Monday, August 1

Daily WHUFC News - 1st August 2016

New deal for Darren
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that Darren Randolph has signed a
new four-year contact with the Club. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper
continued his superb 2016 by putting pen to paper at the Hammers' new Rush
Green training base on Sunday. After impressing for both Club and country,
the 29-year-old is happy to have secured his long-term future as Slaven
Bilic's side prepare to move into their 60,000-capacity Stadium on Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Buy Darren Randolph's 2016/17 Goalkeeper Kit now! "I've had a good first
year at West Ham and this is another positive thing to happen to me at the
end of a good first season and a good summer with Ireland," he told
whufc.com. "It has gone better than I could have ever expected at West Ham
since I joined last summer, playing as many games as I did and then starting
for Ireland in the Play-off and at Euro 2016. "Signing a new contract means
I want to stay here for a long time and be part of what is going on with the
Club, moving into a new Stadium and a new Training Ground – it's all very
positive and exciting."

Randolph is one of two top-class goalkeepers vying for the starting spot in
Bilic's team, along with Spaniard Adrian. The pair worked superbly together
under goalkeeper coach Chris Woods last season and the Bray-born stopper is
looking forward to competing with Adrian for a place in the team again this
term.
"I spoke to the manager and I know we both have the opportunity to work
towards that No1 position, which was part of the reason I was happy to sign
a new contract," Randolph revealed. "It is good to know I have the
manager's backing and it certainly helps my confidence to know he believes
in what I can do."

Randolph returned to training and pre-season duty after a short post-Euro
2016 break, having excelled during Ireland's run to the Round of 16. With
West Ham taking on NK Domzale in a must-win UEFA Europa League third
qualifying round second leg on Thursday and Juventus visiting in the Betway
Cup on Sunday, the agile stopper is set to make his London Stadium bow this
week. "Everyone wants to get back on the pitch as soon as possible and put
things right after what happened in Slovenia," he conceded. "We all want to
get the win we need to get through and we have the chance to do that on
Thursday night. Then we have Juventus on Sunday, so hopefully I'll get to
pull on the gloves and play my part at our new home."

After a summer on the road in France, Austria and Slovenia, Randolph and his
teammates – who also visited the United States – have started life at the
Club's smart new training centre in Rush Green. "It's very nice," Randolph
revealed. "Coming into the building for the first time since all the work
has been done, it's much bigger than the one at Chadwell Heath and is a
nice, positive environment in which to work. "While travelling is enjoyable,
it is good to be back into the routine and training every day in familiar
surroundings. Rush Green has a nice feel to it. "We are back to normality,
if you like, and with all the same faces around it feels like we have never
been away!"

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Westley - It was a step too far
WHUFC.com

Terry Westley felt the test VVV-Venlo provided on Saturday was a step too
far for his young Hammers
The Academy boss was speaking after a 6-1 defeat in the Netherlands
Marcus Browne's performance was highlighted as a positive to come from the
game
Academy manager Terry Westley admitted his side's clash against Dutch outfit
VVV-Venlo was a step too far for a number of the young players.

The Development Squad took on Venlo at their Seacon Stadion – De Koel on
Saturday but were comfortably beaten 6-1 by the second division team who put
out their strongest XI.

The Hammers fielded a number of 15, 16 and 17-year-olds in the fixture which
marked the end of their pre-season trip to the Netherlands.

And Westley felt West Ham's partner club provided the squad with an
extremely tough test.

He said: "They are a good side, which I knew because I've seen them play
maybe six times. I knew the quality they have got and they'll challenge for
promotion this year. It was a step too far for some of our younger ones, and
it was men against boys at times.

"We have also been training very hard, which made the game difficult. Their
season starts next week, so they've eased down before the game. The manager
went full-blooded and fielded a very strong side.

"There are some real lessons to be learnt and the boys have to come and dust
themselves down and be ready to get back to training on Tuesday."
A number of players arrived in Holland on the morning of the match having
left first team duty with Slaven Bilic's squad, with goalscorer Toni
Martinez included.

Westley pinpointed some positives that came from the match from his point of
view.

"As long as the boys – and the staff – learn from this match, in the long
run it can only do us good," he continued. "I talk about personality and did
they show any personality? I have to say, Marcus Browne who came out with us
here for the game, came through the game with flying colours. He was
aggressive with and without the ball.

"Too many of the younger boys didn't change their expression on the pitch,
and when you're going under, you need to do something about it. Marcus did
that, and maybe the two goalkeepers as well.

"If any centre-forward scores 20 plus goals a season, that is fantastic so
it was pleasing to see Toni Martinez get on the scoresheet. It wasn't an
easy game, especially for the boys who arrived on the morning of the game,
and Toni was one of those.

"If you're playing and scoring, people will talk about you. Toni looks like
a finisher and that is his game. He has power in and around the box. If he
sees the goal, he has a shot."

The link between the Hammers and VVV-Venlo will continue to see young
players head to Holland on loan, as defender Sam Westley did last season,
and the boss wished his opponents well for the campaign ahead.

"I hope that Venlo go into their season with lots of confidence – they
should do! – so we have helped them in one way. It just shows you, if you
want to come on loan here to help Venlo, you have to be a good player. You
can see the quality they have."

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Randolph signs four-year contract
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 31st July 2016
By: Staff Writer

Irish international Darren Randolph has signed a four-year contract with
West Ham, tying him to the club until 2020. The 28-year-old, who enjoyed an
excellent Euro 16 campaign signed for West Ham on a free transfer from
Birmingham last summer as replacement for the outgoing Jussi Jaaskelainen.
"I want to stay here for a long time and be part of what is going on with
the club," Randolph told whufc.com. "It's all very positive and exciting. "I
spoke to the manager and I know I have the opportunity to work towards that
number one position, which was part of the reason I was happy to sign a new
contract. "It is good to know I have the manager's backing and it certainly
helps my confidence to know he believes in what I can do." Since joining the
club as deputy to Adrian, the softly-spoken stopper has made 26 appearances
for West Ham - inlcuing a run in last season's FA Cup, for which he was
Slaven Bilic's first choice.

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Sakho close to Albion move
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 31st July 2016
By: Staff Writer

Diafra Sakho is on the verge of joining West Bromwich Albion - in a deal
worth up to £16million. The out-of-favour Sengalese international is poised
to join Albion after the two clubs finally agreed a deal on Friday,
according to a KUMB source. Sakho, 26, is expected to cost the Baggies
around £10million up front with a host of clauses attached - taking the
potential final fee to circa £16million, within £2.5million of West Ham's
transfer record. With the deal for Sakho close to completion, West Ham are
expected to confirm a deal for Argentine striker Johnathan Calleri (see
below) on a season-long loan. The 22-year-old striker spent the latter half
of last season on loan at Sao Paolo but is set to move to London after
accepting an offer from West Ham to move to the Premier League.
Meanwhile the club hope to push through a deal for Swansea striker Andre
Ayew - who has been the subject of a £20million bid by the Hammers,
according to reports from elsewhere this lunchtime - whilst Milan's Carlos
Bacca is still contemplating a move to east London.

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Saido Berahino set to leave West Brom after Diafra Sakho agrees to join
John Percy
31 JULY 2016 • 6:58PM
The Telegraph

West Bromwich Albion are ready to offload Saido Berahino after agreeing a
£15million deal with West Ham for Diafra Sakho. Berahino will be cleared to
complete a move away from the Hawthorns as Tony Pulis closes in on a club
record deal for Sakho, the Senegal international. Stoke and Crystal Palace
have both made offers worth around £20million for Berahino and his unhappy
12 months is coming to an end, with a move likely this week. The most
expensive football transfers of all timePlay! 00:36 Sakho is expected to
officially sign for West Brom in the next 48 hours and the deal will beat
the club's previous record of £12million for Salomon Rondon. West Brom have
also stepped up their interest in Leicester defender Jeffrey Schlupp and
tabled an improved offer of £10million. Leicester rejected an opening bid
earlier this month but Pulis has returned with another proposal after
identifying Schlupp as the man to solve his problematic left-back position.

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West Ham transfer round-up; Baggies bid for Sakho; Real Madrid player
linked; interest in Manchester United left-back
HITC
Antony Martin

A select round-up of the latest West Ham United news...

West Bromwich Albion have a agreed a fee of £16 million with West Ham United
for the services of Diafra Sakho, according to Sky Sports. The 26-year-old
has been heavily linked with an exit all summer after falling down the
pecking order at the club. Meanwhile, The Daily Mirror claim that the
Hammers have been alerted to the availability of Real Madrid stricker Jese,
with the Spaniard being touted around Europe for a fee in the region of £18
million.

Slaven Bilic could turn to Manchester United's Cameron Borthwick-Jackson in
a bid to solve his left-back crisis, according to The Sun. The newspaper
claim that the Hammers are interested in a loan deal for the 19-year-old.
While The Mirror claim that another left-back is on his way to West Ham -
Swedish star Ludwig Augustinsson in a deal worth around £5 million.

Darren Randolph has today signed a new four-year deal that will keep him at
the club until the summer of 2020, as confirmed on the club's official
website.
And finally, with speculation surrounding the Hammers' interest in Swansea
City forward Andre Ayew continuing to mount, French media outlet L'Equipe
are reporting today that the club have made an official bid of £20.25
million for the Ghanaian and are waiting to hear back from the Welsh club.

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Sell-out West Ham crowd can help mark first game at Olympic Stadium with
Europa League comeback, says Sam Byram
SAM LONG
Evening Standard

West Ham's fans can help to inspire a Europa League turnaround during the
club's first ever game at the Olympic Stadium, according to Sam Byram.
Slaven Bilic's side suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Slovenian minnows
NK Domzale last week, which has left the Premier League club's hopes of
progressing to the group stages in jeopardy. The Hammers are expected to be
without several key men - including Dimitri Payet - but will have to rise to
the occasion on their debut at their new home if they are to avoid missing
out on European football for the second season in a row. And Byram believes
the home crowd, which is set to stand at 54,000, could have a big part to
play as he and his teammates attempt to overturn a one-goal deficit.
Obviously we are disappointed to lose the first [leg] but we are going to be
going into the new stadium," he told the Mirror. "With the crowd behind us
it will help us. "We will have another week's training and a lot of things
to work on but we will be going into the match full of energy and we are
really looking forward to it."
It has been suggested NK Domzale could be overawed by the occasion on
Thursday night but Byram is wary of Luka Elsner's side, who caused the
Hammers plenty of problems in the first leg. "I'm not too sure if playing
there will take them by surprise," said the 22-year-old. "They are
professional sports people and I'm sure some of them have played in higher
leagues and I think they will be relishing the challenge but so are we."
Byram is predominantly right sided but was fielded at left back in the first
leg after Aaron Cresswell was ruled out up to six months with a knee injury.
And the former Leeds United full back could be asked to do so again this
week with Bilic short of options until a replacement for Cresswell can be
found.

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