Date set for new Stadium Premier League opener WHUFC.come
West Ham United's first ever Premier League game at the Club's magnificent new Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park against AFC Bournemouth will take place on Sunday 21 August at 4pm. The Cherries will visit east London a day later than originally scheduled after the fixture changes for August and September were announced. If you are not a Season Ticket Holder, becoming a Claret Member is the best way of giving yourself the chance to be there for the opening league game. Membership is priced at just £40 adults and £25 under-16s and gives you priority on tickets for matches at our new Stadium, saves you money on booking fees, gives access to exclusive retail offers, a gift pack and much more. Click here to become a Member now. Meanwhile, the Club's opening Premier League game – a mouthwatering London derby at Chelsea, will now be played on Monday 15 August with an 8pm kick-off.
Other matches to change dates in the opening two months of the season are the trip to Manchester City, which is now set for Sunday 28 August at 4pm and the home match against Southampton, scheduled for Sunday 25 September at 4pm.
Please note that the away match at Manchester United, due to be played on Saturday 26 November, will move dates when the broadcast selections for November are made, due to the Red Devils' involvement in the Group Stages of the UEFA Europa League.
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Bilic - Nobody was injured
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic explained that fitness was more important than performance following West Ham United's 3-0 US Tour defeat at Seattle Sounders. The Hammers created plenty of chances at CenturyLink Field, only for decisive finishing from American international forwards Herculez Gomez and Jordan Morris to make the difference in front of a 38,585-strong crowd.
With his players only returning to pre-season training on 30 June, Bilic openly admitted prior to the game that he was worried about their fitness, but thankfully all 21 who featured in the Pacific Northwest came through unscathed. "OK a game is a game and in every game the result is important, but basically we only started training a few days ago and we are in the process of hard training, so for me the most important thing was to get through without anyone being injured and make it a good training," the manager told the media at his post-match press conference. "It was maybe a bit too early to run long distances on a big pitch, so we tried to avoid those long distances by keeping a good shape and keeping the ball, but in the second half the game was stretched all over the pitch, which is excellent in the end if nobody gets injured. "Nobody got injured, so in that regard I am quite pleased, but of course the result tempered that. In the end, it was a good training exercise and we will gain fitness from this game."
West Ham may have been beaten, but there were reasons to be happy, not least the performances of debutants Sofiane Feghouli and Antonio Martinez, who both came within a whisker of opening their accounts. Bilic also paid tribute to the Sounders, who showed ability and determination to overcome an English Premier League side for the first time in their history.
Sigi Schmid's side may not be having their best season in the MLS, but the best-supported team in the United States still possess players of international class in the shape of Austria striker Andreas Ivanschitz, goalscorer and US attackers and goalscorers Herculez Gomez and Jordan Morris. "They are good team in a good championship, and by the end they were in better form and better shape," the manager observed. "They have got good players from Europe, from the Bundesliga, and of course they have Clint Dempsey, even if he didn't play. "They had players who were really up for it, like the striker who came on. He's a good player and their leading scorer from the left wing. They were a solid, compact team and this is the MLS and we expected it, to be fair."
Next up for the Hammers is the second and final fixture of the US Tour at NASL side Carolina RailHawks on Tuesday 12 July.
West Ham kick-off the Premier League season at Chelsea on Saturday 13 August.
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Payet set for semi-final showdown
WHUFC.com
They will be sharing the pitch in Marseille, and they even share a song, but one thing is for certain; there will be no love lost between Hammers star Dimitri Payet and Arsenal's Mesut Ozil on Thursday. The pair will come to blows in the second UEFA Euro 2016 semi-final when hosts France take on world champions Germany and both playmakers will be desperate to come out on top. The West Ham midfielder has starred in France since the first match of the tournament, scoring spectacularly on three occasions, while Ozil has been important cog in the powerful German machine. It would be the third time this season, should France conquer their German counterparts, that Payet has got the better of Ozil – the 29-year-old picked up the coveted London Footballer of the Year award in March ahead of the Gunners man. That came after Payet had helped the Hammers – in his first ever Premier League game – to victory over Arsene Wenger's side, containing Ozil, at the Emirates in August. Payet's stunner against Romania in the opening match at this summer's Euros cemented his position in Didier Deschamps' starting XI, and he hasn't let his boss down; crackers against Albania and in the 5-2 quarter-final thrashing of Iceland have ensured that. But it's fair to say France have not been properly tested yet. They breezed through knockout-round ties against the Republic of Ireland and Iceland and won two of their three group fixtures. There is no doubt, though, Germany will provide the test that the French have not yet faced; Joachim Low's team beat a strong Italian side in the quarter-final, albeit on penalties, and have conceded just one goal in the entire tournament so far. Ozil himself scored in the Italy tie, but France legend Bixente Lizarazu backed Hammer Payet to come out on top. He said: "Six months ago, Payet wasn't in the squad. It's incredible what he's done. He has played world-class games."
The winners of the eagerly-awaited clash will face Portugal, who beat James Collins' Wales 2-0 in the Lyon semi-final on Wednesday night
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New venue for Shrimpers' friendly
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad's friendly with Southend United will now take place at Great Wakering Rover FC's Burroughs Park ground. The pre-season fixture, set for 3pm on Saturday 23 July, was originally set for the Shrimper's Roots Hall stadium. The match is one of six pre-season friendlies that Terry Westley's U21 Premier League Cup champions will play before the start of the competitive calendar. Opening their pre-season preparations with an away fixture with Chelmsford City on Friday 15 July, the young Hammers will also face Peterborough United, FC Eindhoven, VVV Venlo and Chelsea U21. Make sure you check whufc.com and follow our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for exclusive features, information and match coverage of all the Development Squad's fixtures.
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Nobes – It was a good workout
WHUFC.com
Despite defeat for the Hammers against Seattle Sounders in their opening pre-season fixture, Club captain Mark Noble confirmed that the clash was a good workout. Slaven Bilic's side were beaten 3-0 by the MLS outfit, as two goals from Jordan Morris came after Herculez Gomez had given Sounders a first half lead. The Hammers, who were facing Seattle after just two days back in training, lined up with wholly different selections in both periods, as Bilic made ten changes at the break. But Noble, who was West Ham's first half skipper, claimed the match was a useful tie for the players as they look to build their fitness ahead of the 2016/17 season. He said: "It's good for us to come here at this time of the year because the MLS are already mid-season. They're really fit and game-ready and we've only had two days training after six weeks' holiday. To be fair, we knew it would be tough, as we've had only two days training but it was a great workout for us and we can't thank Seattle enough for putting on a game for us. "I've never played a game on astroturf like that before either, but it seemed really soft and the game wasn't too strenuous. We only played 45 minutes at a slow tempo, so it will have done no harm."
Many promising youngsters were included for the tour to the US, and names such as Moses Makasi, Reece Burke, Lewis Page and Marcus Browne were involved at CenturyLink Field while Sofiane Feghouli, Havard Nordtveit, Toni Martinez and Domingos Quina all pulled on a West Ham shirt for the first time. And Noble, who came through the Club's Academy himself, explained how important this experience could be for the Hammers' hot young prospects. "It's really exciting for a lot of younger boys who haven't been to anything like this before," he continued. "It's of massive value. "I've been there and done it before but for the young lads, it's great. When you go to Old Trafford and the Emirates, there are 80,000 or 60,000 fans there and these are the sorts of atmospheres they want to be playing in, so these experiences are great. "Seattle is an amazing place, so we're all very lucky for this trip. I've always wanted to come on a pre-season somewhere like this."
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Lanzini named in Argentina Olympic squad WHUFC.com
Manuel Lanzini has been named in Argentina's squad for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Lanzini, who has previously been capped at U20 level by his country, will link up with the U23 selection as Argentina go for Gold in Brazil. Argentina have a proud record at the Olympic Games, having won Gold twice and Silver twice from their seven participations. They have been triumphant on their last two appearances – in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008. Lanzini made his move to the Hammers permanent this summer following a superb season on loan from UAE side Al-Jazira Club and will now hope to shine for his country on the Olympic stage. He joins four other European based players in Julio Olarticoechea's squad, alongside Real Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, Joaquin Correa of Sampdoria and Atletico Madrid duo Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto. Argentina's campaign gets underway against Portugal on 4 August, with further group games against Algeria and Honduras to follow. Lanzini will become the second Olympian in the Hammers' squad, after Cheikhou Kouyate represented Senegal in the 2012 London Games.
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Lacazette price rises again
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's key summer transfer target Alexandre Lacazette is likely to cost any potential suitors up to €60million, say reports from France. With Lacazette's current club Lyon needing to sell in order to balance the books at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais it was thought that West Ham were in pole position to sign the 5'9" forward. However with Les Gones having sold Sameul Umtiti to Barcelona for a fee in the region of €30million last week, that shortfall has all but disappeared - meaning Lyon can hold out for even more than the €50million price West Ham had been quoted, say GFFN. With a number of parties still interested in signing the 25-year-old, West Ham are unlikely to make an improved bid - as things stand. And that could allow current favourites, Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain, to complete a deal for a player who has always been reluctant to express a desire for a summer move to England, despite West Ham's overtures.
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A quite extraordinary season
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
James Collins' long and arduous season finally came to an end in Lyon last night - 349 days after it began in Malta. West Ham United's experienced central defender, who celebrates his 33rd birthday next month, would almost certainly have laughed in your face had you told him he'd end the campaign playing in the semi finals of Euro 16. But that's exactly how it transpired with Collins, sporting his now famous, fiery red beard playing a starring role in Wales' 2-0 defeat against Portugal in last night's last four encounter with Christiano Ronaldo & Co. The season started in inconspicuous fashion for Collins way back on 23 July 2015, with West Ham needing penalties to see off the challenge of Maltese outfit Birkirkara in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
However his - and West Ham's - Europa League journey was to end in disappointing fashion; the defender received his marching order's in a 2-2 first leg draw at the Boleyn Ground before the Hammers succumbed 2-1 in the reverse leg in Romania. Having finally received assurances that the club wished to retain his services, following much speculation regarding his future, Collins starred in West Ham's 2-1 win at Manchester City in September. However that was to be his only Premier League appearance until the Hammers drew 2-2 at Sunderland at the start of October, when he began to play a greater role in the first team. Although he was dismissed in a 2-0 defeat at Watford in October, Ginge was a regular in Slaven Bilic's side up until the beginning of March when he sustained a hamstring injury during the 1-0 win over Tottenham. Collins would play only one more time for the Hammers before the end of the league campaign - a 3-1 win over Watford in April - but he was back in action for Wales in a pre-Euro 16 friendly against Sweden on 5 June.
And having had to wait patiently for an opportunity - much as he had at his club earlier in the season - the Newport-born star came off the bench to feature in Wales' stunning 3-1 win over Belgium in the quarter finals before making his first start of the tournament in last night's defeat to Portugal.
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Janssen snubs hijack bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
AZ Alkmaar striker Vincent Janssen rejected a late swoop by West Ham to steal him from under the noses of local rivals Tottenham. According to Darren Lewis, writing for the Mirror, the 21-year-old is set to complete a £17million switch to White Hart Lane "within days". However it is also claimed that West Ham made an eleventh-hour bid to gazump Janssen's move to north London - an offer rejected by the player who is reported to have already accepted Tottenham's offer.
Janssen is just the latest in a long line of summer transfer targets that West Ham have failed to land. Michy Batshuayi, one of the club's top targets signed for Chelsea last week whilst right-back Thomas Meunier rejected a move to the Olympic Stadium in favour of joining Ligue 1 champions Paris St Germain. Meanwhile David Sullivan and his team are no closdser to landing the mythical '20-goals-a-season' striker than back in May, when the club's co-owner revealed he had make a £25million bid for Leicester and England forward Jamie Vardy (who has since singed a new contract with the Foxes).
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Valencia close to Lazio switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
Enner Valencia is on the verge of completing a move to Serie A side Lazio, according to reports from Italy. The Italian side, now under the watchful eye of West Ham's post-Allardyce mangerial candidate Marcelo Bielsa are understood to be close to agreeing a deal to take the Ecuador international on loan for the season. David Amoyal, writing for gianlucadimarzio.com claims that Lazio hope to conclude a deal for Valencia by this weekend, with the striker set to move to the Stadio Olimpico on loan with an option to buy at the end of the 2016/17 campaign. West Ham signed Valencia from Mexican Liga MX side Pachuca two years ago this month in a deal worth in the region of £12million.
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No fairytale ending as Tevez shuns huge contract offer KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th July 2016
By: Staff Writer
Half-a-season wonder Carlos Tevez has spurned the opportunity to return to West Ham, it has been revealed. The former Argentine international, who spent one season at West Ham (2006/07) has turned down a £7.5million offer to return to the club having told the club he wanted closer to £250,000-per-week. And that prompted an angry David Sullivan to lash out at the player who scored seven goals for the club in his previous spell. "All this business about 'I love West Ham'? Well, it's 'I love West Ham but only if they give me 250 grand a week'," he told a tabloid newspaper. "I offered him 150 grand a week to come back plus bonuses. I thought that was an incredible offer for someone who loves West Ham. It was also a huge gamble for us because he's 33 now and hasn't done it in South America. "I was hoping he would reproduce what he did at Juventus a year ago. He was a fantastic player," added Sullivan. "But where do you draw the line with what you are prepared to pay? "We tried to get him but he wanted £250,000 a week. In his last year at Juventus he was great. But 250 grand a week? Come on. He'll probably stay where he is now, because he doesn't pay a lot of tax down there."
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West Ham striker Diafra Sakho hands in transfer request By Peter Gilbert Last Updated: 07/07/16 9:21pm
Diafra Sakho has handed in a transfer request at West Ham, according to Sky sources. The striker was the subject of a failed £11m bid from Sunderland last month. Black Cats manager Sam Allardyce brought the Senegal international to Upton Park from Metz in 2014 when he was in charge of the Hammers. The 26-year-old joined on a four-year contract and has scored 15 goals in 43 Premier League matches for the club. West Brom are reportedly interested in Sakho, who complained of illness and stayed in the UK when the rest of the West Ham squad flew to the US for their pre-season tour at the weekend. The forward, who reportedly fell out with the club in April after being named on the bench, has grown further unsettled due to West Ham admitting they want to sign a big-name striker.
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Gokhan Tore to join West Ham on season-long loan – Sky sources By Sky Sports News HQ Last Updated: 07/07/16 7:10am SSN
West Ham have agreed a deal to sign winger Gokhan Tore from Besiktas, according to Sky sources. Tore will join West Ham on a season-long loan and Sky sources understand the Hammers have the option to make the move permanent for a fee in the region of £10m. He will become manager Slaven Bilic's fifth signing of the summer following the arrivals of Sofiane Feghouli, Toni Martinez, Havard Nordtveit and Domingos Quina. Bilic has been tracking Tore since the end of last season and failed with a bid to sign the 24-year-old on loan in June. But after West Ham successfully negotiated fresh terms with the Turkish champions, Bilic will be able to call upon Tore for the 2016/17 season. Tore, capped 26 times by Turkey, joined Besiktas from Rubin Kazan in 2013 and played under Bilic for two seasons at the club. He made 24 league appearances and scored four times last season as Besiktas claimed their first Super Lig title in seven years.
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Manuel Lanzini to miss West Ham's start after Olympics call-up By Stephen Turner Last Updated: 07/07/16 9:18am SSN
Manuel Lanzini will miss the start of the Premier League season after he was named in Argentina's Olympic Games squad. The West Ham midfielder has been confirmed in an 18-man squad for the tournament, which runs from August 4-20 in Rio de Janeiro. And that schedule rules him out of an opening trip to Chelsea and West Ham's first game at their new Olympic Stadium home the following weekend. Lanzini enjoyed a successful first season in the Premier League after joining the Hammers on an initial loan deal from United Arab Emirates club Al Jazira. The 23-year-old scored six goals in 23 league starts and joined the club permanently in March on a four-year contract. Argentina won gold at the Olympics in 2004 and 2008, but Mexico will go to Rio as defending champions following their success in London four years ago.
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Slaven Bilic hopes Dimitri Payet will stay at West Ham By Nick Lustig Last Updated: 07/07/16 10:12am SSN
Slaven Bilic say he would love to keep Dimitri Payet at West Ham, but concedes the "giant clubs" may come in for him following his exploits at Euro 2016. Payet has been one of the stars of the tournament, producing a number of dazzling displays to help France reach the semi-finals, where they will face Germany at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Thursday.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain have since been linked in the national press with moves for the 29-year-old, with figures quoted as high as £60m. Payet joined West Ham from Marseille last summer for an initial £10.75m and enjoyed a sensational debut campaign in England, scoring 12 goals and providing 12 assists. He signed a new five-and-a-half year deal in January and Bilic remains hopeful he will be able to call upon his star man at the Olympic Stadium next season. "As a club manager, when you have a player involved there is added interest and there is no doubt Dimitri Payet has been one of the stars of the tournament," Bilic said in his column for the Daily Mail. "I understand that with his success, all the speculation about his future will follow. I have even seen one report suggesting I don't want him to do well in case it leads to him leaving West Ham. "That is not right. I want him to play great. I want him to score a hat-trick and another hat-trick in the final. "I know then that the giant clubs will come but I would love him to stay at West Ham. We have texted each other over the last three weeks and he is happy at the club. He is our player."
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West Ham striker Diafra Sakho hands in transfer request as Senegalese searches for regular first team football next season West Ham striker Diafra Sakho has expressed his intent to leave the club Senegalese handed in a transfer request after limited game time last term Hammers boss Slaven Bilic has targeted AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca Sunderland boss Sam Allardyce made £11million bid for Sakho last month By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 20:45, 7 July 2016 | UPDATED: 20:45, 7 July 2016
West Ham striker Diafra Sakho has handed in a transfer request. The 26-year old was the subject of an £11million bid from Sunderland last month but manager Sam Allardyce is considering switching attention to Lorient forward Benjamin Moukandjo. Slaven Bilic has made signing a striker his No 1 priority this summer, with the Hammers manager stepping up his interest in AC Milan front man Carlos Bacca. Bacca has a £25.4m release clause, but Milan are ready to consider offers for lower that amount. The East London club are working on a deal to bring the Colombia forward to the Olympic Stadium ahead of the new season. But Sakho's future appears to lie away elsewhere, with Sunderland among the clubs to have now been put on red alert by the former Metz striker's availability. Allardyce is looking to strengthen the Sunderland squad after narrowly avoiding the drop last campaign is familiar with Sakho from his time as West Ham boss. Sakho finished top goalscorer in his first season at Upton Park, netting 12 goals in 26 games, but he found his first-team opportunities limited last term, scoring just five times in 21 league outings. West Ham are currently out in the US to continue their pre-season preparations, but Sakho is not part of the 22-man squad and could join James Tomkins in heading for the exit after the defender joined Crystal Palace this week.
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West Ham transfer news: David Sullivan attacks Carlos Tevez's 'love' for the club after £250,000 wage demand Jack de Menezes The Independent
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has questioned Carlos Tevez's "love" of the Premier League club after a possible return fell through when the striker demanded £250,000-a-week to move back to the Premier League. 32-year-old Tevez currently turns out for Boca Juniors in Argentina after leaving Juventus last season, but he remains a sought-after payer that Sullivan believed could be lured back to West Ham, nine years after leaving East London. Sullivan and West Ham co-chairman David Gold are determined to bring in a high profile striker to crown the move to the Olympic Stadium and pus the side on next season, although bids for Jamie Vardy, Alexandre Lacazette, Michy Batshuayi and Christian Benteke have so far proven unsuccessful.
Tevez's name can now be added to that list, with the Argentina international likely to stay with Boca Juniors after demanding a quarter of a million pounds to join the club, leading to Sullivan launching an attack on his claim to "love" the Premier League club. Sullivan said: "All this business, 'I love West Ham', well it's 'I love West Ham if they give me £250,000 a week.'" He also revealed that West Ham's offer to Tevez would have made him the highest paid player at the club, with the £150,000-a-week salary significantly more than the club's current highest paid player in Dimitri Payet. "So how much love is that for West Ham? I actually offered him £150,000-a-week to come back plus bonuses," Sullivan added. "I thought that was an incredible offer for someone who loves West Ham. And it was a huge gamble for us because he's 33 now and hasn't done it in South America.
"We tried to get Tevez but he wanted £250,000-a-week – and is he past his best? He hasn't set the world alight in South America."
In fact, Tevez does not turn 33 until 5 February next year, and his record in Argentina since his return last year stands at nine goals in 17 matches – the same as West Ham's top goalscorers last season in Payet and Andy Carroll who achieved the feat in 30 and 27 appearances respectively. Tevez also departed Juventus having scored an impressive 29 goals in 49 matches for Juventus, although he was left out of Argentina's squad for the Copa America campaign last month. He remains a firm fan favourite among the Hammers faithful after his goal against Manchester United on the final day of the 2006/07 season kept the club in the Premier League.
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Dimitri Payet texts Slaven Bilic to say he is happy at West Ham despite Real Madrid transfer rumours Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk Thursday 7 Jul 2016 11:12 am
Slaven Bilic says Dimitri Payet has text him to say he is happy at West Ham despite rumoured interest from Real Madrid. The Hammers' midfielder has been one of the stars of Euro 2016 but his form has led to speculation linking him with a move away from the Olympic Stadium. However, Bilic says he is confident the club will be able to hold onto their prized asset. 'I know then that the giant clubs will come but I would love him to stay at West Ham,' he said. 'We have texted each other over the last three weeks and he is happy at the club. He is our player. 'As a club manager, when you have a player involved there is added interest and there is no doubt Dimitri Payet has been one of the stars of the tournament.
'I understand that with his success, all the speculation about his future will follow.' Bilic also scoffed at reports that it is in West Ham's best interests for Payet to flop against Germany tonight, as a poor performance on the biggest stage may make it less likely he would attract offers in the coming weeks. 'I have seen one report suggesting I don't want him to do well in case it leads to him leaving West Ham,' explained Bilic. 'That is not right. I want him to play great. I want him to score a hat-trick and another hat-trick in the final. 'The great thing for him is that he has maintained his high level of performance, which is really difficult when you play at the top level.'
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POYET: NOBLE BRILLIANT WITH THE YOUNGSTERS ANDY KOSTKA readwestham.com
West Ham's American Tour is an excellent opportunity for academy stars to prove their worth for the first team. With the likes of Dimitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna not with the Hammers as they compete in the Euros, more minutes are available for West Ham's academy. That being said, the jump from the developmental squad to the first team can be difficult to grasp at first. During Tuesday evening's 3-0 defeat to the Seattle Sounders, ten academy players featured, including Toni Martinez, Marcus Browne, and Martin Samuelsen.
However, according to Diego Poyet, the transition is eased by the experienced players at West Ham, particularly captain Mark Noble. "There's obviously a lot of players away. They've been in the Copa America or the Euros. There's experienced first team players like you said that are here. They make it very easy for the young players to feel comfortable, and feel at home. They integrate them into the group really well, in training every day," Poyet told ReadWestHam after the Sounders match. "Mark, especially Noble, the captain, he's brilliant with the youngsters. He came through the ranks here at this club so I think he is brilliant for the young players coming through."
Noble's rise to the captain's armband at West Ham started in 2000, when he joined West Ham's youth academy. His career progression is one West Ham's young stars will surely dream of copying. Noble remains the youngest player to feature in a West Ham's reserve match, aged 15. At 17, he made his first team debut. The following season, 2005, Noble won the Young Hammer of the Year award, and has been a key part of the West Ham squad since 2007.
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Vincent Janssen rejects late attempt from West Ham to hijack his £17million move to Tottenham 13:00, 7 JUL 2016 UPDATED 13:27, 7 JUL 2016 BY DARREN LEWIS The Dutch striker, 21, will sign for the north Londoners and is set to have his transfer from AZ Alkmaar confirmed within days The Mirror
Vincent Janssen has rejected a late bid from West Ham to hijack his £17million move to Spurs. The Dutch striker, 21, will sign for the north Londoners and is set to have his transfer from AZ Alkmaar confirmed within days. West Ham offered a higher transfer fee and bigger wages in an attempt to steal Janssen from under the noses of their London rivals.
But Janssen, who had also rejected an approach from French champions PSG, was insistent that Tottenham were the only club that he wanted to join. The Holland marksman netted 27 times in 34 appearances for Alkmaar last season. He has also scored in three of his last four games for this country. Mirror Sport revealed last month that Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino had moved to make him the first of his striking reinforcements after two seasons relying on England frontman Harry Kane. Janssen travelled to London to hold talks and agreed terms but, after leading Spurs to believe a £12million deal would be straightforward, Alkmaar hiked up the price, instead demanding £17million. Spurs are now deciding whether to meet Newcastle's £25million asking price for attacking midfielder Gigi Wijnaldum.
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic: I know big clubs want Dimitri Payet, but he's staying By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT Thursday, July 7, 2016
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has conceded big clubs are interested in Dimitri Payet, but is certain the Hammers' talismanic midfielder WILL remain at the club. Payet has impressed on international duty for France at Euro 2016, picking up from where he left off for West Ham last season. A stand-out star whose free-kicks and creative play made him one of the Premier League's most exciting players and has led to interest from Europe's elite clubs. But Bilic is convinced Payet will be lining up in the famous Claret and Blue as the east Londoners begin a new era at the Olympic Stadium. Bilic told the Daily Mail: "I understand that with his success, all the speculation about his future will follow. "I have even seen one report suggesting I don't want him to do well in case it leads to him leaving West Ham. That is not right. I want him to play great. I want him to score a hat-trick and another hat-trick in the final. "I know then that the giant clubs will come but I would love him to stay at West Ham. We have texted each other over the last three weeks and he is happy at the club. He is our player."
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West Ham open talks with AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca ahead of potential £20m move as Gokhan Tore loan deal nears completion West Ham open talks with AC Milan's Colombian striker Carlos Bacca Hammers willing to pay £20m for the striker who has £24.5m release clause Besiktas winger Gokhan Tore is close to a loan move to Slaven Bilic's side Tore's loan deal will include an option for a permanent move next summer Carlos Tevez turned down a potential return to former club West Ham By KIERAN GILL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:49, 7 July 2016 | UPDATED: 09:58, 7 July 2016
West Ham have opened talks to sign Carlos Bacca from AC Milan and will meet with the player's representatives this week. The Hammers know they need to sign a striker this summer and the Colombia international is a top target. They are willing to pay around £20million, with Slaven Bilic wanting to get his transfer business done as soon as possible. Bacca's release clause stands at £25.4m but Milan are ready to sell, and talks over a transfer are to be held at a meeting in London on Friday.
The 29-year-old is not the only star that West Ham could sign in the next week. The club are also set to snap up Turkey international Gokhan Tore on a loan deal with the option to buy at the end of the season.
CARLOS BACCA'S CAREER HISTORY
2006-11: Atletico Junior - 108 games, 50 goals
2012-13: Club Brugge - 50 games, 29 goals
2013-15: Sevilla - 103 games, 46 goals
2015-: AC Milan - 43 games, 20 goals
A medical was already pencilled in for the 24-year-old and the move for the Besiktas winger could be confirmed within the next seven days if all goes well. West Ham's search for firepower has also seen them talk to former striker Carlos Tevez, with co-owner David Sullivan revealing he offered the forward £150,000 a week to return to the club he helped save from relegation in 2007. The move would have seen Tevez become the club's highest earner, beating Dimitri Payet's £100,000 a week, but Sullivan said the Argentine wanted £250,000 to return to England from Boca Juniors.
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A Classy Exit From A Classy Player
By Stuart Plant on July 7, 2016 in Opinion, Transfer News
Over the last few weeks we had been faced with the prospect of James Tomkins leaving the club, this week saw this rumour move from transfer talk into the real world. Tomkins has left his club for pastures new across London with Crystal Palace, for a fee believed to be £10million, with add-ons included on top of that.
The majority of fans (myself included!) reacted negatively, he's been at the club since he was 7 years old, he's one of our best Academy graduates of the most recent few to break through and embodies what many see the club as. However, when you look at the situation as a whole, the move away unfortunately makes perfect sense.
At the age of 27 and approaching his 'prime' for footballer, vying for a starting berth against a right winger to play first team football at RB, is not what he would be wishing for, but it's the prospect he was faced with last season. With a plethora of top quality CB's at the club in; Winston Reid, Angelo Ogbonna and James Collins it's easy to see why Bilic would want to utilise Tomkins at RB. If this wasn't a competitive enough position for him to find himself in, the emergence of both Reece Oxford and Reece Burke for the CB role has probably been the tipping point for Tomkins.
I still remember the hype surrounding Tomkins as he was making his way to breaking through, and, I just as equally remember him getting given the absolute run around by Yakubu on his first (I believe?) start. Consistently too close, turned far too often, and in general had nothing to combat the experience Yakubu. It seemed like a real facepalm moment, but, if anything in hindsight it was the perfect storm of start to Premier League life for him. You come back to now and Tomkins is a completely different player; good in the tackle, on the ball, in the air and not prone to many individual errors as some of our other CBs. Plus, he doesn't have that ridiculous hair he did when he broke through, so that's another positive!
Far too often when a player is unhappy with their playing time, we find out via stories of unrest, unhappiness and displeasure being leaked to the papers, etc. Not from Tomkins. He has acted like an absolute professional in this, and, it is quite clear in my mind at least that this is because he didnt want to leave. I'm not saying he was forced to, I'm saying that he left purely for professional reasons – he is a footballer, he wants to play football at CB as regularly as possible and Crystal Palace can give him that. Should he have settled for playing 3rd fiddle? Possibly not getting a look in at CB ahead of two youngsters? Instead focused on nailing down the RB slot ahead of a winger? No way.
Instead he has asked privately to leave, the wish has been listened to and accepted when Palace came calling. He gave his touching leaving words, as did the players none more so than his friend of two decades Mark Noble. Then, came the rather glum looking photos from his reveal as a Palace player, and that very awkward Palace site interview. The club and James Tomkins as a whole should be commended for how well this has been done, I just wish there was a way hadn't had to leave. But, it was his decision, and besides which, it's blindingly clear he's always going to love the club.
Despite it being heartbreaking to see someone who we thought would be another Academy graduate turned one-club-man leave, everything adds up. Yes, I'm talking financially now! When is the last time we made a significant profit on a player? When is the last time we sold an Academy graduate for a substantial fee? When is the last time we could sell a reserve player for anything near £10million? Yes, the fee is inflated because of his age and nationality, but, it's also because he is a damn good defender. The fact we are more than able to allow him to leave says more about the way our squad is shaping up.
If Tomkins goes on to be reunited with Pardew and progress his career then it's a success. If we use the transfer fee to get players in who are going to be in the first XI then it's a success. Finally, if we have sold him for an inflated fee then get him back in a Collins-esque scenario, then it will definitely be, a success!
All the best Tonks.
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Leeds United sign former England and West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Championship side Leeds United have completed the signing of former England international goalkeeper Robert Green. The 36-year-old, who was released by QPR at the end of last season, has signed a one-year deal with Garry Monk's Championship side. Leeds become Green's fourth club, after making over 200 appearances for both Norwich and West Ham before joining QPR in 2012. Green told his new side's website: "This is one of those opportunities where the first phone call asking if you want to come and play for Leeds is a very quick one. It was a 'yes' straightaway. "I'm thrilled to be here. I've spoken to the manager and I know what he's got in store and what he's planning." Green follows Monk's summer signings in Kyle Bartley, Sporting Lisbon forward Hadi Sacko and Swedish striker Marcus Antonsson to Elland Road.
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Friday, July 8
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