Daily WHUFC News - 29th January 2018

An apology from Arthur Masuaku
WHUFC.com

Arthur Masuaku has issued the following apology following his sending-off in
Saturday's Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at Wigan Athletic.

"I want to say sorry for my actions on Saturday. I let down my team-mates,
the manager, coaches, board and the fans. I am very sad because the manager
and coaches have put a lot of faith in me but I will work very hard to try
and win that back. It was in the heat of the moment and out of character for
me. I know it was totally unacceptable and I will learn from the first red
card of my career."

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Joint-Chairman reiterates desire to strengthen squad
WHUFC.com

West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan has re-iterated the Club's
desire to strengthen the squad ahead of Wednesday's transfer deadline. A
deal was completed to bring European Championship winner Joao Mario to
London Stadium on Friday, the midfielder joining on loan from Inter Milan
until the end of the season. The Joint-Chairman has insisted everyone is
working tirelessly to add to Joao Mario's arrival as the team target a
strong end to the Premier League season.

Mr Sullivan said: "I have been made aware of reports suggesting that there
will be no more players joining the Club this month due to funding not being
available. Nothing could be further from the truth. "The manager David
Moyes has the Board's full backing in this window and, together, we continue
to work night and day to bring in players to add quality and depth to the
squad, despite January being a difficult time to do business. "We are
undefeated in our last five Premier League matches and are working round the
clock with the manager to do all we can to ensure this run of good form
continues."

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Browne: The top four is our target
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U23 attacker Marcus Browne is targeting a top four finish in
Premier League 2 Division 1 this season and hopes the side can continue
their good start to 2018 on Monday. The Hammers youngsters travel to Swansea
City – the club they were promoted alongside from Division 2 last campaign –
looking to add to four points they have already gained in two matches so far
this year. A win at Manchester United was followed by a goalless draw
against a strong Leicester City side over a fortnight ago and after a small
break in fixtures, Browne – who has suffered badly from injuries this term –
is raring to go. Ahead of the clash at the Swans' Landore Training Centre,
the Hammers sit sixth in PL2, two points behind fourth-placed Everton and
below Monday's opponents on goal difference. And before the game,
19-year-old Browne declared: "We want to finish in the top four of this
division this year. "Last season, we got promotion and it was a fantastic
season for the whole team. We continued that momentum on into the start of
this year but we need to make sure we carry on like that now. "Hopefully
with my return I can add some strength to the team as well but we have a
great squad. I'll be doing all I can for the U23s to achieve the best we can
and hopefully by doing that I can catch the eye, too. "Football is what I do
and it's what I'm good at so nothing else crosses my mind when preparing for
a game. Hopefully that's the mentality of the whole team before Monday."

Browne was one of the U23s' stars last season, impressing on a consistent
basis week-in, week-out alongside the likes of Declan Rice and Nathan
Holland, who have since earned first team acclaim. But Browne, on the other
hand, has had to deal with a series of injuries so far this term. A knee
injury sidelined him as the campaign began before a back problem left him
ever-more frustrated. Ready to put his troubles behind him, however, the
talent – who is best situated as a No10 behind a centre-forward – is excited
to get back on the pitch. "It's so frustrating being injured, especially
coming back from a long term injury and then picking up another one so
soon," he continued. "Coming in every day, the boys would be going out to
train and I'd have to go and work with the physio department team in the gym
trying to get myself back. "I was limited to just really low level things in
the gym, and I couldn't get on the pitch. Instead, you have to focus on
other things, such as eating right and looking after yourself. "I've spent a
lot of time with Lori [Hedman-Nice, Head of Player Care and Psychology],
working hard to try and put my mindset in the best place it could possibly
be returning and getting through my injury," he explained. "I'd sit in her
office for up to three hours breaking everything down and trying to put
plans in place to help me. "Hopefully everything that I have done so far in
terms of my recovery has paid off, and if it has, I'm fully ready to go for
the U23s again."

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West Ham: Arthur Masuaku apologises for spitting in FA Cup defeat
BBC.co.uk

Arthur Masuaku has apologised for spitting at an opponent in West Ham's FA
Cup defeat by Wigan, saying it was "totally unacceptable and out of
character".
The 24-year-old Frenchman reacted to a challenge from Nick Powell at the
start of the second half and was sent off. Hammers manager David Moyes
called Masuaku's actions "despicable". The defender, who faces a lengthy
ban, tweeted: "I let down my team-mates, the manager, coaches, board and the
fans". He added: "I am very sad because the manager and coaches have put a
lot of faith in me, but I will work very hard to win try and win that back.
"It was in the heat of the moment and out of character for me, but I know it
was totally unacceptable and I will learn from the first red card of my
career."

Leeds forward Samu Saiz accepted a six-game ban for spitting in their FA Cup
defeat by Newport earlier this month. Speaking after the 2-0 defeat, Moyes
added: "[Masuaku] will deserve everything he gets and he will get something
he deserves from us." The east Londoners, who are just four points clear of
the relegation zone, face Crystal Palace, Brighton and Watford in their next
three league games. They are already without a number of key players due to
injury.

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We're doing our best, insists Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 28th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan says he is 'working round the clock' to introduce new players
to West Ham ahead of the transfer window deadline - despite having failed to
sign a single player on a permanent basis yet.

West Ham's only addition to the squad in the opening four weeks of the
window has been the loan signing of Inter's Joao Mario, who is set to return
to Italy following the final 15 Premier League games of the current season.
And despite the squad - which was already unbalanced, short in key areas and
in desperate need of investment - being stretched to the limit as a result
of the numerous injuries, the club have once again been unable to land any
of their top targets during the current window. Still, Sullivan insists that
he is doing everything he can to boost David Moyes' insufficient squad -
whilst dismissing widespread reports that the club is is a particularly
parlous financial position. "I have been made aware of reports suggesting
that there will be no more players joining the club this month due to
funding not being available," he said in a brief statement presented on the
club's website. "Nothing could be further from the truth. The manager David
Moyes has the Board's full backing in this window and, together, we continue
to work night and day to bring in players to add quality and depth to the
squad, despite January being a difficult time to do business. "We are
undefeated in our last five Premier League matches and are working round the
clock with the manager to do all we can to ensure this run of good form
continues."

Sullivan's statement appeared a matter of hours after he was approached by
angry supporters at the DW Stadium following West Ham's humiliating FA Cup
exit at the hands of League One Wigan Athletic. Several sources claim that
Sullivan responded to questions regarding West Ham's inability to strengthen
the squad by stating that "we can't sign anyone", before referring to
Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, with whom West Ham have been heavily
linked in recent weeks, as "useless".

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West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold confronted by angry fans
By Kaveh Solhekol
Last Updated: 28/01/18 12:42pm
SSN

West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were confronted by angry
supporters after yesterday's 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Wigan, according to Sky
sources.
The supporters were angry West Ham have signed only Joao Mario - on loan
from Inter - this month. The club paid a £2m loan fee for the Portuguese
midfielder and are paying his £100,000 a week wages. Senior figures at the
club understand the fans' frustration and confirmed West Ham are working
around the clock to sign players, but it is extremely difficult to get deals
done this window. It is understood they are still hopeful new players can be
signed, but there is now the real possibility there will be no more arrivals
before the deadline. Marko Arnautovic, Javier Hernandez, Joe Hart and Pablo
Zabaleta all arrived during last summer's transfer window.

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West Ham's £15m bid for Tom Cairney rejected by Fulham
Last Updated: 28/01/18 1:42pm
SSN

West Ham have had a £15m bid for Fulham's Tom Cairney rejected, according to
Sky sources. The bid for the Fulham captain was made last week and Sky
Sports News understands West Ham were told they were wasting their time and
not even an offer of £40m would be considered. Cairney was a notable
absentee for Fulham's 3-1 victory over Barnsley yesterday, with manager
Slavisa Jovanovic confirming he missed out as a result of his ongoing knee
injury and was not fit enough for a place on the bench. The Scotland
international is understood to want a move to West Ham but Fulham are also
in a strong position after Cairney signed a contract extension until 2021
just last summer, following interest from Newcastle United.

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ARTHUR MASUAKU HAS BROUGHT DISGRACE ON OUR CLUB BUT HE MUST BE GIVEN A
CHANCE TO REDEEM HIMSELF
By Iain Dale 28 Jan 2018 at 08:00
WTID

UPDATE: Masuaku has finally issued an apology on the club website…

"I want to say sorry for my actions on Saturday. I let down my team-mates,
the manager, coaches, board and the fans. I am very sad because the manager
and coaches have put a lot of faith in me but I will work very hard to try
and win that back. It was in the heat of the moment and out of character for
me. I know it was totally unacceptable and I will learn from the first red
card of my career."

So what should happen to Arthur Masuaku? He's been in great form of late,
and made the left midfield slot his own. I doubt many of us saw that coming
back in August. But his behaviour today was an outrage. David Moyes was
fizzing…

"He (Masuaku) will deserve everything he gets and he will get something off
us as well. It's unacceptable, totally unacceptable. Just as we were looking
to get back in the game, we were only one-nil down, we weren't playing that
well but we were giving ourselves a chance to get back in it, but that
changed it. We are all disappointed to be out of the Cup, but we didn't play
well enough and Wigan thoroughly deserved their victory. It was definitely
down to our performance and we obviously made some big errors. Certainly,
the error for the decision to send one of my players off was despicable.
I've got no complaints about that at all. All I would say is that there is
no way the referee saw it, but ultimately they got to the right decision. I
can have no qualms about it… "I've not seen this from him. We've played him
since I've got here and tried to give him a chance. He wasn't really in the
team. We like him. He's a good boy around the Club and I like him, so I have
to say it's out of character, but it doesn't matter what character he is. I
asked him 'Did you spit?' and he said 'Yes'."

Well he could hardly deny it, could he? He's likely to get a six match ban
from the FA, and deservedly so. That means he will be out until the
Manchester United home game on 18 March. Some fans are suggesting we should
just get rid. In my view that would be incredibly short-sighted and is just
a knee jerk reaction. I think the maximum he can be fined is two weeks'
wages. If he has anything about him he should donate the other four weeks'
wages to a childrens' charity. He needs to come out and show absolute
contrition. We all do stupid things from time to time, and he deserves all
the punishment he is going to get. but everyone deserves a second chance,
and so does Arthur Masuaku.

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Fulham to move for QPR's Luke Freeman if they sell Tom Cairney - despite
slapping £30m price tag on midfielder
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic insists Cairney missed his side's win at
Barnsley with a knee injury but they know he is keen to move to the Premier
League
The Mirror
ByJohn CrossChief Football Writer
12:09, 28 JAN 2018

Fulham will turn to QPR midfielder Luke Freeman if they end up selling West
Ham target Tom Cairney. The Championship play-off chasers have slapped a
£30m price tag on Cairney to try and scare off West Ham who are desperate to
land the midfielder. Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic insists Cairney missed
his side's win at Barnsley with a knee injury but they know he is keen to
move to the Premier League. West Brom are also interested in Cairney who is
regarded as one of the best midfielders in the Championship and Fulham face
a struggle to keep him until the end of the season. They have now looked to
£4m-rated Freeman as a possible replacement as the QPR midfielder has
impressed this season. Freeman, 25, has been in impressive form but QPR will
struggle to keep him if they get a bid bid before the end of the window.
Fulham are also adamant that they will not sell highly-rated Ryan Sessegnon
in January despite the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Manchester
City all keen on the teenager.

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Diafra Sakho set for £8m move to Rennes from West Ham
By Richard Cooke
Last Updated: 28/01/18 8:05pm
SSN

West Ham striker Diafra Sakho is close to completing an £8m move to Rennes
after passing his medical, say Sky Sources. The French club are willing to
pay £4.5m up front for the Senegal international and £3.5m in add-ons. It is
understood he passed his medical on Sunday with the fee already agreed.
Rennes have tracked the Senegal international for many months and came close
to signing him on the penultimate day of the last transfer window. The
Hammers knocked back an initial bid of £6m from Rennes a week ago but it
seems Sakho, who has been told he can leave, will soon leave the London club
he joined from Metz in the summer of 2014 for £3.5m.
Crystal Palace and Swansea have also been keen on the 28-year-old, along
with Bordeaux's new manager Gus Poyet, Sky Sports News understands. Sakho
has made just four appearances for the Hammers this season. West Ham
co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were confronted by angry supporters
after Saturday's 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Wigan, according to Sky sources. The
fans expressed their anger at the club having so far signed only Joao Mario
- on loan from Inter - this month. Sullivan insists the club are working
hard to make further acquisitions before the transfer window closes on
Wednesday. He told the club's website: "I have been made aware of reports
suggesting that there will be no more players joining the club this month
due to funding not being available. "Nothing could be further from the
truth. "The manager David Moyes has the board's full backing in this window
and, together, we continue to work night and day to bring in players to add
quality and depth to the squad, despite January being a difficult time to do
business."

West Ham are also having to deal with the fall-out from Arthur Masuaku's
dismissal for spitting at Nick Powell in the FA Cup tie at Wigan. The
Frenchman was sent off in the 49th minute following a collision at the side
of the pitch. He apologised for his actions on Sunday.

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Diafra Sakho close to West Ham exit after passing medical ahead of £9m
Rennes transfer - report
The striker has struggled for game time this season
Football London
ByTashan Deniran-Alleyne
18:00, 28 JAN 2018

West Ham United striker Diafra Sakho has reportedly passed a medical ahead
of his proposed move to Rennes. The 28-year-old's future at the London
Stadium has been a hot topic since the January transfer window opened. All
signs are pointing towards an exit as he's yet to start a Premier League
game so far this season and he needs regular first-team football in order to
make Aliou Cisse's Senegal squad for this summer's World Cup. A move to
Besiktas had been touted earlier in the month as the Turkish outfit seek a
replacement for Cenk Tosun following his move to Everton, while rivals
Crystal Palace were said to have been one of six clubs interested in signing
the striker. However, it would appear that a move back to France is on the
cards for Sakho. According to the Daily Mail, the centre forward is believed
to be discussing a potential £9m transfer to Ligue 1 side Rennes.
Furthermore, the report states that Palace reignited their interest in the
player as recently as last week, but it's understood that he is set on a
move to France and Get French Football claim he's already passed a medical.
Sakho's departure could see the return to English football for former
Southampton striker Graziano Pelle who has been heavily linked with a move
to the Hammers before transfer deadline day. Having moved to the South Coast
from Eredivisie side Feyernoord in 2014, the Italian striker proved an
instant hit in England during his two years at St Mary's but opted for a
shock move to China by signing a big-money deal with Shandong Luneng.
Whether the Italian is lured to East London remains to be seen, but the last
few days of the transfer window promises to be an intriguing one following a
statement issued by joint-chairman David Sullivan in which he stated the
club are still open to more more business after securing the loan signing of
Joao Mario. "I have been made aware of reports suggesting that there will be
no more players joining the Club this month due to funding not being
available. Nothing could be further from the truth," he told the club's
official website. "The manager David Moyes has the Board's full backing in
this window and, together, we continue to work night and day to bring in
players to add quality and depth to the squad, despite January being a
difficult time to do business. "We are undefeated in our last five Premier
League matches and are working round the clock with the manager to do all we
can to ensure this run of good form continues."

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West Ham intensify their pursuit of Graziano Pelle': the latest
28/01/18 18:43| News | Autore: Redazione

After an experience in China, Graziano Pelle' could return to the Premier
League. West Ham are in contact with the Italian striker's entourage, while
they are offering him a two and a half year deal, the main issue are the
player's wages. Because Pelle' would have to take a substantial cut to his
earnings in order to leave Shandong Luneng the deal is still rather
complicated, there will be more conversations in the coming hours to try to
reach an agreement

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