked to DT38 Foundation's overall vision.
To drive the awareness campaign for the prevention of testicular cancer
To focus on the education of youngsters through sports and school communities
To provide opportunities linked to 38 fun and accessible activities within football and the West Ham community

You can contact the Dylan Tombides foundation or make a donation here http://dt38.co.uk/

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Payet's supersub wonder Free-kick for France
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 29, 2016 in Videos, Whispers
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Dimitri Payet has just scored this free-kick for France. He only just got subbed on! World class.

pic.twitter.com/C0AxcTBNKL
- Uber West Ham (@UberWestHam) March 29, 2016

62 minutes Dimitri Payet replaces Antoine Griezmann for France

64 minutes Dimitri Payet scores this amazing free-kick for France.

His goal put France 3-1 up although the score is currently France 3 Russia 2

Video credit: @UberWestHam

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£12m boost for OS Corporate Hospitality
Posted by Sean Whetstone on March 29, 2016 in News, Whispers
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As well as selling out season tickets at the former Olympic Stadium, West Ham has sold out each and every corporate entertainment seat at the new stadium, all 3,600 of them!
The club insisted corporate members commit for three years which is scheduled to bring in around £36m of revenue over the next three years or around £11.9m per season.
West Ham has increased the number of corporate seats in the Olympic Stadium compared to 2,700 in the Boleyn Ground which is spread over 700 people in 68 executive boxes and a further 2,000 in corporate lounges such as the Legends lounge.
Claret and Hugh understand these to be Olympic Stadium Hospitality Packages.
BM6 Lounge £10,000 a season with a 10-year commitment (100 person capacity)
Revenue: £1m per annum and £3m over 3 years
Arnold Hills - Joining Fee £1,500 Monthly Payments £408 - 3 year term, cost per season £4,896 (300 person capacity) Revenue: £4.86m over 3 years
Royal East - Joining Fee £1500 Monthly Payments £384 - 3 year term, cost per season £4,608 (300 person capacity) Revenue: £4.53m over 3 years
Forge Lounge - Joining Fee £900 Monthly Payments £288 - 3 year term, cost per season £3,456 (300 person capacity) Revenue: £3.38m over 3 years
Great Briton - Joining Fee £900 Monthly Payments £264 - 3 year term, cost per season £3,168 (400 person capacity) Revenue: £4.16m over 3 years
Academy bar - joining fee £600 Monthly payments of £144 - 3 year term, cost per season £1,728 (1000 person capacity) Revenue: £5.78m over 3 years
Boleyn Bar - Joining fee £600 Monthly payments of £168 - 3 year term, cost per season £2,016 (1000 person capacity) Revenue: £6.64m over 3 years
There are sixteen executive boxes each holding a maximum of ten people. These cost around £70,000 per season. (160 person capacity) Revenue: £3.36m over 3 years.
Total Corporate Capacity equates to 3,560 which generates a total income of around £11.9m per season or £35.71m of revenue over the three-year commitment.
Earlier we revealed that ticket sales are set to increase from £20m per season to nearly £32.5m, this adds almost £12m on top of that so an estimated £44.5m per season will come from tickets and corporate hospitality.

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West Ham close in on £2.4m deal for Toni Martinez as club holds talks with Valencia
Valencia want a buy-back option for their young striker Toni Martinez
He has played for the second string and UEFA Youth League side this term
The 18-year-old is understood to have already chosen a move to West Ham
By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 11:58, 29 March 2016 | UPDATED: 12:27, 29 March 2016

West Ham are in talks with Valencia over a £2.4million deal for youngster Toni Martinez. Valencia want a buy-back option for the forward who has figured for their second string and UEFA Youth League side this season. The 18-year-old, who can play on the left or as a centre forward, has made eight appearances in UEFA Youth League, making three assists and scoring one goal.
He was in the Valencia side that lost to Chelsea controversially on penalties last month. Martinez, who has been capped by Spain at Under 19 level, is understood to have already chosen the move to London and said farewell to his team-mates, though finer details are still to be agreed. Martinez, who turns 19 in June, has scored over 100 goals in the last four seasons for Valencia's youth teams.

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Hammers Recruiting Early From La Liga
Submitted by nevillenixon on Tue, 29/03/2016 - 12:37
WestHamFans.org

According to Spain based Radio Taronja and a whole stack of media outlets, West Ham United have agreed a deal to sign Valencia youngster Toni Martinez this summer, the 18-year-old will reportedly move to East London for a fee between £1.9 million and £2.3 million with Valencia insisting on a comprehensive first option buy back clause and a sell on fee believed to be as much as 25% should they decide not to exercise the buy back. Martinez is a centre forward who is yet to make his debut for Valencia's first-team, featuring nine times for their second string side to date, he has been a prolific scorer at youth level and is seen as 'one for the future'. A slight word of caution, Freddie Sears scored goals for fun at youth level but came up short when it came to making the progression to the full team, he ended up having to drop down several levels before finally working his way back up to a promising career at Ipswich Town in the Championship. At around £ 2.5 Million Martinez appears to be worth a punt, and given West Ham's recent track record of finding bargains in the transfer market is a move that could only happen if sanctioned by the canny Davids Sullivan and Gold. All the current media coverage about West Ham, most of it positive, has raised the club's profile and with that comes the possibility of 'big hitters' arriving at the Boleyn, but while all the talk of sinking most of the transfer budget available into one expensive 20 goal a season striker might seem confirmation of West Ham's financial muscle and a rise to within touching distance of the Barclay's Premier League's higher echelons, it might strike fear in to supporters with long memories who remember only to painfully the fanfare that surrounded the arrival of great players who were never actually able to deliver as a result of injury and bad luck, to name a few Stuart Robson, Julien Faubert, Don Huchison, and not forgetting Dean Ashton, who showed in a cameo during Mark Noble's testimonial just how great he could have been.
If a big money striker is signed this summer, would it then herald the departure of Andy Carroll? Perhaps Slaven Billic sees the big man as his impact sub, £80,000 per week is a lot of money to pay for a part time performer, but today's ridiculously inflated football salaries make that wage look a bit of a bargain, it may be hard to take in, but this is the 'new way' and it appears the powers that be at West Ham have taken the reality of the new way on board and are determine not to be caught out by using old logic too much, of course that doesn't mean they will go hell for leather with this summer's budget, but they won't be afraid to put their hands in their pockets either. - Ed

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Exclusive: West Ham set for £1billion income as Olympic Stadium move begins to pay off
BOOMING West Ham are on course for a gold rush that is set to be worth at least £1billion.
By COLIN MAFHAM
PUBLISHED: 09:30, Sun, Mar 27, 2016 | UPDATED: 10:39, Sun, Mar 27, 2016

West Ham could yet start their first season in the Olympic Stadium with Champions League football. The £200million a season they expect to make after moving into the Olympic Stadium next season will buy them a seat alongside the biggest and richest clubs in the world. And barring unforeseen disasters - and bumper transfer payouts - they are likely to have that £1billion to play with by 2021. Although at least £30million is already earmarked for a new striker in the summer, West Ham are just five months away from jumping aboard a gravy train that will transform their fortunes in one fell swoop. Full details of the deal with the London Legacy Development Corporation have yet to be revealed, but the benefits to the Hammers are certain to dwarf the basic £15million a season rent they have agreed to pay to play at the new stadium for the next 99 years. That includes almost £100million they are guaranteed from the season's TV payout to each Premier League club. As every home match now looks like being sold out there will also be at least another £54million to be banked over the season. All that comes on top of the £20million Galliard and Barratt Homes have paid for the right to build 700 apartments on the sight of the old Boleyn Ground. Meanwhile, worldwide marketing plans and stadium spin-off commercial ventures will propel the Hammers into a market previously dominated by giants like Manchester United and City and Real Madrid and Barcelona. There will be another £2million plus if they go on to win the FA Cup in May. Even though the Hammers will have to pay extra if they finish in the top 10 of the Premier League and qualify for Europe the fact that they will be excused heating and lighting costs as well as wages for turnstile operators and cleaners also increases the club's potential profits. West Ham's windfall has, however, spared the LLDC and the Government the embarrassment of having an expensive white elephant on their hands. It is costing an incredible £272million to make the stadium - the largest of its kind in the world - fit for football, £40million of which is being provided by the local Newham Council, with another £25million from the Government and £15million from West Ham. UK Athletics, who were supposed to be the major beneficiaries of the stadium, have chipped in with a modest £1million. All of which made West Ham vice chairman Karren Brady a very happy lady when she announced plans for 6,000 more season tickets last week. She said: "Next season looks bright for the team, the club and our fans. "We will have one of the world's greatest new stadiums which will have the quality and capacity to match our ambitions."

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West Ham star: This is what we want before moving to the Olympic Stadium
ANDY CARROLL has revealed West Ham are desperate to secure Champions League football for next season.
By LIAM SPENCE
PUBLISHED: 11:04, Tue, Mar 29, 2016 | UPDATED: 11:21, Tue, Mar 29, 2016

Andy Carroll and his West Ham team-mates are targeting a Champions League spot for next season. The Hammers currently occupy fifth place in the Premier League and are just one point behind Manchester United with eight games remaining in the season. West Ham's unexpected rise has came thanks to a rich vein of form with the likes of Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini helping fire Slaven Bilic's side towards a spot among the European elite for next season. And Carroll admits he and his team-mates are determined to claim a top-four spot ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium next season. "We all want a top-four spot," he told the Daily Mirror. "We'll have to concentrate game-by-game and see how it goes. I'm really looking forward to it, keeping myself fit. "The team are doing very well right now," Carroll added. The 27-year-old has endured yet another injury-hit season at West Ham, making just seven starts this season.
However, he will be hoping he can keep himself fit for the run-in, which sees the Hammers host Crystal Palace following the international break before crucial tests against Arsenal, Manchester United and Leicester.

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