2017/18 Season Ticket Relocations and Waiting List update
WHUFC.com
West Ham United can confirm that the relocation period for Season Ticket holders who renewed has now ended, and the remaining available Season Tickets will now go on sale to our patient supporters on the Waiting List.
As previously advised, the record breaking renewal rate means that only a very limited number of seats are available, and not everyone on the Waiting List will be successful in obtaining a Season Ticket.
Supporters on the Waiting List will receive communication from the Ticket Office in the coming days and weeks.
Those in a position to be offered a Season Ticket will be allocated a window in line with your position on the Waiting List. You will receive an email notification of your window, advising when you can call the Ticket Office to purchase your Season Ticket.
Once all available Season Tickets are sold out, further information will be communicated on our official channels.
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Record numbers attend girls' trials for West Ham Ladies
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies held a highly-successful Junior Trials on Sunday, with a record number of girls trying out for a place in the U14s & U16s teams.
Over 250 girls are signed up for trials this summer, with the programme continuing on Saturday June 24 for players in the U10s and U12s categories as the Ladies look to establish themselves as the Academy of Football in the women's game
First team manager Greg de Carnys and eight first team Ladies players were on hand at Beckton with advice for the youngsters, as they look to pass their knowledge down to the next generation of Hammers stars.
Hot on the heels of last week's announcement of Rich Energy coming on board as the Ladies' Official Energy Drink Partner, the excitement around the Club continues to build towards the start of their senior team's FA Women's Premier League campaign.
West Ham Ladies Managing Director Jack Sullivan said: "We were thrilled that a record number of girls have signed up for trials across the two dates, and it was great to see so many talented youngsters at Beckton on Sunday.
"We are planning meticulously across all levels at the Club to push ourselves forward, and I'm looking forward to seeing a number of the players who tried out at the weekend develop with us and push towards the first team over the coming years.
"These are exciting times for West Ham United Ladies and it's clear from the interest in playing for us that this excitement is shared right across the board."
Ladies General Manager Karen Ray added: "The FA have launched a new initiative that aims to double participation for females in football. At West Ham United Ladies we aim to provide a world-class talent pathway that encompasses the Club-wide philosophy and core values through our Junior Academy.
"An integral part of the five-year plan for West Ham United Ladies is to develop the opportunities for talented girls aged eight to 16. The purpose of the Ladies Junior Academy is to develop players and well balanced young people who feel supported, safe and enjoy being a West Ham United player.
"To see over double the young girls signing up and participating in our 2017/18 trials compared to last year really does show the belief, support and desire to play for the Club. We are not shy in admitting our desire to become the Academy of Football for girls over the coming years. This is just the very start of a successful journey and I am proud of all the hard work going on behind the scenes.
"Having so many young talented girls being supported by eight West Ham United Ladies senior players really does highlight the dedication and love everyone has for the game, and for the club. This is an exciting time for everyone involved."
Greg de Carnys, Ladies manager, commented: "It's great to see the amount of girls that turned up to the trials and it shows the progress being made by the Ladies department at West Ham United with record numbers trying out for a place. All of the football on the day was played in good spirits and at a high intensity, despite the unusually high temperatures.
"As the new Academy Director I am excited at the prospect of taking the Academy forward by developing young players, providing them with the appropriate level of challenge in games & training, and ultimately giving good young players a pathway to the highest level of Ladies football in this country, giving them the opportunity to break into the first team here at West Ham, rather than losing them to American scholarships for example. The youth academy is a massive part of getting the first team to to WSL1 and keeping them there for years to come."
There is still time to sign-up for trials in our U10 and U12 age groups, with the sessions taking place at the West Ham United Foundation in Beckton on Saturday June 24. Sign up now by clicking here.
Senior trials are also set for Beckton this week, with interested players invited to sign up for the Tuesday June 20 date by clicking here.
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Southampton fixture reversed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United can confirm that our second fixture of the 2017/18 Premier League season, against Southampton, has been reversed and will now be played at St Mary's on the weekend of Saturday 19 August. The switch means that Southampton will visit London Stadium in the corresponding home fixture on Saturday 31 March, 2018. With an international break scheduled after our away game against Newcastle United on August 26, our first Premier League home match next season will therefore be the visit of newly-promoted Huddersfield Town on the weekend of Saturday 9 September.
However, ALL fixtures are still subject to change, with the Sky TV and BT Sport live televised fixtures for the opening two months of the season set to be confirmed in early July, and supporters are urged to bear this in mind when making any travel arrangements for fixtures.
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Joint-Chairman offers reward for info on attempted break-in
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Joint-Chairman David Sullivan has offered a £25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of a serial burglar, dubbed the Essex Spiderman.
The individual is alleged to have committed over 50 burglaries in the Essex area since Christmas 2016, spreading across Chigwell, Ongar and Brentwood, targeting mostly watches and jewellery.
The serial offender attempted to burgle Sullivan's house on Sunday 18 June and, although the attempt was unsuccessful, the Joint-Chairman has encouraged anyone with information relating to the Essex Spiderman's identity to come forward in a bid to stop the spree.
Sullivan said: "To have someone attempt break into your home is an awful experience, and I hope this reward will help bring the individual responsible to justice and prevent others going through the same ordeal."
Anyone who has any relevant information should email confidential@westhamunited.co.uk with as much detail as possible, which will then be shared with the police.
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TRANSFER BOOM OR BUST THIS WINDOW
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 19 JUNE 2017 AT 8:10PM
TheWestHamWayc.o.uk
Written by Steven McCarthy
Make no mistake, this is a huge window for us!
As a football club we managed to avoid relegation in our first season at our new home and being honest, it was touch and go for us at times and something that many of us were really fearing! We were told numerous times how relegation would be disastrous for us, and how we would be using the best retractable seating to make the London Stadium feel like home. But regardless of your views on the end product for the venue, I think a great transfer window could and really could have helped build the foundations to cement The London Stadium as our home.
How?
Last season we were met with months of rumours and pursuits of big name strikers, promises of 20 goal a season players and bids of numbers unlike anything we had ever previously seen as a club! In the end, there was nothing even remotely close to this, and I find myself wondering just how much that effected the fans and the transition into the London Stadium. When you have a player or players of quality, then every single week, everything around the club seems that little bit better!
We only have to look at the Payet effect of his time here and how when we knew what a quality player he was, detracted from the sadness of leaving The Boleyn. And it made the atmosphere at every game home and away that little bit more exciting knowing that we had such quality on the pitch! Imagine if we had gone into the new stadium with a Michy, Bacca or a Lacazette leading the line…
Fans would be going into every match with a sense of optimism, the atmosphere would be one of excitement, and the supporters are more likely to make there voices heard. I think ending up with a striker who was less of a "name" and let's face it, quality!
In the form of Zaza, hurt us to a point that we only really saw come to boil with a certain Snake.
Now what that slimey creature did is well documented, and we can never say for sure wether improved results on the pitch would have kept Payet happy. But if we had signed a big striker, someone prolific, who would really make us a scary prospect for teams, I think you can begin to call it into question. However what I do know is that as fans, having a quality striker would have created so much more positivity in and around the club and Stadium. Problems on pitch can even seem smaller when you know that you have that player up top who can knick you a point or two at any moment! Tevez is probably the player I think epitomises this for me as a fan during my time going to matches and really beginning to understand football. We were having a terrible season, but when Tevez was on the pitch everything seemed that bit better!
Pressure on the whole team is lifted somewhat when you know that you have an outlet or a spark in the side. And not just from the stands, if you have a prolific striker then issues such as Goal Keeping errors and the invisible Right Back are made that little bit smaller. But only if you have a striker who consistently produces! I am not saying that they have to scare every game, but they certainly need to be fit to play the majority of them.
Sakho is a lost cause, I think if we cannot sell him which seems the sad case, then we simply need to terminate his contract.
And in my opinion, I would sell Carroll as soon as possible. I love the work rate he shows and I cannot criticise him one bit as a footballer, but I simply cannot see him playing football in anything other than a cameo role from here on.
The Andy Carroll injury guess game was horrible for us last season. We all know what he is capable of on his day!
But when you have only 3 strikers with Premier League goals and experience in your ranks, one of who'm suffers a nasty long term injury at the start of the season, another who simply seems to be made of tracing paper, and somebody who seems to be as toxic in and around the grounds as he is behind the wheel of a Lamborghini, then you really lose that optimism for Match Day!
This Window is a chance for us to undo the mistakes we made and bring that optimism back! We need to spend and spend well, which unfortunately in this market means spending big! 25 million for Iheanacho, 20 or so for Giroud and a loan with a fee for Michy seems like the best options, 45-50 million is not a lot in todays market for a team looking to finish in the top half. Which I know, sounds absolutely daft, but to put it into context Leicester City spent 30 million on Slimani and Everton are spending over 50 million on Pickford and Klaassen.
If we go into next season with a dream striker selection of Giroud, Iheanacho and Michy can you imagine the buzz each week?
I am not saying for a second that I believe we will get all 3, but if ever there was a chance for the owners to right the wrongs of last Summer and take a big step toward making the Olympic Stadium a proper new home for us, this is it!
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MY FIXTURE PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW SEASON
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 19 JUNE 2017 AT 8:57PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written Adam Leatherbarrow @_ldesign
Hello you and welcome to my first article for The West Ham Way. Firstly, I'd like to express my pleasure to write for such an established fan site and to work alongside EX. Sites such as "TWHW" gives us the platform to be able to share my thoughts and opinions on a club we all share a love for. I hope you enjoy my maiden article for the site and hopefully will be able to post a lot more often.
If you're unaware of me, then please allow me to introduce myself to you. I'm a blooded West Ham fan brought up from Romford, Essex. My main profession has actually nothing to do with football or West Ham, I'm currently an Architectural Designer and have been for the past decade working on residential schemes from bespoke extensions to large master planning developments. Apart from the wife, Architecture takes up a huge part of my life. Any spare time I get, I share my passion with the beautiful game and West Ham. My main "goal" (excuse the pun) in my life, is to be able to be a main design consultant on Stadia Architectural projects; being able to merge my love for Sport and Architecture on a more regular basis.
An interesting fact about myself is that I'm the FIRST and ONLY person to have designed a stadium (single handily) purely for Three-Sided Football – a take on the conventional modern game we see today. I've featured in Four-Four-Two Magazine and I have also been on TalkSport talking about my design! Cool eh?!
For the past years in my spare time, I have been writing all things West Ham related on fan site West Ham World talking about Transfer Rumours, Transfer Opinions, Game previews, Kit reviews and statistical articles. Some have received good reviews, some have fired up fans for games and some have infuriated fans… All reactions (good and bad) is always a positive thing with my articles because it shows the passion within our fan base, even if it is keyboard bashing!
So let's start with an easy article… a breakdown of the 2017-18 Fixtures!
The fixtures have been out for a few days now and some interesting dates have been highlighted. 12th August we visit Manchester United to open our campaign and it's not the first time we have played a top 6 side on the opening day. We played Chelsea (lost 2-1) last Season, Arsenal (won 0-2) before that and Spurs (lost 1-0) before that, so it's safe to say that we have a tough opener! Manchester United do however start slow so maybe playing one of our hardest games on day one might not be as bad as we think.
Due to the Athletics being held at the London Stadium, West Ham first three games will be away from home, which means that the team will be making a total round trip of 1,222 miles in the first three weeks of the season! Playing the first three games away also means that Slaven will make his 100th appearance as boss at Newcastle. If we can get a minimum 4 points, I think the club will have done well considering the amount of travelling they will do. After an extensively travelled set of fixtures, there will be a well-timed international break between 28th August to 5th September where England will play Malta on 1st September and Slovakia on 4th September.
Once the first international break of the season has occurred, West Ham will FINALLY get to play their first home game of the season against newly promoted Huddersfield Town. The month of September will be kind to West Ham as we will be playing 75% of our monthly fixtures at home. The only away game of the month will be playing a well drilled Tony Pulis West Bromwich Albion side. We hardly get a good result at The Hawthorns apart from the win in the 2015-16 season. Hopefully the long break before and a solid home performance against Huddersfield could put us in a good run of form early in the season. Games followed by Tottenham and Swansea at home will put the premier league schedule on hold for another international break. With home advantage for the majority of our games, I would like to think that we can pick up at least seven more points.
The break will run from 2nd to 10th October where England will play two world cup qualifier matches against Slovenia and Lithuania. These will be the final two competitive games for the national side and will hopefully have secured qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
"England Qualify for the World Cup" Hooray!… another summer of disappointment next year it is! But before all that we restart the season by going to Turf Moor to face Burnley. ***Interesting Statistic Alert!!!*** with Sunderland and Middlesbrough playing Championship football next season, Burnley will be second furthest distance the players will have to travel for an away game. The team secured 3 points last season with goals from Feghouli and Ayew with an injury hit team. hopefully the squad will be at near full fitness and be able to have a more comfortable win this time round. West Ham return to the London Stadium to face another Premier League debutant in Brighton and Hove Albion. Premier League boys tend to play off adrenaline for the first few months, as we've seen previously. Brighton could be a banana skin fixture and with them managed by Stratford born Ex-Hammer Chris Houghton, I can see that particular team turning up to cause an upset. The following week we play Crystal Palace and this time without an ex-hammers boss in charge. The past two seasons we've played against Pardew and Allardyce taking all three points on both occasions. Who knows what will happen with Palace, it will be one of those games where a certain Jonathan Calleri signs for them in the summer, scores a hat trick against us and sticks 2 fingers up at the board… or maybe we'll win 3-1 again? October is a funny sort of month where we could get maximum points from the fixtures. In my personal opinion I think 4 points would be acceptable.
We start November playing at home where a Champions League Liverpool side could show signs of exhaustion early in the season. Playing midweek games in between fixtures, could mean that this game would be either a Saturday night game or a Sunday lunchtime game. Revenge on the cards? Hope so! This fixture puts the premier league season on hold against, as there is another international break and final one of 2017 before the 2018 World Cup draw on 1st December in Moscow, Russia. Watford away next in the league and this fixture will be the start of the toughest run in of the season, where there will be eleven games played without a weekend break. West Ham could rack up an astonishing 1,960 miles on the road by playing away 6 times between November and New Year's Day. For me, the summer transfer window is key for winter fixture congestion, wise spending on experienced players is what will help the club overcome the 11 games that will determine where West Ham will finish up in the league. The Watford away game is a "bogey" game as is the following fixture against Leicester City, where we have failed to get a point at home in the past 2 seasons. They say things come in three's and we played Everton away to complete the Triple Bogey run in for November. Like October, 4 points is the minimum we should achieve and I hope the players realise that the November games are all games we have to win. We have to start beating these type of teams to push us up the league. Everton, Watford and Leicester have all dented our progress in previous seasons and it is time this stopped.
We start December knowing that England are in the Group of Death for the upcoming World Cup and we all realise that winning the trophy is not going to happen. But back to reality and we face Manchester City away. If I was Bilic I would seriously consider setting up a base camp for the Everton and Man City games due to the amount of travelling involved over the space of four days, we're looking at over 900 miles, would be great to cut that down in half and use the games as one trip. It would be worth trying to get in touch with a Football or Rugby League side in the area to see if they would share their facilities for a few days to save on travelling. Maybe training sessions with a rugby team might toughen the players up a bit. Afterwards we then have two back to back Home London derbies against Chelsea and Arsenal, two games where the atmosphere will be electric under the lights on a dark cold winters afternoon. An away trip to Stoke City followed by a home game to Newcastle, ensures the midway point of the season.
Controversially, as reported by ExWHUemployee, the away boxing day game looks set to be a regular fixture and this season we go to Bournemouth. With a gentleman's agreement put in place by the club and neighbouring Westfield Shopping Centre, it appears that the boxing day sales are more important for an area that has been enriched with various sport in the past five years. How ironic… if it wasn't for the Olympics, there wouldn't have been a shopping centre, now the shops are shunning sport. West Ham finally go to Wembley in 2017, but it will be a league fixture against Tottenham Hotspur as they make the home of football their temporary base. The thought of West Ham beating Tottenham at Wembley sounds great, however it all sounds too good to be true. December is a hard-hitting month to play seven games in four weeks but I feel the club can look to achieve between 9-12 points, which would satisfy every hammer at the moment.
We start the new year at home playing WBA on new year's day, which will be played on Monday and the FA CUP weekend follows. West Ham make their first trip to Huddersfield in the premier league and in typical West Ham fashion, a win could be guaranteed but a loss is on the cards. Back to back home games against Bournemouth and Crystal Palace could be a blessing in disguise as we look to push up the table. January could be a good month for us, especially if we get a decent draw in the cup, I expect a minimum of 7 points, however I think we could get a maximum 12 points from those four fixtures.
We kick of February by going to Brighton away and again like the Huddersfield game, we could see a slip up on the south coast. Watford at home follows and again revenge for the 4-2 defeat of last season will be on the minds of most West Ham players. An Away trip to Liverpool could see West Ham go three consecutive games undefeated at Anfield for the first time ever, something even my old man hasn't seen in his lifetime! February could be a tricky month and if there hasn't been significant investment in the January transfer window, we could be set for a dip in form and not gaining many points. Minimum three points expected, whether its three draws or 1 win, 3 points is needed, we cannot go through a run of games without winning. Last season we saw three poor runs of results where we hadn't won for six games…. this just cannot happen again.
Spring has sprung and we go over to "daffodil land" to play Swansea City. If Paul Clement is still in charge, I cannot see us winning although The Liberty Stadium has been good to us in the past. Three Home games in a row for West Ham as Burnley make their 508 mile round trip to the London Stadium and we could look to expose Burnley's tiredness. Manchester United and Southampton follow with the hammers looking to improve on last season's meetings. Four games in March and with 3 home games, the club could should look to get a minimum 8 points and go undefeated in the month.
April in my opinion the toughest month for West Ham as we start the month playing Chelsea away. we could put in a performance and come away with a point and we normally do well at Chelsea's place later on in the season, so maybe a shock could be on the cards and denting their titles hopes. A home game at Stoke the following week could be our final win of the season considering the teams left to play. Arsenal away and Man City at home are two games I'm not hopeful for. I predict that we will get 3 points, however if the club come back with 4-6 points that will be a good couple of results to see out the season.
The month of May sees two bogey sides return, West Ham travel to The King Power Stadium to try and get 3 points against Leicester City and we end the season at home against Everton. The final two games could go either way but 2 points could be enough and seeing out the season not losing, would end the season on a positive.
Upon reflection of the fixtures for the upcoming 2017-18 season, there are significant parts of the season that will influence West Ham's final position. The start of the season indicates that the club need to be more affective away from home by gaining as many points as possible to upset the big clubs. The summer transfer window needs to address the eleven game run in during the winter period, by getting in experience players on a short term basis to prevent the squad being overused and inflict injuries. The club have to eliminate the potential stress of player playing through the pain barrier, we've seen Carroll, Sakho, Antonio, Noble, Ogbonna and Reid all play with injuries which has affected the team's performances. April 2018 could ruin all the hard work in the earlier parts of the season, games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City and Everton are ones that could either stop us gaining a European place, or they could relegate us.
My season prediction is that the current West Ham team (before any transfers have occurred as of this publication date) will get around 51 points this season, which on average would secure a top 10 finish. For Slaven Bilic to keep his job as West Ham manager, he would have to match the points tally of the 2015-16 season, otherwise his contract will not be renewed. I love Slaven as West Ham Boss and if he doesn't improve on his ratio at the club, it hates me to say it but then he has to leave. West Ham need a manager who is a "1 win from 2" rather than "1 win from 3" type of guy. Slaven is on the edge in terms of performances and his passion for the club is what is giving him another chance. His win ratio at West Ham is a mere 38%… 11% lower than his average and 13% below his Besiktas ratio (51%). For west ham to start considering themselves at a top 6 club, challenging for European football, they have to start winning more games, it's as simple as that.
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A GOALKEEPING DILEMMA
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 19 JUNE 2017 AT 8:44PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by @farehamhammer
I'm not going to put on a vest, hold a placard up and march to Downing Street and start shouting: "Randolph MUST go!" However one must accept, Darren Randolph, needs replacing. He is a poor goalkeeper. When Robert Green, was our custodian in goal, I would brick myself every time the opposition crossed the halfway line because 9 out ten times, it would land in the back of our net. Green was so bad at one stage, I thought he was part of a Middle East betting syndicate! I remember one game against Hull, when they had two shots but scored THREE goals! One he virtually threw into his own net. Anything could happen with Green in goal, from kicking the ball straight to the opposition, getting beaten at the near post and of course he feared crosses more than Satan. More often than not, the opposition would be out played, then have a shot and score. As a result heads would drop, and we would lose games we should have won.
When a team has no confidence in their goalkeeper, it makes the whole team jittery. I am afraid to say, that is the case when Darren Randolph is in goal. It's not just a West Ham 'thing', Randolph has been just as poor for Ireland. The man is pathetic at dealing with crosses, gets beaten at the near post, poor place keeping, with the ball often going straight to a nearby striker's feet and like Green, capable of the most outrageous of errors. Having to rely on Darren Randolph at some point next season will cost West Ham matches, so we will have to look at the goalkeeping position very carefully. I like Adrian, although he does have the odd rush of blood, he is a good goalkeeper and his defence is far less jittery when he is in goal. The clean sheets we started getting towards the end of last season, tells a story.
I have seen the clamour to sign Joe Hart, apparently Manchester City are willing to pay, £75000 per week of his £175 000 per week salary. The problem I have is this: Yes, Joe Hart is a good goalkeeper, also prone to the odd error but he is certainly NOT an exceptional goalkeeper. In an ideal world one would have, both Hart and Adrian, as our first team goalkeepers, but that is not going to happen. If you sign Hart, both Adrian and Randolph will be off. Adrian, a Spanish international, will not be prepared to sit on the bench twiddling his thumbs with the World Cup in mind. He will be off and he won't be short of suitors, who could blame him if he did so? There is not that much between Joe Hart and Adrian …accept wages, with Hart probably earning about £125 000 per week more. How do you think that would go down, not just with Adrian, but the rest of the squad as well? Time to say no to Hart and invest the £100 000 in wages elsewhere in the team.
So what do we do about our no 2 goalkeeper if we manage to flog Randolph? Even the big clubs don't have star second choice goalkeepers, the key is getting a steady goalkeeper as your number 2, far easier said than done. We have been linked with Norwich City's John Ruddy, with groans of not another free! Let's look at the reason why Ruddy was released. Yes, he did not have a great season last season, but neither did Norwich City as a whole. He was not offered a new contract, simply because Norwich could not afford him. However make no mistake, John Ruddy is hugely popular with the Carrow Road crowd, having produced several outstanding performances over the years. Indeed they produced a big banner at his final game saying: "Thank You for everything big John"! A big man is John Ruddy indeed! I remember Didier Drogba being laid out cold after colliding with big John. I would personally welcome Big John to The London Stadium, an experienced and steady goalkeeper, who won't let The Club down if called upon. Hart at £100,000 per week? Jog on son! No, Adrian at number 1 with big John at number 2.We're more than a football club, we're a way of life!
COYI!!
Farehamhammer!!!!
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Kouyate unsure what future holds
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
West Ham midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate say that last season was the toughest the club had experienced for some considerable time - and that he is unsure what the future holds for him. The experienced Senegal international, who was signed by Sam Allardyce in 2014 admitted that the 2016/17 campaign was his toughest since leaving Anderlecht to join the Hammers.
And when asked whether he was likely to remain at the Olympic Stadium for the forseeable future, Kouyate's reply was non-commital. "I do not know for the moment," he told Sen360FR. "I am on holiday and not taking care of certain things. "Every player dreams of going as high as possible. There are certain things that are not said publicly. What counts is that at the resumption [of pre-season training], I will be with West Ham. The rest, I do not control."
Kouyate also revealed that the departure of Dimitri Payet played a major role in the team's indifferent form last season, despite reports suggesting the players were happy to see the French international leave. "There have been many ups and downs this season,"he added. "This is the hardest we have seen in recent years, but luckily we have secured survival. "We fought to stay in the Premier League. I have never experienced such a situation because it is harder to fight when you are at the bottom of the ladder. Before each game, we were obliged to keep one eye on the teams immediately below us [in the table]. "It was difficult especially after the departure of our star, Dimitri Payet. We had to put in place a different style of play because before all we played for him. Now we had to play as a team. "His departure was of a family nature. It was difficult for him. He did not find the love he hoped for at the club and since the family sometimes decides, he did not hesitate. "He preferred to go back to France. It is his choice that we respect. I spoke to him on the phone two days ago. He is happy and well. As for us, it took some time but in the end we clicked."
Kouyate also revealed that he had been unhappy at being asked to fill in at right back by Slaven Bilic - especially when a qualified full back was available. "We lost our right-hand side and some defenders who could evolve at that level," he recalled. "It was then that the coach asked me to help out. "Initially, I was reluctant to complain when he told me it was just for a game. It was just after the African Cup. But after the third match, there was a defender available. Nevertheless, Bilic played me there me again. "Not only did I lose my bearings, but I was not good on the field. I was stuck in my evolution. Even the coach realised this. I did not feel good, so I took my responsibilities to tell the coach that I could no longer continue [in that position]."
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Hoffenheim want Hammers midfielder
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
Hoffenheim are the latest Bundesliga club to be linked with a move for Havard Nordtveit. KUMB reported last week how the Norwegian international had refused to rule out a return to Germany, despite having served just one year of a five-year contract with West Ham.
And now Hoffenheim, who recently lost midfielders Sebastian Rudy and Pirmin Schwegler are understood to have indicated an interest in taking Nordtveit back to the European mainland. Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg have also been closely linked with a move for the 26-year-old.
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Oxford in Germany for talks
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford has arrived in Germany ahead of a season-long loan move to Borussia Monchengladbach. The 18-year-old had been widely tipped to feature in Slaven Bilic's first team squad next term but will instead feature in the Bundesliga for Die Fohlen, should talks progress without any hitches. Oxford flew into Germany earlier today for talks with Monchengladbach who are seeking a replacement for Chelsea centre-half Andreas Christensen. The young Dane has spent the last two seasons on loan at Borussia Park. West Ham have no intention of selling Oxford, who spent the latter half of last season on loan with Championship side Reading, on a permanent basis.
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West Ham youngster Reece Oxford seals Bundesliga move to Borussia Monchengladbach
The Hammers starlet's management have shared a picture of him being unveiled with Foals sporting director Max Eberl
The Mirror
BYJACK RATHBORN
20:08, 19 JUN 2017UPDATED20:19, 19 JUN 2017
Reece Oxford has joined Borussia Monchengladbach from West Ham, according to his management. As first revealed by the Mirror weeks ago, the Hammers were keen to send Oxford out on a season-long loan with the Foals to gain first team experience and Colossal Sports Management have posted a picture of the player alongside Gladbach's sporting director Max Eberl to confirm the deal. The 18-year-old follows Chelsea youngster Andreas Christensen in moving from the Premier League to the Borussia Park in order to develop as a player. Oxford, who signed a new deal last season until 2021, is versatile and can play in centre-midfield or at centre-back. After a couple of appearances under Slaven Bilic in the Europa League qualifiers, Oxford's involvement in the first team was cut short, leading to a five-month loan spell with Reading. The second-youngster player to start a Premier League game against Arsenal in August 2015, aged 16 years and 198 days, the Hammers have held him back since. Gladbach have a fine record in nurturing young talent and offered Christensen 81 games in a two-year loan spell, which will give West Ham optimism that Oxford will be handed a similar amount of game time.
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West Ham set to confirm Reece Oxford loan deal to Borussia Monchengladbach
JAMES BENGE
Evening Stadnard
West Ham defender Reece Oxford has all but completed his loan move to Borussia Monchengladbach. The 18-year-old will join the Bundesliga side on a season-long loan and completed his medical earlier on Tuesday. Oxford signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the London Stadium in December before heading out to Championship side Reading, where he made only five appearances under Jaap Stam in what was a frustrating spell away from his parent club. Gladbach will hope Oxford can fill the space vacated by Danish international Andreas Christensen, who has returned to Chelsea after spending two seasons on loan at Borussia Park.
Despite his second loan departure this year hopes remain high that Oxford, an England Under-19 international, can establish himself in the West Ham senior side.
Slaven Bilic handed Oxford his Premier League debut at the age of just 16 years and 198 days in a 2-0 win at Arsenal in August 2015, a match in which Oxford won rave reviews for his exceptional marshalling of Mesut Ozil. That performance alerted a string of top sides to Oxford's quality and prior to signing his £1million-a-year extension at West Ham he was coveted by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.
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Reece Oxford: West Ham defender to join Borussia Monchengladbach on loan
By David Ornstein
BBC Sport
West Ham defender Reece Oxford is close to completing a season-long loan move to Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach. The 18-year-old, who spent five months on loan at Reading last season, has had a medical ahead of a move to Germany. Oxford was the second-youngest player to start a Premier League match when he played against Arsenal, aged 16 years and 198 days, in August 2015.
He signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal at West Ham in December 2016.
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Kouyate hits out at as he admits he doesn't know what his West Ham future holds
The midfielder gave the explosive quotes in an interview and it appears he hasn't been too happy
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
16:55, 19 JUN 2017
Cheikhou Kouyate has lashed out at manager Slaven Bilic for playing him at right back last season and added he doesn't know what the future holds. The surprising comments came in an interview the Senegal midfielder conducted with Sen360FR on Wednesday as he admitted last season was his toughest at the club. The departure of Dimitri Payet contributed to that in Kouyate's eyes, but him playing out of position, when right backs were in the squad, irked him the most. Kouyate said: "We lost our right-hand side and some defenders who could evolve at that level. It was then that the coach asked me to help out. "Initially, I was reluctant to complain when he told me it was just for a game. It was just after the African Cup. But after the third match, there was a defender available. Nevertheless, Bilic played me there me again. "Not only did I lose my bearings, but I was not good on the field. I was stuck in my evolution. Even the coach realised this. I did not feel good, so I took my responsibilities to tell the coach that I could no longer continue [in that position]."
When asked about his future at the London Stadium, Kouyate was very non-comittal He added: ""I do not know for the moment. I am on holiday and not taking care of certain things. "Every player dreams of going as high as possible. There are certain things that are not said publicly. What counts is that at the resumption [of pre-season training], I will be with West Ham. The rest, I do not control."
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WEST HAM READY TO BID €10M FOR SILVAN WIDMER
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
ReadWestHam
Despite recruiting Pablo Zabaleta from Manchester City on a free transfer earlier this month, West Ham are still reportedly in the market for a right-back. According to Italian source Il Messaggero (h/t Sport Witness), the Hammers are said to be ready to make a €10m bid to sign Udinese fullback Silvan Widmer this summer. Since arriving in Serie A four years ago from Granada, Widmer has been a regular in the Udinese side, making 28 appearances last season, providing four assists. Able to play at right-back or in a wing-back role, Widmer is an ideal fit on paper for a West Ham side that have been rotating between a back four and back three formation. The 24-year-old is capped nine times by Switzerland but a move for him doesn't really make much sense. Slaven Bilic brought in Zabaleta on a two-year deal to provide competition but more importantly mentorship to Sam Byram who is still developing his game, so throwing Widmer into the mix does raise eyebrows, perhaps regarding the future of the former Leeds standout. West Ham still need to add to their defensive ranks but another right-back isn't the right move in our minds.
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Hamburg struggling to finance deal to take Havard Nordtveit back to Germany from West Ham
The midfielder is set for an exit from the Hammers this summer but one destination might be ruled out
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
13:00, 19 JUN 2017
Hamburg want to take Havard Nordtveit off West Ham's hands this summer but they are struggling to match his wage demands, meaning any move could collapse, according to reports in Germany. The Norwegian midfielder had a disappointing campaign at the Hammers following his free transfer from Borussia Moenchengladbach last summer, signing a five-year deal. He was also handed a reported £55,000 a week wage by West Ham when he signed, in the upper echelon of earners at the club at the time. However, it appears a move hasn't quite worked out in England, but the man who made 16 appearances for the club last season is adamant he wants to stay in east London. He said: "At the moment, I let the speculation lie. "I still have four years left on his contract with West Ham. And I'm getting ready to take part in preparations for the new season."
Hamburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Wolfsburg are all reportedly interested in his signature and it's Hamburg who have made the first move, according to Germna outlet Bild, but they are struggling to match his earnings.
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West Ham striker Enner Valencia lined up for Tigres move - sources
1:13 PM BST
Peter O'Rourke
ESPN
West Ham United are ready to sell Enner Valencia to Mexican side Tigres UANL, sources close to the London club have told ESPN FC. Valencia, 27, spent last season on loan at Everton, but they have opted against making the move permanent. The Ecuador international made five starts in the Premier League during his stint at Everton and scored just three goals in 30 appearances in all competitions.
Valencia is well down the pecking order at West Ham and manager Slaven Bilic is prepared to let him move on in order to generate funds for his own transfer plans. The striker is highly regarded in Mexico after starring for Pachuca before joining West Ham in 2014. Valencia is keen on a move away in search of regular first-team football and the opportunity to return closer to Ecuador makes Tigres an attractive proposition for the striker.
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West Ham may face battle from Man Utd for Joe Hart - and Hammers also want Olivier Giroud
Jason Burt, chief football correspondent
19 JUNE 2017 • 11:09AM
Telepgrah.co.uk
West Ham United are keen to sign Joe Hart and will press ahead with a move for Olivier Giroud if Arsenal sign any new strikers. The deal for Hart would most likely be a season-long loan and it is understood that the England international wants to make the move to West Ham. An intriguing complication could be if Manchester United sell David De Gea to Real Madrid as it is believed that manager Jose Mourinho is genuinely interested in signing Hart. However, it is extremely difficult to see Manchester City allowing the 30-year-old to cross over to their city rivals.
A move to West Ham makes more sense and the club would regard the signing as a big statement of intent ahead of the new season with Hart also looked upon as a strong character and a potential leader for the squad. The fact that he is English is also an attraction to West Ham. Hart recently admitted that he does not know where his future lies after the end of his season-long loan to the Italian club, Torino, given he is not wanted at City. "I need an offer first and then I need to work out my options if I have choices. I want to be playing at the highest possible level, pushing myself," Hart said after England's recent World Cup qualifier away to Scotland. Hart also knows that his position as England No 1 is under serious threat with Jack Butland fit again and Jordan Pickford, who has just completed a £30million move to Everton, pushing hard to be promoted to the senior squad from the England Under-21s. The scale of Hart's wages would make a permanent move to West Ham very difficult, but both parties would consider a loan agreement, it seems, although that also depends on the fee demanded by City. Ideally Hart would want a permanent deal to kick-start his career and settle his long-term future and sources suggest that could even be offered by United if they relent and allow De Gea to seal his dream move to Real Madrid.
Mourinho would love to take a player from City, where Hart was popular among the fans but unwanted by manager Pep Guardiola, but it remains highly unlikely that a deal between the two clubs is agreed under any circumstance. West Ham are attempting to re-shape their squad this summer after a disappointing first campaign at the London Stadium and Giroud's future is also being closely monitored.
Arsenal are bidding to sign Giroud's French international team-mate Alexandre Lacazette and have also continued to track the future of Kylian Mbappe at Monaco, although Real Madrid are the favourites to sign him should he leave. If Arsenal make any signings then it appears that Giroud may be available for transfer. The 30-year-old will not want to become a marginalised player at Arsenal – and he only made 11 Premier League starts last season – especially with the World Cup in Russia next summer. However, if Alexis Sanchez leaves Arsenal, with Bayern Munich his most likely destination, Arsene Wenger may not want to allow Giroud to also go. West Ham want to improve their attacking options, in particular, and have also registered an interest previously in City's Kelechi Iheanacho, but it appears he is too expensive.
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West Ham should accept Iheanacho's buyback fee and focus on the present
HITC
Vincent Ralph
West Ham United had been linked with the Manchester City youngster but things have gone quiet after a reported impasse. According to a report from Own Goal Nigeria, West Ham United walked away from discussions regarding the potential transfer of Manchester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho after the two sides could not agree on the buyback clause. City are said to have wanted a fee that was not acceptable to the Hammers, but given their need for additional quality fire-power, Slaven Bilic's side should be focusing on the here and now.
Such is Iheanacho's ability in front of goal that City were never going to allow him to leave unless they could buy him back for a decent fee if he goes on to fulfil his potential. West Ham would, like any club, want to sign a player they know is theirs for as long as they want them. However when it comes to signing the most prolific young strikers in European football, it is rarely that easy.
West Ham could walk away from the deal and hope to sign another striker or two. The problem is, as their fans will tell you it is easier said than done. Last summer Bilic's side was linked with some of the most exciting forwards in the game. They ended up with Simone Zaza and Jonathan Calleri. Such is City's strength in depth and the likelihood of additional new recruits both this summer and in future transfer windows, that they are unlikely to activate Iheanacho's buyback clause any time soon. That means West Ham could have a prolific young forward for the next few years and when you consider City are willing to sell, the Hammers should act before it is too late. The 20-year-old scores almost every time he starts and he is only going to get better in the years to come. West Ham may know they only have him for a limited time but they are likely to make their money back, and even if City are pushing for a cut-price return, he will more than pay the difference if he performs to his best ability for however long he is at the London Stadium. Iheancho is an exciting yet achievable target, and West Ham need to act on one of those or risk another summer of bitter disappointment.
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Key figure shares interesting advantage West Ham have this season over past two years
HITC
Antony Martin
West Ham United will not have the Europa League to contend with this season. Hammers' newly appointed Head of Medical Services Gary Lewin wrote a column for the club's official website, and highlighted a huge advantage the squad have this time around, over last year's pre-season. Lewin, the former Arsenal and England physio, has been in his role at West Ham for three weeks, and what with their horrendous injury record last term, he arguably faces the toughest challenge of his career at the London Stadium. Getting to the bottom of ongoing issues for the likes of Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho will surely feature highly on Lewin's priority list. And the east Londoner's fitness supremo told WHUFC.com how a pre-season schedule without the inclusion of Europa League football could prove to be a major plus for the Hammers as far as their hopes for a successful Premier League campaign are concerned:
"For the last two summers, the Club have had early competitive football in the Europa League, and that can be tough. It's not so much the early start, but more the unknown aspect of it when you are planning – who are we playing, where are we travelling. That can make it difficult to plan individual programmes for players who may be at different levels of fitness and conditioning. This year we can set in stone what we are doing, and have a pre-conceived plan all the way through to August 12. We can all be on the same page, with the same levels of fitness and, hopefully, have everyone relatively injury-free and ready to go."
West Ham's pre-season will consist of training camps in both Austria and Germany, before they head to Iceland to take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City one week before the start of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign. And Hammers fans will be looking for a better start to the season than the one their club experienced last term.
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West Ham defender Reece Oxford touches down in Germany ahead of Borussia Monchengladbach loan deal
Reece Oxford is tipped to become the future West Ham and England captain
Defender is set to head to Borussia Monchengladbach on loan next season
The 18-year-old touched down in Germany on Monday for advanced talks
Chelsea's Andreas Christensen has spent the last two seasons on loan at club
By SAMI MOKBEL FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:26, 19 June 2017 | UPDATED: 09:26, 19 June 2017
West Ham starlet Reece Oxford has arrived in Germany to complete a season-long loan deal to Borussia Monchengladbach. The 18-year-old has flown over for advanced talks with the Bundesliga club and is expected to agree a deal for the entirety of next season. Oxford is tipped as a future West Ham and England captain, but the Hammers want their teenager to gain regular first team football next season.
Chelsea centre half Andreas Christensen has spent the last two seasons on loan at Monchengladbach, nurturing a reputation as one of the most promising defenders in Europe. And the German club believe Oxford can make a similar impression in the Bundesliga next season.
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West Ham United's Angelo Ogbonna wants Italy return
HITC
Shane Callaghan
The West Ham United man wants to re-join an Italian club, according to reports from Italy. Il Secolo XIX has reported that West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna wants a return to Italy this summer. The Italian newspaper suggests that Serie A outfit Sampdoria will consider the 29-year-old centre-back as an option to potentially replace highly-rated Milan Skriniar, who has been linked with a switch to Inter Milan. And Il Secolo XIX goes on to state that the Italy international - signed from Juventus in 2015 - wants a return to his homeland. If true then it will come as a blow to West Ham after his importance to the team was underlined in the second half of the 2016-17 campaign. Ogbonna missed half of last season with a knee injury sustained in January, and the Irons struggled in his absence.
He underwent knee surgery following an injury in a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough, and Slaven Bilic's side managed to win only one of their subsequent nine Premier League outings in a run of horrendous form which included six defeats. He should, in theory, be ready for the start of next season after starting West Ham's 2-1 win at Burnley on the final day of the campaign and Bilic should do everything in his power to ensure that his centre-back is still at the club. Then again, his five-month layoff might have had adverse affects on his game. Jose Fonte is a capable defender but the last five months of last season proved that he is not in Ogbonna's league.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 20
Monday, June 19
Daily WHUFC News - 19th June 2017
Jose Fonte's Portugal held by Mexico in Confederations Cup opener
WHUFC.com
Jose Fonte and Portugal made a drawing start to their FIFA Confederations
Cup campaign when they were twice pegged back by Mexico on Sunday afternoon.
Portugal will be disappointed to not have taken maximum points in Kazan,
after Ricardo Quaresma and Cedric Soares gave them the lead in both halves.
Southampton's Soares' goal, just four minutes from time, looked to have
secured a 2-1 victory, but Hector Moreno nodded home a leveller in stoppage
time.
Former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez had earlier cancelled out
Quaresma's clever opener.
Fonte played the 90 minutes alongside Pepe at centre back to earn his 24th
Portugal cap.
Portugal sit level with Mexico in joint-second in Group A after their first
game, with Russia beating New Zealand 2-0 in Saturday's opening fixture.
The Portuguese are back in action on Wednesday when they take on the hosts
Russia.
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Lewin: West Ham United pre-season schedule is perfect preparation
WHUFC.com
Gary Lewin, West Ham United's new Head of Medical Services, looks ahead to
the pre-season schedule, which will take in training camps in Austria and
Germany before a trip to Iceland to face Manchester City a week before the
start of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign…
Austria is the choice for a lot of Premier League clubs now, mainly because
it's a great environment – the facilities and hotels are always very good,
the hotels and pitches are a good standard but, more importantly, you can
isolate the team, so that you can purely focus on pre-season and football.
It is a chance for the squad and the staff to enjoy some team bonding and
work together in preparation for the start of the season.
Over the last few years it has become common for teams to travel around the
world for pre-season tours and matches that have a commercial element to
them and so, from my point of view, it was fantastic to come here and see
that we are going to Austria and Germany for purely fitness and football.
It means that I will have time to really get to know the players, and we can
have that real consistency of training. We're based in one place on each
trip, there isn't much travelling, and everything is organised for the
benefit of the players.
It also means that we can take our injured players with us – we are not
isolating them from the main squad and, although they will be integrated
back into training at different times, they will essentially have been a
part of the same programme.
For the last two summers, the Club have had early competitive football in
the Europa League, and that can be tough. It's not so much the early start,
but more the unknown aspect of it when you are planning – who are we
playing, where are we travelling. That can make it difficult to plan
individual programmes for players who may be at different levels of fitness
and conditioning.
This year we can set in stone what we are doing, and have a pre-conceived
plan all the way through to August 12. We can all be on the same page, with
the same levels of fitness and, hopefully, have everyone relatively
injury-free and ready to go.
I'm really looking forward to getting started now. We are away for a period
of nearly three weeks, which will give me a great opportunity for me to get
to know everyone, and for them to get to know me.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE EXCLUSIVE COLUMN FOR BRACE THE HAMMER
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 18 JUNE 2017 AT 9:36PM
For those of you that missed my column yesterday for Brace the Hammer
website here is the link:
https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/transfer-news/2017/6/17/15823844/exwhuem
ployee-transfer-update In the article I speak of all the latest transfers
news that is happening at the moment. I am really pleased to have worked
with that website following on from my appearance on The Three Hammers
website. I think it is really important for the West Ham sites to work
together to try and bring new and exciting content and hopefully there will
be future opportunities in the summer. We will continue to bring exclusive
transfer news on our radio show and through the site throughout the summer
so keep checking back!
West Ham United transfer discussion: the latest rumblings out of East London
Everyone's favorite ITK discusses transfer news, kits, and more!
by ExWHUemployee Jun 17, 2017, 10:22am EDT
So I have decided to write this column for Brace the Hammer having appeared
on the Three Hammers podcast during the week, which you can watch here. I am
very keen to collaborate with other West Ham sites and I'm delighted that
Brace The Hammer offered me the opportunity to post on their site.
So this is a follow on from our weekly radio show on Phoenix FM where I
always do a section on inside club news. This week we were lucky enough to
have up and coming Boxer and West Ham fan Sammy McNess on the show.
Since the show, where our interest was first mentioned, we've submitted a
bid for Middlesbrough and former Barcelona player Adama Traore. As is often
the case with these transfers at this stage, the two sides are said to be a
long way apart in terms of their valuation. We are believed to have offered
around £8m for the player although it is feared that 'Boro may want more
than double this for the player. Whilst the forward position has always been
the priority, it is believed that Slav does also want a tricky winger with
pace as well- Traore fits that bill perfectly. Some bookmakers have closed
the betting on him signing for us, this does seem a little premature but
certain people are convinced that we have a very strong chance of completing
this signing.
The deal could depend on the departure of one or two of our current wingers.
There is said to be a number of clubs interested in taking Robert Snodgrass
off our hands with the likes of Brighton, Huddersfield and Sheffield
Wednesday all appearing to have some interest. If we could recoup near what
we paid Hull for him in January, I think we will see his departure. If the
right offer comes in for Feghouli too we would accept that and this makes
our need for a winger much greater. We also have an interest in Tadic of
Southampton as well as a number of pacey wingers from the continent
including the famously named Cafu.
Henry Onyekuru can also play as a winger although his goals record last year
in Belgium suggests that he should be a forward. We are still very keen on
this player however complications around his work permit are causing us
issues as far as the transfer is concerned. Other clubs are interested and
it will be interesting to see how this develops. Another Nigerian who we are
after is Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City. The transfer appeared to be
getting close and then Manchester City wanted to negotiate a buy back clause
within the deal. This buy back clause is said to be the stumbling block
because Manchester City want it to be quite low meaning the player could
affectively walk out on us back to his original club for a minimal profit.
Leicester City look like they may be prepared to do this but we are still
not out of the running in this deal.
Olivier Giroud seems to be the forward we want most and the club have said
they will match any offers for him, we employed a similar tactic with
Snodgrass and Fonte in January. We will make him our highest paid player as
well and for me I think this is a great signing. He has scored at all levels
including the very top at World Cup and Euro tournaments. His goals to
minutes ratio is consistently one of the best in the league. Giroud is said
to want to stay in London and get first team football to maintain his place
in the French national squad, so hopefully this will put us in a good
position.
The Conte situation at Chelsea is a little bit unsettling for our move for
Batshuayi because it has delayed the process a little. Chelsea are still set
to spend big and Lukaku seems pretty much a done deal to return there
meaning it is likely that they will sell his compatriot. A further
complication however is that Batshuayi appears to be hoping a club who are
in a European competition move for him and a return to the French league
could also be on the cards. We hope to persuade him to stay in London and
prove our West London rivals wrong in their treatment of him.
We were also keen on Bertrand Traore (the Chelsea forward) but he appears to
have secured a move elsewhere. We had also submitted bids for Modeste, who
plays in Germany, but once more the price they have placed on the player is
way beyond our valuation.
The situation worryingly mirrors last year's summer transfer window a little
but the club is determined to not come up short again. We have a long list
of forward targets and, at this stage, we are confident of pushing through
at least two of them.
We have been linked with Chris Smalling of Manchester United and Kone of
Sunderland for the centre back position but at the moment I do not believe
either of these transfers are particularly going anywhere because our
targets and priorities remain further up the pitch, should we sign some
players then we may move back for these two although it is the one position
that we have plenty of options in.
There will be a few player departures this summer. It looks like Nordtveit
will return to the German league. I appear to have been misquoted quite a
lot on this following our radio show by the big twitter accounts. I didn't
say he was definitely leaving but I think he is likely to. With the
departures of Gokhan Tore, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jonathan Calleri, this should
allow us to bring in a few players. We have also released Stephen Hendrie, a
player who we thought would become a good player for us, and Raphael Spiegel
is likely to join Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium. This would leave us with
Nathan Trott as out third choice keeper so a move for John Ruddy, the former
Norwich keeper, could be on the cards to replace Spiegel.
Joe Hart is obviously a high profile keeper that has also been linked with
us and we do maintain an interest in him. His wages are around £175k a week.
Either he would need to reduce his wages significantly or Manchester City
would need to be prepared to pay a percentage for us to make our move. We
cannot pay him his current wages because this would smash our wage structure
with Hart earning more than double our next highest paid player.
The new home shirt is the shirt that has gone viral across the internet
following its release early in Thailand. This goes with white shorts and
white socks. The goalkeepers kit it quite nice and is a mainly all yellow
number with green under the arms. We also have a light blue third shirt that
is likely to be released in early September too. I have described these kits
in detail on the radio show and in my regular place for my articles, The
West Ham Way. Here you will find exclusive articles where most West Ham news
breaks from.
Thank you to Brace The Hammer for the chance to collaborate.
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ADRIAN CAN BE A WORLD CLASS KEEPER
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 18 JUNE 2017 AT 9:59PM
TheWestHamWayc.o.uk
Written by Steve Eisner @1westhamfan
A number of fans have lost faith in Adrian, and believe we can do better.
While I was upset at his rush of blood vs Stoke (1-1) last November, which
cost us a victory and the possibility to have ended 8th in the table on 48
points, I believe he finished very strongly when he returned at the close
season. It seems his time on the bench gave him an opportunity to reflect
on his shortcomings and to refocus his mentality. He is clearly a fiery
competitor and losing his place to Randolph surely provided him with extra
motivation to regain – and maintain – his place.
Adrian impresses me with his shot-stopping, his ability to command his 6
yard box, and his love for the club. I believe he is a world class
goalkeeper when his mind is right and when he has a settled defense in front
of him, which we did not have for most of this last year. Others have well
covered the reasons for our unsettled defence of 2016-17. I will not go
right back to those reasons. Yes, pun intended.
I know that good goalkeepers don't become poor goalkeepers overnight, so I
decided to look back on our outstanding 2015-16 season when Adrian was our
#1. I compared his save percentage to other PL goalkeepers who played at
least 20 games. The statistics that follow show save percentage and the
ratio of saves-to-shots:
Name (2015-16) SV% SV*/S**
Cech (ARS) .253 99/391
Gomes (WAT) .244 122/499
Butland (STK) .241 102/423
Hart (MC) .239 71/296
Guzan (AV) .239 89/372
Howard (EVE) .236 81/343
Courtois (CHE) .234 66/281
Fabianski (SWA) .226 14/503
ADRIAN (WHU) .22 101/458
Lloris (TOT) .21 87/413
Myhill (WBA) .206 66/320
DeGea (MU) .205 80/379
Mignolet (LIV) .204 70/342
Elliot (NEW) .20 58/290
Hennessey (CP) .198 79/397
Boruc (BOR) .195 73/374
Ruddy (NOR) .193 67/346
Schmeichel (LEI) .193 100/516
* – Source: Fox Sports (http://
http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/stats?competition=1&season=20150&category=GO
ALKEEPING&pos=Goalie&team=0&isOpp=0&sort=8&sortOrder=0
** – Shots not Shots on Goal
As you see, Adrian came in 9th out of 18, and above such big-name
goalkeepers like Lloris and DeGea.
In sum, I maintain my faith in Adrian, and at 30 years of age and with the
right tactics and personnel employed to provide the proper protection in
front of him, I'm confident he can remain a top PL goalkeeper. Although
some may disagree, statistics show that he was in fact a top PL goalkeeper
in 2015-16. Like tables, statistics don't' lie.
And good goalkeepers don't become poor goalkeepers overnight.
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HUDDERSFIELD PREPARING £5M BID FOR ASHLEY FLETCHER
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
readWestHam
Much was thought of Ashley Fletcher when he arrived at West Ham on a free
transfer from Manchester United last summer. Slaven Bilic decided to keep
the 21-year-old in the first-team squad as additional depth in the forward
ranks but the England U20 international featured more prominently than
expected. Fletcher made 20 appearances for the Hammers last season, scoring
once and it came at Old Trafford against his former club in the EFL Cup
quarter-final, but it remains to be seen if he has a place in the squad next
season. West Ham want to bring in at least two new strikers this summer
which could see Fletcher on the outside looking in, and the Mirror report
that Huddersfield are preparing a £5m bid for the former Barnsley loanee.
David Wagner failed with a loan bid for the striker in January and has
retained his interest in the towering centre-forward following their
promotion to the Premier League. The Hammers paid a £500,000 compensation
fee to Manchester United for Fletcher, and what Huddersfield are said to be
offering is a decent return on that investment and is an offer I would
consider accepting.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SAMPDORIA INTERESTED IN SIGNING ANGELO OGBONNA
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
ReadWestHam
Angelo Ogbonna has been a huge success for West Ham since his £8m arrival
from Juventus nearly two years ago but he's being lined up for a return to
Serie A.
According to Il Secolo XIX newspaper (h/t Football Italia), Sampdoria are
considering a move for the 29-year-old centre-back this summer.
Ogbonna came through the ranks at Torino and impressed at the club, earning
himself a move to Juventus in 2013 but never developed into anything more
than a backup player for the Serie A champions and was sold to the Hammers.
A regular in the starting line-up, Ogbonna was sorely missed by West Ham
after he underwent knee surgery in January and missed virtually the rest of
the season before returning on the final day of the campaign.
Only contracted to the club until the summer of 2019, the Italy
international will need to be tied down to a new long-term deal in order to
put an end to speculation to a move away from the club, which the Hammers
are keen on doing.
The uncertainty surrounding Ogbonna's future could be the reason why the
Hammers are weighing up bids for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling
and Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Jose Fonte and Portugal made a drawing start to their FIFA Confederations
Cup campaign when they were twice pegged back by Mexico on Sunday afternoon.
Portugal will be disappointed to not have taken maximum points in Kazan,
after Ricardo Quaresma and Cedric Soares gave them the lead in both halves.
Southampton's Soares' goal, just four minutes from time, looked to have
secured a 2-1 victory, but Hector Moreno nodded home a leveller in stoppage
time.
Former Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez had earlier cancelled out
Quaresma's clever opener.
Fonte played the 90 minutes alongside Pepe at centre back to earn his 24th
Portugal cap.
Portugal sit level with Mexico in joint-second in Group A after their first
game, with Russia beating New Zealand 2-0 in Saturday's opening fixture.
The Portuguese are back in action on Wednesday when they take on the hosts
Russia.
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Lewin: West Ham United pre-season schedule is perfect preparation
WHUFC.com
Gary Lewin, West Ham United's new Head of Medical Services, looks ahead to
the pre-season schedule, which will take in training camps in Austria and
Germany before a trip to Iceland to face Manchester City a week before the
start of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign…
Austria is the choice for a lot of Premier League clubs now, mainly because
it's a great environment – the facilities and hotels are always very good,
the hotels and pitches are a good standard but, more importantly, you can
isolate the team, so that you can purely focus on pre-season and football.
It is a chance for the squad and the staff to enjoy some team bonding and
work together in preparation for the start of the season.
Over the last few years it has become common for teams to travel around the
world for pre-season tours and matches that have a commercial element to
them and so, from my point of view, it was fantastic to come here and see
that we are going to Austria and Germany for purely fitness and football.
It means that I will have time to really get to know the players, and we can
have that real consistency of training. We're based in one place on each
trip, there isn't much travelling, and everything is organised for the
benefit of the players.
It also means that we can take our injured players with us – we are not
isolating them from the main squad and, although they will be integrated
back into training at different times, they will essentially have been a
part of the same programme.
For the last two summers, the Club have had early competitive football in
the Europa League, and that can be tough. It's not so much the early start,
but more the unknown aspect of it when you are planning – who are we
playing, where are we travelling. That can make it difficult to plan
individual programmes for players who may be at different levels of fitness
and conditioning.
This year we can set in stone what we are doing, and have a pre-conceived
plan all the way through to August 12. We can all be on the same page, with
the same levels of fitness and, hopefully, have everyone relatively
injury-free and ready to go.
I'm really looking forward to getting started now. We are away for a period
of nearly three weeks, which will give me a great opportunity for me to get
to know everyone, and for them to get to know me.
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EXWHUEMPLOYEE EXCLUSIVE COLUMN FOR BRACE THE HAMMER
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 18 JUNE 2017 AT 9:36PM
For those of you that missed my column yesterday for Brace the Hammer
website here is the link:
https://bracethehammer.sbnation.com/transfer-news/2017/6/17/15823844/exwhuem
ployee-transfer-update In the article I speak of all the latest transfers
news that is happening at the moment. I am really pleased to have worked
with that website following on from my appearance on The Three Hammers
website. I think it is really important for the West Ham sites to work
together to try and bring new and exciting content and hopefully there will
be future opportunities in the summer. We will continue to bring exclusive
transfer news on our radio show and through the site throughout the summer
so keep checking back!
West Ham United transfer discussion: the latest rumblings out of East London
Everyone's favorite ITK discusses transfer news, kits, and more!
by ExWHUemployee Jun 17, 2017, 10:22am EDT
So I have decided to write this column for Brace the Hammer having appeared
on the Three Hammers podcast during the week, which you can watch here. I am
very keen to collaborate with other West Ham sites and I'm delighted that
Brace The Hammer offered me the opportunity to post on their site.
So this is a follow on from our weekly radio show on Phoenix FM where I
always do a section on inside club news. This week we were lucky enough to
have up and coming Boxer and West Ham fan Sammy McNess on the show.
Since the show, where our interest was first mentioned, we've submitted a
bid for Middlesbrough and former Barcelona player Adama Traore. As is often
the case with these transfers at this stage, the two sides are said to be a
long way apart in terms of their valuation. We are believed to have offered
around £8m for the player although it is feared that 'Boro may want more
than double this for the player. Whilst the forward position has always been
the priority, it is believed that Slav does also want a tricky winger with
pace as well- Traore fits that bill perfectly. Some bookmakers have closed
the betting on him signing for us, this does seem a little premature but
certain people are convinced that we have a very strong chance of completing
this signing.
The deal could depend on the departure of one or two of our current wingers.
There is said to be a number of clubs interested in taking Robert Snodgrass
off our hands with the likes of Brighton, Huddersfield and Sheffield
Wednesday all appearing to have some interest. If we could recoup near what
we paid Hull for him in January, I think we will see his departure. If the
right offer comes in for Feghouli too we would accept that and this makes
our need for a winger much greater. We also have an interest in Tadic of
Southampton as well as a number of pacey wingers from the continent
including the famously named Cafu.
Henry Onyekuru can also play as a winger although his goals record last year
in Belgium suggests that he should be a forward. We are still very keen on
this player however complications around his work permit are causing us
issues as far as the transfer is concerned. Other clubs are interested and
it will be interesting to see how this develops. Another Nigerian who we are
after is Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City. The transfer appeared to be
getting close and then Manchester City wanted to negotiate a buy back clause
within the deal. This buy back clause is said to be the stumbling block
because Manchester City want it to be quite low meaning the player could
affectively walk out on us back to his original club for a minimal profit.
Leicester City look like they may be prepared to do this but we are still
not out of the running in this deal.
Olivier Giroud seems to be the forward we want most and the club have said
they will match any offers for him, we employed a similar tactic with
Snodgrass and Fonte in January. We will make him our highest paid player as
well and for me I think this is a great signing. He has scored at all levels
including the very top at World Cup and Euro tournaments. His goals to
minutes ratio is consistently one of the best in the league. Giroud is said
to want to stay in London and get first team football to maintain his place
in the French national squad, so hopefully this will put us in a good
position.
The Conte situation at Chelsea is a little bit unsettling for our move for
Batshuayi because it has delayed the process a little. Chelsea are still set
to spend big and Lukaku seems pretty much a done deal to return there
meaning it is likely that they will sell his compatriot. A further
complication however is that Batshuayi appears to be hoping a club who are
in a European competition move for him and a return to the French league
could also be on the cards. We hope to persuade him to stay in London and
prove our West London rivals wrong in their treatment of him.
We were also keen on Bertrand Traore (the Chelsea forward) but he appears to
have secured a move elsewhere. We had also submitted bids for Modeste, who
plays in Germany, but once more the price they have placed on the player is
way beyond our valuation.
The situation worryingly mirrors last year's summer transfer window a little
but the club is determined to not come up short again. We have a long list
of forward targets and, at this stage, we are confident of pushing through
at least two of them.
We have been linked with Chris Smalling of Manchester United and Kone of
Sunderland for the centre back position but at the moment I do not believe
either of these transfers are particularly going anywhere because our
targets and priorities remain further up the pitch, should we sign some
players then we may move back for these two although it is the one position
that we have plenty of options in.
There will be a few player departures this summer. It looks like Nordtveit
will return to the German league. I appear to have been misquoted quite a
lot on this following our radio show by the big twitter accounts. I didn't
say he was definitely leaving but I think he is likely to. With the
departures of Gokhan Tore, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jonathan Calleri, this should
allow us to bring in a few players. We have also released Stephen Hendrie, a
player who we thought would become a good player for us, and Raphael Spiegel
is likely to join Royal Excel Mouscron in Belgium. This would leave us with
Nathan Trott as out third choice keeper so a move for John Ruddy, the former
Norwich keeper, could be on the cards to replace Spiegel.
Joe Hart is obviously a high profile keeper that has also been linked with
us and we do maintain an interest in him. His wages are around £175k a week.
Either he would need to reduce his wages significantly or Manchester City
would need to be prepared to pay a percentage for us to make our move. We
cannot pay him his current wages because this would smash our wage structure
with Hart earning more than double our next highest paid player.
The new home shirt is the shirt that has gone viral across the internet
following its release early in Thailand. This goes with white shorts and
white socks. The goalkeepers kit it quite nice and is a mainly all yellow
number with green under the arms. We also have a light blue third shirt that
is likely to be released in early September too. I have described these kits
in detail on the radio show and in my regular place for my articles, The
West Ham Way. Here you will find exclusive articles where most West Ham news
breaks from.
Thank you to Brace The Hammer for the chance to collaborate.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ADRIAN CAN BE A WORLD CLASS KEEPER
BY EXWHUEMPLOYEE ON 18 JUNE 2017 AT 9:59PM
TheWestHamWayc.o.uk
Written by Steve Eisner @1westhamfan
A number of fans have lost faith in Adrian, and believe we can do better.
While I was upset at his rush of blood vs Stoke (1-1) last November, which
cost us a victory and the possibility to have ended 8th in the table on 48
points, I believe he finished very strongly when he returned at the close
season. It seems his time on the bench gave him an opportunity to reflect
on his shortcomings and to refocus his mentality. He is clearly a fiery
competitor and losing his place to Randolph surely provided him with extra
motivation to regain – and maintain – his place.
Adrian impresses me with his shot-stopping, his ability to command his 6
yard box, and his love for the club. I believe he is a world class
goalkeeper when his mind is right and when he has a settled defense in front
of him, which we did not have for most of this last year. Others have well
covered the reasons for our unsettled defence of 2016-17. I will not go
right back to those reasons. Yes, pun intended.
I know that good goalkeepers don't become poor goalkeepers overnight, so I
decided to look back on our outstanding 2015-16 season when Adrian was our
#1. I compared his save percentage to other PL goalkeepers who played at
least 20 games. The statistics that follow show save percentage and the
ratio of saves-to-shots:
Name (2015-16) SV% SV*/S**
Cech (ARS) .253 99/391
Gomes (WAT) .244 122/499
Butland (STK) .241 102/423
Hart (MC) .239 71/296
Guzan (AV) .239 89/372
Howard (EVE) .236 81/343
Courtois (CHE) .234 66/281
Fabianski (SWA) .226 14/503
ADRIAN (WHU) .22 101/458
Lloris (TOT) .21 87/413
Myhill (WBA) .206 66/320
DeGea (MU) .205 80/379
Mignolet (LIV) .204 70/342
Elliot (NEW) .20 58/290
Hennessey (CP) .198 79/397
Boruc (BOR) .195 73/374
Ruddy (NOR) .193 67/346
Schmeichel (LEI) .193 100/516
* – Source: Fox Sports (http://
http://www.foxsports.com/soccer/stats?competition=1&season=20150&category=GO
ALKEEPING&pos=Goalie&team=0&isOpp=0&sort=8&sortOrder=0
** – Shots not Shots on Goal
As you see, Adrian came in 9th out of 18, and above such big-name
goalkeepers like Lloris and DeGea.
In sum, I maintain my faith in Adrian, and at 30 years of age and with the
right tactics and personnel employed to provide the proper protection in
front of him, I'm confident he can remain a top PL goalkeeper. Although
some may disagree, statistics show that he was in fact a top PL goalkeeper
in 2015-16. Like tables, statistics don't' lie.
And good goalkeepers don't become poor goalkeepers overnight.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
HUDDERSFIELD PREPARING £5M BID FOR ASHLEY FLETCHER
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
readWestHam
Much was thought of Ashley Fletcher when he arrived at West Ham on a free
transfer from Manchester United last summer. Slaven Bilic decided to keep
the 21-year-old in the first-team squad as additional depth in the forward
ranks but the England U20 international featured more prominently than
expected. Fletcher made 20 appearances for the Hammers last season, scoring
once and it came at Old Trafford against his former club in the EFL Cup
quarter-final, but it remains to be seen if he has a place in the squad next
season. West Ham want to bring in at least two new strikers this summer
which could see Fletcher on the outside looking in, and the Mirror report
that Huddersfield are preparing a £5m bid for the former Barnsley loanee.
David Wagner failed with a loan bid for the striker in January and has
retained his interest in the towering centre-forward following their
promotion to the Premier League. The Hammers paid a £500,000 compensation
fee to Manchester United for Fletcher, and what Huddersfield are said to be
offering is a decent return on that investment and is an offer I would
consider accepting.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
SAMPDORIA INTERESTED IN SIGNING ANGELO OGBONNA
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
ReadWestHam
Angelo Ogbonna has been a huge success for West Ham since his £8m arrival
from Juventus nearly two years ago but he's being lined up for a return to
Serie A.
According to Il Secolo XIX newspaper (h/t Football Italia), Sampdoria are
considering a move for the 29-year-old centre-back this summer.
Ogbonna came through the ranks at Torino and impressed at the club, earning
himself a move to Juventus in 2013 but never developed into anything more
than a backup player for the Serie A champions and was sold to the Hammers.
A regular in the starting line-up, Ogbonna was sorely missed by West Ham
after he underwent knee surgery in January and missed virtually the rest of
the season before returning on the final day of the campaign.
Only contracted to the club until the summer of 2019, the Italy
international will need to be tied down to a new long-term deal in order to
put an end to speculation to a move away from the club, which the Hammers
are keen on doing.
The uncertainty surrounding Ogbonna's future could be the reason why the
Hammers are weighing up bids for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling
and Sunderland centre-back Lamine Kone.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, June 17
Daily WHUFC News - 18th June 2017
FIFA Confederations Cup: Everything you need to know
WHUFC.com
Portugal
What is the Confederations Cup, where is it and when is it happening?
Taking place the summer before a FIFA World Cup year, the Confederations Cup
brings together the six winners of the continental competitions across the
world, plus the tournament hosts and previous World Cup winners.
The tournament takes place at four of the venues which Russia will use for
next year's World Cup – Moscow's Spartak Stadium, Sochi, Kazan and Saint
Petersburg, with the Hammers' Jose Fonte featuring for Portugal.
The European champions will take on Russia, New Zealand and Mexico in Group
A, while Germany, Chile, Cameroon and Australia make up Group B.
Russia face New Zealand in the opening game on Saturday, with the final on 2
July.
When are Jose Fonte's games?
Portugal kick-off their campaign against Mexico at 4pm BST on Sunday 18
June. Their second match is against the hosts Russia at 4pm on Wednesday 21
June. Their final group match is against New Zealand on Saturday 24 June,
also at 4pm.
Why isn't Winston Reid playing for New Zealand?
Reid is New Zealand captain and featured for his country at the 2010 FIFA
World Cup. However, he is unable to lead the All Whites in Russia this
summer as he recovers from knee surgery which ended his season a week early.
Reid was playing through the pain towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign
and underwent his surgery in order to return for pre-season – ending his
hopes of turning out in Russia. However, the Hammers defender will hope to
be there next summer at the World Cup, with New Zealand well set to make it
to the qualifier against the South American fifth place team.
What's Jose Fonte's record for Portugal like?
The 33-year-old has enjoyed great success during his international career,
not making his debut until 2014 but hardly suffering a setback since.
At Euro 2016 last summer, he did not start until the last-16 tie against
Croatia, but retained his place in every game since, playing an integral
role as Portugal lifted the title with victory over hosts France in the
final.
He has 22 caps in total for his country and featured in comfortable
victories against Cyprus and Latvia in the last couple of weeks.
Germany are in Russia as the 2014 FIFA World Cup winners
Who are the favourites to win?
Fonte's Portugal are in a three-way tie as favourites to lift the trophy on
2 July, according to Betway. Our principal partners can't split the trio at
13/5 to take the honours.
How can I watch the FIFA Confederations Cup this month?
ITV will be covering the tournament live in the UK, across their ITV1 and
ITV4 channels.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Jose Fonte column: Why we're giving Ronaldo a hard time
WHUFC.com
Our Portuguese defender writes exclusively for whufc.com from Russia, where
he is currently preparing for FIFA's Confederations Cup tournament,
contested by the holders of the six regional international championships,
along with the World Cup holder and a host nation.
Portugal, as Euro 2016 winners last summer, will go up against Mexico, New
Zealand and the hosts Russia in Group A, with the top two teams qualifying
for the semi-finals, against two from Chile, Cameroon, Australia and
Germany.
Here Jose talks about the build-up to the prestigious tournament, the
challenges of international football at the end of a long season, and the
reaction of the Portugal players to a certain team-mate's new haircut…
Aiming for more silverware in Russia
After beating Latvia in our World Cup qualifier on Friday, we had a couple
of days off over the weekend before meeting up again in preparation for the
Confederation Cup tournament.
Before the first international friendly against Cyprus last week I had a
nice week with my family in the Algarve, which was really nice and restful.
We then had a week's training before beating Cyprus 4-0 and Latvia 3-0, so
the mood among the squad is positive and happy.
On Monday we gathered at our Portugal National Academy, where we train and
prepare for matches. The hotel we stay in is nearby, in a place called
Cascais, which is really nice, with lovely views out to the ocean.
We are very well looked after and enjoy the use of the best facilities, so
it is the perfect environment for us to spend time together as a squad.
On Wednesday we flew to Kazan in Russia, where our opening game against
Mexico will be played on Sunday. We were very warmly welcomed, Kazan is the
third biggest city in Russia and the people here are very nice. The
facilities are good, the food is good, it's quiet and peaceful, so we have
the perfect environment for our preparations.
It will be a tough match on Sunday, Mexico have some very good players, but
we are feeling confident and looking forward to it. Now that we are European
champions, the expectation and responsibility is even higher, everyone
expects to win and to be at our best all the time, competing for trophies.
That is the level we have always aimed for though. Since my first day with
the Portuguese national team, the message has been the same – we must
represent our country in the best possible way, and that means win every
game and give 120% effort at all times.
With the quality that we have in the team, if we can keep that effort at the
highest level and run more than our opponents, then we believe we will be
successful.
We did our job in the World Cup qualifier last week, and now we are focused
on trying to win another trophy in Russia.
The Fernando Santos approach
When you are away as a squad for long periods of time, it is important for
the players to stay happy and relaxed. The best way to achieve this is
really just to have some days off every now and then, as we did after the
game against Latvia.
Our manager, Fernando Santos, is very good in that sense, he always tries to
reward us for working hard, and that keeps everyone happy. You can go and
see your family, relax, go to the beach, do whatever you want to do, and it
keeps your mind and body relaxed and fresh.
Training has been a mix of work, but no light sessions to be honest - we
have worked hard. It has been a long season, in fact for the last three
years we have played a lot of football each summer, without much holiday,
but that is our life and we are used to it. We get our rest when we can, but
we have to be ready for the manager and we are working hard because we want
to win this tournament.
image:
http://www.whufc.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/RonaldoHair726.jpg
Cristiano Ronaldo shows off his new haircut in training for Portugal
Some cutting comments for Cristiano
We are obviously used to spending time together away at tournaments, and it
helps that we have a great bunch of lads and are all very close. Obviously
you have team-mates you spend more time with – I have a good connection with
Cedric Soares, Andre Gomes, Joao Moutinho, Bruno Alves, Pizzi and Adrien –
but the list could go on because they are all my friends and it is a very
good group.
There are a lot of jokers and it is a great atmosphere. Cristiano Ronaldo
got a little bit of stick when he arrived with his new haircut, especially
from Ricardo Queresma. But it's a nice little change for him, and we are
getting used to it now, so as long as he is happy it's all good!
Jose will be back with another exclusive column on whufc.com next week…
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Rich Energy become Official Energy Drink of West Ham United Ladies
WHUFC.com
The Hammers are delighted to announce that Rich Energy have signed as
Official Energy Drink of West Ham United Ladies.
Rich Energy come on board as the first partners of the Ladies team since
Jack Sullivan took on the role of managing director, signing a long-term
deal to link up with the Club.
Rich Energy is a premium and innovative British energy drink painstakingly
developed and optimised with leading beverage experts.
With the sole objective of creating a peerless, ultra-high quality energy
drink with none of the downsides of the competition, Rich Energy is
available in 6,000 outlets in the UK and 21 countries worldwide.
Company CEO William Storey is a Hammers fan and Jack Sullivan is delighted
to have the brand on board.
West Ham Ladies announce their partnership with Rich Energy
He said: "I'm over the moon that Rich Energy have become the first partner
to get on board of hopefully a long list. They have seen what we're trying
to do with the trajectory of West Ham Ladies and it's so great that a West
Ham fan has decided to join part of the West Ham family and back Ladies'
football.
"We share a focus on elite performance – we're going for the same goal and
being powered by Rich Energy will hopefully see us power up the leagues and
challenge at the very top."
It was a sentiment echoed by Storey, CEO of Rich Energy, who added: "Women's
Football is burgeoning around the world, growing very quickly in the UK and
America. It's fantastic, not only as a spectacle for fans, but also for
women to get involved in sport from school upwards.
"With West Ham being one of the biggest brands in world football, it's a
phenomenal privilege for us to work with such a great business and team.
"I think West Ham Ladies are going to go from strength-to-strength and as
the UK's premium energy drink we're obviously really keen to support elite
performance. There's no better fit than with West Ham Ladies."
West Ham Ladies General Manager Karen Ray said: "For me, having played for
the team and now being General Manager, to see the advancements we're making
is great. Having Jack Sullivan involved as managing director and now with
Rich Energy to back us it can only be good from here.
"We have a five-year plan to become a top-six club in the country and I
believe with the backing of companies such as Rich Energy, we could get
there quicker."
West Ham United Ladies currently have opportunities to become a partner or
patron of the Club, where you will personally make a difference to the
successful development of our ladies team.
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Giroud on his way? Maybe, says Wenger
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 17th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
Arsene Wenger has suggested that West Ham transfer target Olivier Giroud may
not be an Arsenal player for much longer. The under-fire Arsenal boss, who
was recently awarded a new two-year contract told L'Equipe that the French
international is "not really" part of his plans for the forthcoming 2017/18
season. West Ham have been linked with a move for Giroud in recent weeks and
were named as bookies favourites to sign the 30-year-old yesterday. That
followed recent meetings between the club and Giroud's representatives,
where a potential transfer was discussed. The player has spent the last five
years with the Gunners.
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Hammers launch Traore bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are understood to have launched a bid to sign Middlesbrough
midfielder Adama Traore. According to Ken Dyer, the Hammers have opened the
bidding with an £8million offer for the former Barcelona youth star, who has
been relegated with both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough since arriving in
England two years ago. 21-year-old Traore was one of 'Boro's most exciting
players last season, despite his erratic form - which has led to many
supporters questioning whether he would be a good acquisition. The 5'10"
Spaniard moved to England in 2015, spending a year at Villa for whom he made
11 appearances. Last summer he joined the North East club for an undisclosed
fee, going on to make 32 appearances.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham are in pole position to land Sunderland defender Lamine Kone.
The Mirror
Sunderland are demanding around £15million for the 28-year-old centre-back
but the Hammers believe a deal could be agreed at around £10million. Kone
wants out following the Black Cats' relegation to the Championship and the
exodus of their star names. West Brom are also interested, with boss Tony
Pulis priced out of a move for Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho. Pulis is
lining up potential replacements with Leicester trying to sign £10million
Baggies defender Jonny Evans.
Sunderland are almost certain to take a hit on Kone as Everton had been
prepared to pay them around £18million last summer. Then-boss David Moyes
persuaded him to sign a new deal and commit himself to the club's bid to
stay in the Premier League. Now that the club are down Kone wants to be
allowed to leave.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Portugal
What is the Confederations Cup, where is it and when is it happening?
Taking place the summer before a FIFA World Cup year, the Confederations Cup
brings together the six winners of the continental competitions across the
world, plus the tournament hosts and previous World Cup winners.
The tournament takes place at four of the venues which Russia will use for
next year's World Cup – Moscow's Spartak Stadium, Sochi, Kazan and Saint
Petersburg, with the Hammers' Jose Fonte featuring for Portugal.
The European champions will take on Russia, New Zealand and Mexico in Group
A, while Germany, Chile, Cameroon and Australia make up Group B.
Russia face New Zealand in the opening game on Saturday, with the final on 2
July.
When are Jose Fonte's games?
Portugal kick-off their campaign against Mexico at 4pm BST on Sunday 18
June. Their second match is against the hosts Russia at 4pm on Wednesday 21
June. Their final group match is against New Zealand on Saturday 24 June,
also at 4pm.
Why isn't Winston Reid playing for New Zealand?
Reid is New Zealand captain and featured for his country at the 2010 FIFA
World Cup. However, he is unable to lead the All Whites in Russia this
summer as he recovers from knee surgery which ended his season a week early.
Reid was playing through the pain towards the end of the 2016/17 campaign
and underwent his surgery in order to return for pre-season – ending his
hopes of turning out in Russia. However, the Hammers defender will hope to
be there next summer at the World Cup, with New Zealand well set to make it
to the qualifier against the South American fifth place team.
What's Jose Fonte's record for Portugal like?
The 33-year-old has enjoyed great success during his international career,
not making his debut until 2014 but hardly suffering a setback since.
At Euro 2016 last summer, he did not start until the last-16 tie against
Croatia, but retained his place in every game since, playing an integral
role as Portugal lifted the title with victory over hosts France in the
final.
He has 22 caps in total for his country and featured in comfortable
victories against Cyprus and Latvia in the last couple of weeks.
Germany are in Russia as the 2014 FIFA World Cup winners
Who are the favourites to win?
Fonte's Portugal are in a three-way tie as favourites to lift the trophy on
2 July, according to Betway. Our principal partners can't split the trio at
13/5 to take the honours.
How can I watch the FIFA Confederations Cup this month?
ITV will be covering the tournament live in the UK, across their ITV1 and
ITV4 channels.
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The Jose Fonte column: Why we're giving Ronaldo a hard time
WHUFC.com
Our Portuguese defender writes exclusively for whufc.com from Russia, where
he is currently preparing for FIFA's Confederations Cup tournament,
contested by the holders of the six regional international championships,
along with the World Cup holder and a host nation.
Portugal, as Euro 2016 winners last summer, will go up against Mexico, New
Zealand and the hosts Russia in Group A, with the top two teams qualifying
for the semi-finals, against two from Chile, Cameroon, Australia and
Germany.
Here Jose talks about the build-up to the prestigious tournament, the
challenges of international football at the end of a long season, and the
reaction of the Portugal players to a certain team-mate's new haircut…
Aiming for more silverware in Russia
After beating Latvia in our World Cup qualifier on Friday, we had a couple
of days off over the weekend before meeting up again in preparation for the
Confederation Cup tournament.
Before the first international friendly against Cyprus last week I had a
nice week with my family in the Algarve, which was really nice and restful.
We then had a week's training before beating Cyprus 4-0 and Latvia 3-0, so
the mood among the squad is positive and happy.
On Monday we gathered at our Portugal National Academy, where we train and
prepare for matches. The hotel we stay in is nearby, in a place called
Cascais, which is really nice, with lovely views out to the ocean.
We are very well looked after and enjoy the use of the best facilities, so
it is the perfect environment for us to spend time together as a squad.
On Wednesday we flew to Kazan in Russia, where our opening game against
Mexico will be played on Sunday. We were very warmly welcomed, Kazan is the
third biggest city in Russia and the people here are very nice. The
facilities are good, the food is good, it's quiet and peaceful, so we have
the perfect environment for our preparations.
It will be a tough match on Sunday, Mexico have some very good players, but
we are feeling confident and looking forward to it. Now that we are European
champions, the expectation and responsibility is even higher, everyone
expects to win and to be at our best all the time, competing for trophies.
That is the level we have always aimed for though. Since my first day with
the Portuguese national team, the message has been the same – we must
represent our country in the best possible way, and that means win every
game and give 120% effort at all times.
With the quality that we have in the team, if we can keep that effort at the
highest level and run more than our opponents, then we believe we will be
successful.
We did our job in the World Cup qualifier last week, and now we are focused
on trying to win another trophy in Russia.
The Fernando Santos approach
When you are away as a squad for long periods of time, it is important for
the players to stay happy and relaxed. The best way to achieve this is
really just to have some days off every now and then, as we did after the
game against Latvia.
Our manager, Fernando Santos, is very good in that sense, he always tries to
reward us for working hard, and that keeps everyone happy. You can go and
see your family, relax, go to the beach, do whatever you want to do, and it
keeps your mind and body relaxed and fresh.
Training has been a mix of work, but no light sessions to be honest - we
have worked hard. It has been a long season, in fact for the last three
years we have played a lot of football each summer, without much holiday,
but that is our life and we are used to it. We get our rest when we can, but
we have to be ready for the manager and we are working hard because we want
to win this tournament.
image:
http://www.whufc.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/RonaldoHair726.jpg
Cristiano Ronaldo shows off his new haircut in training for Portugal
Some cutting comments for Cristiano
We are obviously used to spending time together away at tournaments, and it
helps that we have a great bunch of lads and are all very close. Obviously
you have team-mates you spend more time with – I have a good connection with
Cedric Soares, Andre Gomes, Joao Moutinho, Bruno Alves, Pizzi and Adrien –
but the list could go on because they are all my friends and it is a very
good group.
There are a lot of jokers and it is a great atmosphere. Cristiano Ronaldo
got a little bit of stick when he arrived with his new haircut, especially
from Ricardo Queresma. But it's a nice little change for him, and we are
getting used to it now, so as long as he is happy it's all good!
Jose will be back with another exclusive column on whufc.com next week…
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Rich Energy become Official Energy Drink of West Ham United Ladies
WHUFC.com
The Hammers are delighted to announce that Rich Energy have signed as
Official Energy Drink of West Ham United Ladies.
Rich Energy come on board as the first partners of the Ladies team since
Jack Sullivan took on the role of managing director, signing a long-term
deal to link up with the Club.
Rich Energy is a premium and innovative British energy drink painstakingly
developed and optimised with leading beverage experts.
With the sole objective of creating a peerless, ultra-high quality energy
drink with none of the downsides of the competition, Rich Energy is
available in 6,000 outlets in the UK and 21 countries worldwide.
Company CEO William Storey is a Hammers fan and Jack Sullivan is delighted
to have the brand on board.
West Ham Ladies announce their partnership with Rich Energy
He said: "I'm over the moon that Rich Energy have become the first partner
to get on board of hopefully a long list. They have seen what we're trying
to do with the trajectory of West Ham Ladies and it's so great that a West
Ham fan has decided to join part of the West Ham family and back Ladies'
football.
"We share a focus on elite performance – we're going for the same goal and
being powered by Rich Energy will hopefully see us power up the leagues and
challenge at the very top."
It was a sentiment echoed by Storey, CEO of Rich Energy, who added: "Women's
Football is burgeoning around the world, growing very quickly in the UK and
America. It's fantastic, not only as a spectacle for fans, but also for
women to get involved in sport from school upwards.
"With West Ham being one of the biggest brands in world football, it's a
phenomenal privilege for us to work with such a great business and team.
"I think West Ham Ladies are going to go from strength-to-strength and as
the UK's premium energy drink we're obviously really keen to support elite
performance. There's no better fit than with West Ham Ladies."
West Ham Ladies General Manager Karen Ray said: "For me, having played for
the team and now being General Manager, to see the advancements we're making
is great. Having Jack Sullivan involved as managing director and now with
Rich Energy to back us it can only be good from here.
"We have a five-year plan to become a top-six club in the country and I
believe with the backing of companies such as Rich Energy, we could get
there quicker."
West Ham United Ladies currently have opportunities to become a partner or
patron of the Club, where you will personally make a difference to the
successful development of our ladies team.
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Giroud on his way? Maybe, says Wenger
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 17th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
Arsene Wenger has suggested that West Ham transfer target Olivier Giroud may
not be an Arsenal player for much longer. The under-fire Arsenal boss, who
was recently awarded a new two-year contract told L'Equipe that the French
international is "not really" part of his plans for the forthcoming 2017/18
season. West Ham have been linked with a move for Giroud in recent weeks and
were named as bookies favourites to sign the 30-year-old yesterday. That
followed recent meetings between the club and Giroud's representatives,
where a potential transfer was discussed. The player has spent the last five
years with the Gunners.
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Hammers launch Traore bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th June 2017
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are understood to have launched a bid to sign Middlesbrough
midfielder Adama Traore. According to Ken Dyer, the Hammers have opened the
bidding with an £8million offer for the former Barcelona youth star, who has
been relegated with both Aston Villa and Middlesbrough since arriving in
England two years ago. 21-year-old Traore was one of 'Boro's most exciting
players last season, despite his erratic form - which has led to many
supporters questioning whether he would be a good acquisition. The 5'10"
Spaniard moved to England in 2015, spending a year at Villa for whom he made
11 appearances. Last summer he joined the North East club for an undisclosed
fee, going on to make 32 appearances.
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West Ham are in pole position to land Sunderland defender Lamine Kone.
The Mirror
Sunderland are demanding around £15million for the 28-year-old centre-back
but the Hammers believe a deal could be agreed at around £10million. Kone
wants out following the Black Cats' relegation to the Championship and the
exodus of their star names. West Brom are also interested, with boss Tony
Pulis priced out of a move for Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho. Pulis is
lining up potential replacements with Leicester trying to sign £10million
Baggies defender Jonny Evans.
Sunderland are almost certain to take a hit on Kone as Everton had been
prepared to pay them around £18million last summer. Then-boss David Moyes
persuaded him to sign a new deal and commit himself to the club's bid to
stay in the Premier League. Now that the club are down Kone wants to be
allowed to leave.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, June 16
Daily WHUFC News - 16th June 2017
Zabaleta: Facing City in Iceland will be the ideal test
WHUFC.com
New signing Pablo Zabaleta admits he can't wait to pull on the West Ham
United shirt, after it was revealed that the Hammers will face his former
club Manchester City in a glamorous friendly match in Iceland on Friday 4
August. The historic encounter, at the national stadium in Reykjavik, will
mark the first occasion that two English Premier League teams have played
against each other in Iceland, and Zabaleta believe it will provide the
perfect preparation ahead of the season opener against Manchester United at
Old Trafford a week later. "Of course it will be interesting to face my
former club, so soon after leaving," said the Argentine defender, who signed
on a free transfer this summer after nine years with City. "But more
importantly, I am looking forward to playing with my new team-mates, and it
will be a great test for us one week before the start of the season. "It
will also be a great honour for West Ham and City to be the first English
Premier League clubs to play each other in Iceland. We all saw how well
Iceland did in the European Championships last year – they made a lot of
friends and it is clear they are a nation who love football. "We will be
proud to represent the Premier League, and I hope we can give the supporters
an entertaining match."
Zabaleta will meet up with his new team-mates when Slaven Bilic's squad
return for pre-season training on July 5, ahead of a tour of Europe that
will take in training camps in Austria and Germany before the trip to
Iceland, and the 32-year-old believes the time away will be of huge benefit.
"I am already looking forward to getting started for next season, and our
pre-season schedule will give me a good opportunity to get to know
everyone," he told whufc.com. "It is about hard work and preparation, but
also building the spirit and unity for next season."
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Follow the Hammers in Europe this summer
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are heading to Europe this pre-season – and we have teamed
up with Winged Boots to offer Hammers fans some fantastic discounts on
travel packages for the tour.
Slaven Bilic's men take on Werder Bremen in a Betway Cup double header on
July 28 and 29, with the fixtures being played in the German towns of
Schneverdingen and Lohne.
Both towns are within 50 miles of Bremen, where Hammers fans are likely to
base themselves for the trip. Here's our rundown on the second biggest city
in northern Germany
A major cultural and economic hub, Bremen sits on the River Weser and is
home to dozens of historical galleries and museums.
The city's airport is located just 2.2 miles from the city, giving easy
access to Hammers fans flying to the games from London.
Bremen's Rathaus (town hall) dates from 1410 and is included on the UNESCO
World Heritage List. Other sights in the city include the Dom St Petri, the
1,200-year-old cathedral; Bottcherstrasse, an incredible Art Nouveau street
which runs from the main square to the river; and the charming Schnoor area,
a series of twisting lanes with many shops.
Schneverdingen and Lohne are both within driving distance of Bremen, meaning
fans can easily access both games in Germany.
Winged Boots logoThe Hammers then move on to Iceland, where they face
Manchester City on Friday August 4, giving supporters the chance to watch
the team with the stunning backdrop of the northern Atlantic nation.
The nation's capital, Reykjavik, will play host to the Hammers and there's
plenty to do in this historic city.
Reykjavik's city centre is compact and characterised by eclectic and
colourful houses, with good shopping and dining.
The airport is located 30 miles from the city, with easy access by bus,
while the national stadium – Laugardalsvöllur – where the game will be
played, is a short 30-minute walk from the city centre
Reykjavik is renowned for its nightlife, centred around the Laugarvegur
area, with plenty of live music in bars at weekends
We've teamed up with Winged Boots to offer fans travel options around all
three fixtures – with 20% off hotels in Bremen or Reykjavik for Hammers
supporters with these packages.
With flights from London airports to both Bremen and Reykjavik on offer,
plus hotels to suit all budgets, call 0203 3109 4400 or email
whu@wingedboots.co.uk today to discuss your requirements.
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West Ham ready to abandon interest in Manchester United ace Chris Smalling
WEST HAM are ready to abandon their interest in Manchester United defender
Chris Smalling.
Daily Star
By David Woods, Chief Football Writer / Published 15th June 2017
The Hammers looked at bringing in the £15m-rated England international this
summer. Jose Mourinho had made it clear he is prepared to let Smalling leave
- with Everton, Newcastle and West Brom all keen on the centre-half who
earns close to £100,000 per week. But West Ham have cooled on the idea after
deciding they do not need strengthening in the position. Slaven Bilic
decided they are covered with Winston Reid performing well there last
season. They also have James Collins, Angelo Ogbonna, Jose Fonte and rookie
Reece Oxford. The West Ham boss is looking to bolster elsewhere with Saint
Etienne full-back Kevin Malcuit a long-term admirer. French side Lille have
this week seen a £4.4m offer turned down
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West Ham face shock battle for Onyekuru as Birmingham ready record bid for
Nigerian wonderkid
The Hammers have been chasing Onyekuru since the season ended
Football London
BYKEVIN BEIRNE
07:00, 16 JUN 2017
West Ham may face a new battle for the signature of Henry Onyekuru after it
emerged that Birmingham City are ready to offer a club record fee of £7.5m
for the striker, according to the Birmingham Mail. The Hammers thought they
had a deal for the Nigerian striker all wrapped up, only to hit a speedbump
with both Onyekuru's club, Eupen, and with securing a work permit for the
20-year-old. Eupen had advised West Ham to bid £7.87m in order to get
Onyekuru a work permit, and it remains to be seen whether or not Harry
Redknapp's Birmingham can raise their bid to match that total. Onyekuru gave
West Ham fans hope when he said he wanted to move to a club where he would
actually get game time, which appeared to shut down talks of a move to
Arsenal. But now that same factor could go against them, as Birmingham could
offer the 20-year-old a guaranteed starting role in the Championship next
season.
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West Ham United should swap Enner Valencia for £26.4m star
HITC
Shane Callaghan
West Ham United had a club-record bid knocked back last September. Reports
from Portugal (A Bola) today indicated that Porto might be interested in
bringing West Ham United's Enner Valencia to the club after he was offered
to them. If their interest is genuine then West Ham should look to include
the player whom they reportedly submitted a £33.6 million bid for last year:
Yacine Brahimi. The Mirror reported last September that the Hammers saw a
big-money offer for the 27-year-old rebuffed on deadline day. Fast forward
nine months and he is, according to A Bola, valued at £26.4 million and his
club could have to sell in order to comply with Financial Fair Play
regulations. West Ham boss Slaven Bilic should offer Valencia - worth a
reported £7 million - and cash in an effort to prise the Algerian from
Portugal. Bilic lost Dimitri Payet in January and it is clear that the Irons
still need a creative spark. Brahimi scored six goals and set up three in 16
Primera Liga starts this past season. Robert Snodgrass, signed for £10
million in the wake of Payet's exit, failed to score in any of his 15
Premier League games, setting up two goals. If West Ham have the chance to
right the wrongs of last summer and get Brahimi this time then they must
take it - and Valencia could be the perfect ticket.
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West Ham release Scottish defender Stephen Hendrie by mutual consent
Stephen Hendrie made eight appearances on loan at Blackburn last season
The 22-year-old joined West Ham from Scottish side Hamilton in July 2015
West Ham are looking to offset spending on incomings by letting players go
By Simon Jones for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 13:55 EDT, 15 June 2017 | UPDATED: 13:57 EDT, 15 June 2017
West Ham have released full-back Stephen Hendrie by mutual consent. The
22-year-old, who joined from Hamilton in 2015, has had loan spells at
Southend United and Blackburn Rovers where he made eight appearances last
season. Hendrie is one of a number of players who could leave West Ham this
summer as they look to offset spending on incomings. He failed to make an
appearance for the Hammers first team during his two seasons at the club.
The Celtic supporter has four caps for Scotland U21 after progressing
through the age groups from the U17s. Hendrie has just one senior goal so
far, which came in February 2016 during his loan spell with Southend. West
Ham will begin the 2017-18 campaign with an away trip to Manchester United
before a home clash against Southampton.
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Kylian Mbappe should join West Ham instead of Arsenal - Shaka Hislop
WEST HAM legend Shaka Hislop has jokingly claimed Kylian Mbappe should join
his old side instead of Arsenal.
By LEWIS WINTER
PUBLISHED: 17:05, Thu, Jun 15, 2017 | UPDATED: 17:13, Thu, Jun 15, 2017
Mbappe, 18, is one of the most sought after strikers in Europe after
bursting onto the scene midway through last season for Monaco. The Frenchman
has been linked with mega-money moves to Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester
United among others throughout the last couple of months. It is likely to
cost a world record fee of over £100million to prise him away from the Ligue
1 champions. Hislop was asked whether he could see Mbappe completing a move
to Arsenal in the transfer window and is response was unequivocal. Instead
he advised the teenager to join the Hammers over Arsene Wenger's side. "I'm
sure they do (need a big player)," he said on ESPN FC. "If you're Kylian
Mbappe, Arsenal is not a destination. We've had this discussion before,
nothing has changed. "He can come to West Ham, we can have him at West Ham.
"West Ham, everybody wants to come to West Ham! "If you change it to West
Ham I will change my mind a little bit."
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Sofiane Feghouli not interested in quitting West Ham this summer
GEORGE ELEK
Evening Standard
Sofiane Feghouli has no intention of leaving West Ham this summer despite
enduring a difficult first season in the English top flight.
The deal to bring the right-winger in from Valencia on a three-year deal was
seen as something of a coup at the time, but he made just 11 Premier League
starts in his first campaign as a Hammer. He did manage to score three goals
and get three assists, but manager Slaven Bilic preferred Manuel Lanzini,
Andre Ayew and Michail Antonio in wide areas.
West Ham had been open to selling Feghouli before Dimitri Payet's departure
in January, but the Frenchman's exit put a stop to any further departures in
attacking areas. But even after Payet left for Marseille in January, the
Algerian found his opportunities limited.
"I have two years left at West Ham and as I said on social media, I see
myself staying at West Ham. I'll start again on the 10th of July with the
team. I mean it when I say it, but you don't control everything in football.
I'm not looking for a way out, not at all," he told RMC Sport. "I'm going to
go on holiday calmly and prepare myself for a great season. I'm open for
talks with the manager, but there aren't any planned. Maybe the owner will
tell me one day that I need to leave, but I don't think so."
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Henry Onyekuru so good, West Ham raises bid to £9m
Posted By: Osita Duruon: June 15, 2017
Breaking TimesIn
English Premier League side West Ham has intensified efforts to sign
prolific Nigerian striker, Henry Onyekuru from the Belgium League as they
raised their offer for the KAS Eupen striker to £9m. West Ham thought they
had a fee agreed after meeting his release clause of around £6.5m but the
fee only applies to clubs in Belgium, while for clubs outside Belgium a fee
over or close to £9m is what the Belgians are demanding. However they have
not given up hope of luring the forward, who is keen on moving to the
Premier League, despite offers from fellow Belgium side Anderlecht. A fresh
bid of around £9m was launched by the club yesterday after talks with Eupen
negotiator, Mogi Bayat, who is widely regarded as the biggest player
representative in Belgium, and also holds close ties with the president of
Anderlecht.
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Arsene Wenger unwilling to sign Henry Onyekuru this summer; would prefer
2018 deal
HITC
Vincent Ralph
Arsenal and West Ham United have both been linked with the young forward.
According to a report from Voetbal24.be, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger likes
what he sees of Eupen forward Henry Onyekuru but has no intention of bidding
for him this summer. The Frenchman would preferably like to wait and take
the 20-year-old in 2018, when he has seen what the young Nigerian can do
over a longer period of time. The problem for the Gunners is that according
to a recent report from Own Goal Nigeria, West Ham United are fighting hard
for the forward and have made an improved £9million bid in an attempt to
seal a deal. For that kind of money, and given that Onyekuru scored 24 goals
and provided nine assists in 41 appearances for Eupen last season, he
clearly has the talent to be a canny addition for a number of Premier League
clubs. However, it seems Arsenal are not prepared to jump in now, even if
they could blow the Hammers out of the water and secure one of the most
exciting young forwards in European football. Arsenal need to make the right
additions this summer to build on yet another FA Cup triumph and ensure
their slip out of the top four was merely a blip. As for West Ham, they are
desperate for additional fire-power and Onyekuru fits the bill as a
cut-price signing whose value is only likely to increase in the years ahead.
If West Ham seal a deal and Onyekuru hits the ground running, Arsenal fans
will have another reason to bemoan Wenger's transfer tactics.
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West Ham's Manuel Lanzini makes first start for Argentina in 6-0 thrashing
of Singapore
VAISHALI BHARDWAJ
Evening Stadnard
Manuel Lanzini capped off a superb season by earning his first start for
Argentina as Jorge Sampaoli's team thrashed Singapore 6-0 on Tuesday. The
West Ham midfielder made his debut for La Albiceleste in their 1-0 friendly
win over rivals Brazil in Melbourne on Friday after being brought on for
David Banega in the 81st minute. After playing the final few minutes of the
game - which was Argentina's first victory over Brazil since 2012 - Sampaoli
decided to give the 24-year-old his first start for his nation against
Singapore on Tuesday.
Lanzini played 60 minutes of the match as Argentina ran out 6-0 winners,
with the West Ham star later expressing his happiness at being able to
represent his nation in what he described as a "beautiful" moment.
"Beautiful to be able to live this with the most beautiful shirt of all,
[and] to continue growing as well," he wrote on Instagram alongside a
picture of himself in action. Lanzini's call-up, and subsequent appearances
for Argentina, are well deserved for the midfielder, who impressed for West
Ham following the departure of Dimitri Payet in January. Such were his
performances in midfield for Slaven Bilic's side that the 24-year-old won
the Hammers' Players' Player of the Year award in May, and is likely to be a
crucial player for the West Ham manager as the club look to have a positive
second season at the London Stadium next term.
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The work permit issues which are preventing West Ham making progress on
Onyekuru deal
The Hammers need to get the striker a permit if they want any hope of
signing him
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
10:53, 15 JUN 2017
Henry Onyekuru wants to join West Ham but nothing will happen until he has a
work permit that will allow his to move from KAS Eupen in Belgium to east
London. The money the Hammers are currently offering - around £7m - is not
going to be enough to get him in, so the club will need to increase it. The
figure being touted is not much more, £7.87m, to ensure that it happens.
That doesn't mean that a work permit will be automatically given though,
there is a bit more to it than that. So, what is the work permit system all
about?
Previously, in order to qualify to play in the UK, footballers needed to
have played in at least 75% of their country's senior international matches
during the past two years. Onyekuru has just one cap for Nigeria. If his
country were ranked within FIFA's top ten in the world, he would only have
had to have played in 30% of the games. That will be the reason why Onyekuru
is having troubles signing for the club, so it then moves to a points system
as the player and West Ham would have to appeal the decision. You get a
certain number of points for meeting certain criteria and the target West
Ham and Onyekuru need is five points to help the deal over the line and get
the work permit. For example, West Ham would get three points if the wages
they offered Onyekuru are between the 50th and 75th percentile of earners at
the club, so the new man would be on a high wage. Another two points will
arrive if the the value of the transfer fee being paid for the player is
between the 50th and 75th percentile of all transfers to Premier League
clubs in the previous two windows, which is why the club needs to increase
its offer. And that should make up the five points the Hammers need to get
Onyekuru in. Simple, no?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ray Parlour calls out West Ham owners Sullivan and Gold and discusses
expectations for next season
HITC
Damien Lucas
Pundit and childhood West Ham United fan Ray Parlour has called out the
club's owners and discussed expectations for the new season.
The Hammers took a big step back last season as they endured a torrid second
year under Slaven Bilic often flirting with the relegation places before
eventually finishing 11th. The club's big move to the Olympic Stadium was
meant to push the Hammers on to the next level after they finished just four
points off the Champions League places in their farewell campaign at the
Boleyn Ground. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were full of promises
about the club's intentions to spend big on quality players ahead of the
move to Stratford.
None of that materialised, though, and instead Bilic's squad was diluted
with a glut of poor quality loan and free transfer signings.
The two Davids have since pledged to get things right this summer and Bilic
has publicly stated he is targeting quality over quantity with eyes on four
"game-changer" signings. Pablo Zabaleta has joined on a free but Parlour has
called the club's owners out on talkSPORT and insists they must start
spending money. "I think it's a big season for West Ham again," Parlour told
talkSPORT. "They under performed a little bit last year, but I'm really
pleased they stuck with Slaven. "But now they've (Sullivan and Gold) got to
invest... (the likes of) Chris Smalling and Joe Hart have been mentioned
with going there and they do need investment West Ham this year to really
push on to be in that top 10."
The club's ability to finally compete with the Premier League elite in the
transfer market was dangled as a carrot to supporters who were unsure about
leaving their beloved Upton Park. But clubs like Everton are showing what
serious investment is already this summer with some big signings and more to
follow. Finishing below clubs like Bournemouth with a fraction of West Ham's
income will not be acceptable to supporters next season. And given the club
has been named in the top 20 wealthiest in Europe, it is time they started
acting like it by spending what is required to attract top quality
additions.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
New signing Pablo Zabaleta admits he can't wait to pull on the West Ham
United shirt, after it was revealed that the Hammers will face his former
club Manchester City in a glamorous friendly match in Iceland on Friday 4
August. The historic encounter, at the national stadium in Reykjavik, will
mark the first occasion that two English Premier League teams have played
against each other in Iceland, and Zabaleta believe it will provide the
perfect preparation ahead of the season opener against Manchester United at
Old Trafford a week later. "Of course it will be interesting to face my
former club, so soon after leaving," said the Argentine defender, who signed
on a free transfer this summer after nine years with City. "But more
importantly, I am looking forward to playing with my new team-mates, and it
will be a great test for us one week before the start of the season. "It
will also be a great honour for West Ham and City to be the first English
Premier League clubs to play each other in Iceland. We all saw how well
Iceland did in the European Championships last year – they made a lot of
friends and it is clear they are a nation who love football. "We will be
proud to represent the Premier League, and I hope we can give the supporters
an entertaining match."
Zabaleta will meet up with his new team-mates when Slaven Bilic's squad
return for pre-season training on July 5, ahead of a tour of Europe that
will take in training camps in Austria and Germany before the trip to
Iceland, and the 32-year-old believes the time away will be of huge benefit.
"I am already looking forward to getting started for next season, and our
pre-season schedule will give me a good opportunity to get to know
everyone," he told whufc.com. "It is about hard work and preparation, but
also building the spirit and unity for next season."
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Follow the Hammers in Europe this summer
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are heading to Europe this pre-season – and we have teamed
up with Winged Boots to offer Hammers fans some fantastic discounts on
travel packages for the tour.
Slaven Bilic's men take on Werder Bremen in a Betway Cup double header on
July 28 and 29, with the fixtures being played in the German towns of
Schneverdingen and Lohne.
Both towns are within 50 miles of Bremen, where Hammers fans are likely to
base themselves for the trip. Here's our rundown on the second biggest city
in northern Germany
A major cultural and economic hub, Bremen sits on the River Weser and is
home to dozens of historical galleries and museums.
The city's airport is located just 2.2 miles from the city, giving easy
access to Hammers fans flying to the games from London.
Bremen's Rathaus (town hall) dates from 1410 and is included on the UNESCO
World Heritage List. Other sights in the city include the Dom St Petri, the
1,200-year-old cathedral; Bottcherstrasse, an incredible Art Nouveau street
which runs from the main square to the river; and the charming Schnoor area,
a series of twisting lanes with many shops.
Schneverdingen and Lohne are both within driving distance of Bremen, meaning
fans can easily access both games in Germany.
Winged Boots logoThe Hammers then move on to Iceland, where they face
Manchester City on Friday August 4, giving supporters the chance to watch
the team with the stunning backdrop of the northern Atlantic nation.
The nation's capital, Reykjavik, will play host to the Hammers and there's
plenty to do in this historic city.
Reykjavik's city centre is compact and characterised by eclectic and
colourful houses, with good shopping and dining.
The airport is located 30 miles from the city, with easy access by bus,
while the national stadium – Laugardalsvöllur – where the game will be
played, is a short 30-minute walk from the city centre
Reykjavik is renowned for its nightlife, centred around the Laugarvegur
area, with plenty of live music in bars at weekends
We've teamed up with Winged Boots to offer fans travel options around all
three fixtures – with 20% off hotels in Bremen or Reykjavik for Hammers
supporters with these packages.
With flights from London airports to both Bremen and Reykjavik on offer,
plus hotels to suit all budgets, call 0203 3109 4400 or email
whu@wingedboots.co.uk today to discuss your requirements.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham ready to abandon interest in Manchester United ace Chris Smalling
WEST HAM are ready to abandon their interest in Manchester United defender
Chris Smalling.
Daily Star
By David Woods, Chief Football Writer / Published 15th June 2017
The Hammers looked at bringing in the £15m-rated England international this
summer. Jose Mourinho had made it clear he is prepared to let Smalling leave
- with Everton, Newcastle and West Brom all keen on the centre-half who
earns close to £100,000 per week. But West Ham have cooled on the idea after
deciding they do not need strengthening in the position. Slaven Bilic
decided they are covered with Winston Reid performing well there last
season. They also have James Collins, Angelo Ogbonna, Jose Fonte and rookie
Reece Oxford. The West Ham boss is looking to bolster elsewhere with Saint
Etienne full-back Kevin Malcuit a long-term admirer. French side Lille have
this week seen a £4.4m offer turned down
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham face shock battle for Onyekuru as Birmingham ready record bid for
Nigerian wonderkid
The Hammers have been chasing Onyekuru since the season ended
Football London
BYKEVIN BEIRNE
07:00, 16 JUN 2017
West Ham may face a new battle for the signature of Henry Onyekuru after it
emerged that Birmingham City are ready to offer a club record fee of £7.5m
for the striker, according to the Birmingham Mail. The Hammers thought they
had a deal for the Nigerian striker all wrapped up, only to hit a speedbump
with both Onyekuru's club, Eupen, and with securing a work permit for the
20-year-old. Eupen had advised West Ham to bid £7.87m in order to get
Onyekuru a work permit, and it remains to be seen whether or not Harry
Redknapp's Birmingham can raise their bid to match that total. Onyekuru gave
West Ham fans hope when he said he wanted to move to a club where he would
actually get game time, which appeared to shut down talks of a move to
Arsenal. But now that same factor could go against them, as Birmingham could
offer the 20-year-old a guaranteed starting role in the Championship next
season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United should swap Enner Valencia for £26.4m star
HITC
Shane Callaghan
West Ham United had a club-record bid knocked back last September. Reports
from Portugal (A Bola) today indicated that Porto might be interested in
bringing West Ham United's Enner Valencia to the club after he was offered
to them. If their interest is genuine then West Ham should look to include
the player whom they reportedly submitted a £33.6 million bid for last year:
Yacine Brahimi. The Mirror reported last September that the Hammers saw a
big-money offer for the 27-year-old rebuffed on deadline day. Fast forward
nine months and he is, according to A Bola, valued at £26.4 million and his
club could have to sell in order to comply with Financial Fair Play
regulations. West Ham boss Slaven Bilic should offer Valencia - worth a
reported £7 million - and cash in an effort to prise the Algerian from
Portugal. Bilic lost Dimitri Payet in January and it is clear that the Irons
still need a creative spark. Brahimi scored six goals and set up three in 16
Primera Liga starts this past season. Robert Snodgrass, signed for £10
million in the wake of Payet's exit, failed to score in any of his 15
Premier League games, setting up two goals. If West Ham have the chance to
right the wrongs of last summer and get Brahimi this time then they must
take it - and Valencia could be the perfect ticket.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham release Scottish defender Stephen Hendrie by mutual consent
Stephen Hendrie made eight appearances on loan at Blackburn last season
The 22-year-old joined West Ham from Scottish side Hamilton in July 2015
West Ham are looking to offset spending on incomings by letting players go
By Simon Jones for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 13:55 EDT, 15 June 2017 | UPDATED: 13:57 EDT, 15 June 2017
West Ham have released full-back Stephen Hendrie by mutual consent. The
22-year-old, who joined from Hamilton in 2015, has had loan spells at
Southend United and Blackburn Rovers where he made eight appearances last
season. Hendrie is one of a number of players who could leave West Ham this
summer as they look to offset spending on incomings. He failed to make an
appearance for the Hammers first team during his two seasons at the club.
The Celtic supporter has four caps for Scotland U21 after progressing
through the age groups from the U17s. Hendrie has just one senior goal so
far, which came in February 2016 during his loan spell with Southend. West
Ham will begin the 2017-18 campaign with an away trip to Manchester United
before a home clash against Southampton.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kylian Mbappe should join West Ham instead of Arsenal - Shaka Hislop
WEST HAM legend Shaka Hislop has jokingly claimed Kylian Mbappe should join
his old side instead of Arsenal.
By LEWIS WINTER
PUBLISHED: 17:05, Thu, Jun 15, 2017 | UPDATED: 17:13, Thu, Jun 15, 2017
Mbappe, 18, is one of the most sought after strikers in Europe after
bursting onto the scene midway through last season for Monaco. The Frenchman
has been linked with mega-money moves to Real Madrid, Arsenal and Manchester
United among others throughout the last couple of months. It is likely to
cost a world record fee of over £100million to prise him away from the Ligue
1 champions. Hislop was asked whether he could see Mbappe completing a move
to Arsenal in the transfer window and is response was unequivocal. Instead
he advised the teenager to join the Hammers over Arsene Wenger's side. "I'm
sure they do (need a big player)," he said on ESPN FC. "If you're Kylian
Mbappe, Arsenal is not a destination. We've had this discussion before,
nothing has changed. "He can come to West Ham, we can have him at West Ham.
"West Ham, everybody wants to come to West Ham! "If you change it to West
Ham I will change my mind a little bit."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sofiane Feghouli not interested in quitting West Ham this summer
GEORGE ELEK
Evening Standard
Sofiane Feghouli has no intention of leaving West Ham this summer despite
enduring a difficult first season in the English top flight.
The deal to bring the right-winger in from Valencia on a three-year deal was
seen as something of a coup at the time, but he made just 11 Premier League
starts in his first campaign as a Hammer. He did manage to score three goals
and get three assists, but manager Slaven Bilic preferred Manuel Lanzini,
Andre Ayew and Michail Antonio in wide areas.
West Ham had been open to selling Feghouli before Dimitri Payet's departure
in January, but the Frenchman's exit put a stop to any further departures in
attacking areas. But even after Payet left for Marseille in January, the
Algerian found his opportunities limited.
"I have two years left at West Ham and as I said on social media, I see
myself staying at West Ham. I'll start again on the 10th of July with the
team. I mean it when I say it, but you don't control everything in football.
I'm not looking for a way out, not at all," he told RMC Sport. "I'm going to
go on holiday calmly and prepare myself for a great season. I'm open for
talks with the manager, but there aren't any planned. Maybe the owner will
tell me one day that I need to leave, but I don't think so."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Henry Onyekuru so good, West Ham raises bid to £9m
Posted By: Osita Duruon: June 15, 2017
Breaking TimesIn
English Premier League side West Ham has intensified efforts to sign
prolific Nigerian striker, Henry Onyekuru from the Belgium League as they
raised their offer for the KAS Eupen striker to £9m. West Ham thought they
had a fee agreed after meeting his release clause of around £6.5m but the
fee only applies to clubs in Belgium, while for clubs outside Belgium a fee
over or close to £9m is what the Belgians are demanding. However they have
not given up hope of luring the forward, who is keen on moving to the
Premier League, despite offers from fellow Belgium side Anderlecht. A fresh
bid of around £9m was launched by the club yesterday after talks with Eupen
negotiator, Mogi Bayat, who is widely regarded as the biggest player
representative in Belgium, and also holds close ties with the president of
Anderlecht.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arsene Wenger unwilling to sign Henry Onyekuru this summer; would prefer
2018 deal
HITC
Vincent Ralph
Arsenal and West Ham United have both been linked with the young forward.
According to a report from Voetbal24.be, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger likes
what he sees of Eupen forward Henry Onyekuru but has no intention of bidding
for him this summer. The Frenchman would preferably like to wait and take
the 20-year-old in 2018, when he has seen what the young Nigerian can do
over a longer period of time. The problem for the Gunners is that according
to a recent report from Own Goal Nigeria, West Ham United are fighting hard
for the forward and have made an improved £9million bid in an attempt to
seal a deal. For that kind of money, and given that Onyekuru scored 24 goals
and provided nine assists in 41 appearances for Eupen last season, he
clearly has the talent to be a canny addition for a number of Premier League
clubs. However, it seems Arsenal are not prepared to jump in now, even if
they could blow the Hammers out of the water and secure one of the most
exciting young forwards in European football. Arsenal need to make the right
additions this summer to build on yet another FA Cup triumph and ensure
their slip out of the top four was merely a blip. As for West Ham, they are
desperate for additional fire-power and Onyekuru fits the bill as a
cut-price signing whose value is only likely to increase in the years ahead.
If West Ham seal a deal and Onyekuru hits the ground running, Arsenal fans
will have another reason to bemoan Wenger's transfer tactics.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Manuel Lanzini makes first start for Argentina in 6-0 thrashing
of Singapore
VAISHALI BHARDWAJ
Evening Stadnard
Manuel Lanzini capped off a superb season by earning his first start for
Argentina as Jorge Sampaoli's team thrashed Singapore 6-0 on Tuesday. The
West Ham midfielder made his debut for La Albiceleste in their 1-0 friendly
win over rivals Brazil in Melbourne on Friday after being brought on for
David Banega in the 81st minute. After playing the final few minutes of the
game - which was Argentina's first victory over Brazil since 2012 - Sampaoli
decided to give the 24-year-old his first start for his nation against
Singapore on Tuesday.
Lanzini played 60 minutes of the match as Argentina ran out 6-0 winners,
with the West Ham star later expressing his happiness at being able to
represent his nation in what he described as a "beautiful" moment.
"Beautiful to be able to live this with the most beautiful shirt of all,
[and] to continue growing as well," he wrote on Instagram alongside a
picture of himself in action. Lanzini's call-up, and subsequent appearances
for Argentina, are well deserved for the midfielder, who impressed for West
Ham following the departure of Dimitri Payet in January. Such were his
performances in midfield for Slaven Bilic's side that the 24-year-old won
the Hammers' Players' Player of the Year award in May, and is likely to be a
crucial player for the West Ham manager as the club look to have a positive
second season at the London Stadium next term.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The work permit issues which are preventing West Ham making progress on
Onyekuru deal
The Hammers need to get the striker a permit if they want any hope of
signing him
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
10:53, 15 JUN 2017
Henry Onyekuru wants to join West Ham but nothing will happen until he has a
work permit that will allow his to move from KAS Eupen in Belgium to east
London. The money the Hammers are currently offering - around £7m - is not
going to be enough to get him in, so the club will need to increase it. The
figure being touted is not much more, £7.87m, to ensure that it happens.
That doesn't mean that a work permit will be automatically given though,
there is a bit more to it than that. So, what is the work permit system all
about?
Previously, in order to qualify to play in the UK, footballers needed to
have played in at least 75% of their country's senior international matches
during the past two years. Onyekuru has just one cap for Nigeria. If his
country were ranked within FIFA's top ten in the world, he would only have
had to have played in 30% of the games. That will be the reason why Onyekuru
is having troubles signing for the club, so it then moves to a points system
as the player and West Ham would have to appeal the decision. You get a
certain number of points for meeting certain criteria and the target West
Ham and Onyekuru need is five points to help the deal over the line and get
the work permit. For example, West Ham would get three points if the wages
they offered Onyekuru are between the 50th and 75th percentile of earners at
the club, so the new man would be on a high wage. Another two points will
arrive if the the value of the transfer fee being paid for the player is
between the 50th and 75th percentile of all transfers to Premier League
clubs in the previous two windows, which is why the club needs to increase
its offer. And that should make up the five points the Hammers need to get
Onyekuru in. Simple, no?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ray Parlour calls out West Ham owners Sullivan and Gold and discusses
expectations for next season
HITC
Damien Lucas
Pundit and childhood West Ham United fan Ray Parlour has called out the
club's owners and discussed expectations for the new season.
The Hammers took a big step back last season as they endured a torrid second
year under Slaven Bilic often flirting with the relegation places before
eventually finishing 11th. The club's big move to the Olympic Stadium was
meant to push the Hammers on to the next level after they finished just four
points off the Champions League places in their farewell campaign at the
Boleyn Ground. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold were full of promises
about the club's intentions to spend big on quality players ahead of the
move to Stratford.
None of that materialised, though, and instead Bilic's squad was diluted
with a glut of poor quality loan and free transfer signings.
The two Davids have since pledged to get things right this summer and Bilic
has publicly stated he is targeting quality over quantity with eyes on four
"game-changer" signings. Pablo Zabaleta has joined on a free but Parlour has
called the club's owners out on talkSPORT and insists they must start
spending money. "I think it's a big season for West Ham again," Parlour told
talkSPORT. "They under performed a little bit last year, but I'm really
pleased they stuck with Slaven. "But now they've (Sullivan and Gold) got to
invest... (the likes of) Chris Smalling and Joe Hart have been mentioned
with going there and they do need investment West Ham this year to really
push on to be in that top 10."
The club's ability to finally compete with the Premier League elite in the
transfer market was dangled as a carrot to supporters who were unsure about
leaving their beloved Upton Park. But clubs like Everton are showing what
serious investment is already this summer with some big signings and more to
follow. Finishing below clubs like Bournemouth with a fraction of West Ham's
income will not be acceptable to supporters next season. And given the club
has been named in the top 20 wealthiest in Europe, it is time they started
acting like it by spending what is required to attract top quality
additions.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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