By Paul Fletcher
Norwegian club Fredrikstad insist they have not had any contact with West Ham over teenager Tarik Elyounoussi. The Hammers have been strongly linked with a £3m move for the 19-year-old forward, who was invited to train with Chelsea's academy last November. But Fredrikstad director Morgan Andersen told BBC Sport: "There has been no contact at all with West Ham. "We really want to keep him and to sell him the offer must be so good that we cannot say no."
West Ham signed midfielder Scott Parker from Newcastle for £7m on 6 June and manager Alan Curbishley is expected to further strengthen his squad after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. Elyounoussi, born in Norway and of Moroccan descent, made his debut in the 2005 season and was a member of the Fredrikstad team that won the Norwegian cup in 2006. "Chelsea wanted to see him with their academy," added Andersen. "That was in November, the same week as we played in our cup final. "Firstly, he had to be with the squad and secondly why should he go to Chelsea's academy when he is one of the best players in Norway? "We would never send a player like that to train with an academy. "He was the best talent in Norway in 2006 and he is reckoned as one of the best young players in Europe. He is a great young player and will only get better." Elyounoussi, who has more than two years left on his current deal, was also invited to Portsmouth in 2006 - but again Fredrikstad decided their first-team requirements took priority.
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Juan more Argie on the way? - KUMB
Filed: Saturday, 9th June 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
West Ham United have made a £6.5m bid for River Plate goalkeeper Juan Pablo Carrizo, according to reports. News site ESPN Deportes claim that the Hammers are attempting to land the higly-rated 23-year-old stopper, who will almost certainly join Carlos Tevez in the Argentina squad for the forthcoming Copa America. According to the story, River Plate delegates - including club president José María Aguilar - met with Hammers officials last week during which the offer was lodged. The bid - which would constitute a record for an Argentinian goalkeeper - is thought likely to be accepted by River Plate, whose manager Daniel Passarella is said to be extremely disappointed at the prospect of losing the 6'2" Carrizo. The young keeper made his first team debut for River in January 2006, since when he has established himself as the club's number one. He made his international debut for Argentina in April of this year in a 0-0 draw against Chile. West Ham have been in the market for a new keeper since allowing Roy Carroll to leave on a free transfer.
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Addicks: Bent won't go on cheap - Sky
By Tom Adams - Created on 9 Jun 2007
Peter Varney insists Charlton will only sell Darren Bent if they receive a suitable offer for the in-demand striker. Bent has reportedly attracted a range of clubs following The Addicks' relegation, with Liverpool, West Ham, Tottenham and Valencia linked with the England man in Saturday's newspapers alone. Bent has proved his class in the Premiership over the past two seasons and figures as high as £18million have been mooted in the press in an attempt to put a value on the former Ipswich striker. Charlton have already compensated for his likely departure by wrapping up deals for Chris Iwelumo and Luke Varney, but the club's chief executive insists Bent will not be leaving unless a suitable offer is tabled. "Darren Bent will only leave Charlton if the price is right for Charlton," said Varney in The Mirror. "If it is not then he will be going nowhere."
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Reo-Coker focused on England - Sky
By James Pearson - Created on 9 Jun 2007
Nigel Reo-Coker is happy to put his club career on hold while he helps England win the European Under 21 Championship in Holland. Reo-Coker's West Ham stay is very much in doubt following a £7million bid from Aston Villa for his services last week. The 23-year-old midfielder is currently in Holland and is opting to focus on helping Stuart Pearce's men lift silverware rather than where he will be playing next season. Reo-Coker is thrilled at the talent in Pearce's squad and fully believes England's stars of the future can be successful this summer. "My main focus is on England's Under 21s," Reo-Coker told the Times. "We're going to try and win the tournament and that's all I'm thinking about at the moment. "Everything else that happens will take care of itself. "I've been in the Under 21s for a while and it's the best bunch of players I've been with. "Everyone has played at least half a season in the Premiership and we've got so many talented individuals."
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Curbishley: Shopping spree not over - Soccernet
West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley intends to supplement his squad rather than radically change it despite the club's narrow escape from relegation.
Curbishley has already brought in midfielder Scott Parker from Newcastle for £7million and the former Charlton boss is being linked with a host of other names. 'I am not saying I will sign 11 players and move everyone out. We have a strong squad here when they are all fit,' he said. 'Lucas Neill and Luis Boa Morte were the only players involved on the last day at Old Trafford who weren't here when I arrived. 'Danny Gabiddon was player of the year in 2006 and I missed him greatly. Matthew Upson and Dean Ashton have barely kicked a ball because of injury - that is £13million of talent. 'If there are players who can improve us, we will try to get them. If I can add to the squad I will but if nothing else happens until we kick off, I have a lot to work with.' There are certain to be more changes, however, as Hammers captain Nigel Reo-Coker handed in a transfer request at the end of the season and appears to be on his way to Aston Villa. 'He is a West Ham player at the moment but he has made clear his desire to leave. We responded to that request and we will see where we go,' said Curbishley, who added that no formal bid had yet been received.
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United swoop for Tevez: Sir Alex wants Argentine star on year's loan - This Is London
09.06.07
Manchester United have made a sensational bid to sign Carlos Tevez, the striker whose controversial move to West Ham cost the east London club a record £5.5 million fine for breaking transfer regulations. Discussions have taken place between high-ranking Old Trafford officials and connections of Tevez, 23. Hijacking the brilliant Argentina forward from under the nose of north-west rivals Liverpool would eclipse even United's recent £50m splash for Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson. The deal, initially thought to be on a loan basis for at least a season,would depend on removing the complications which surrounded Tevez's arrival at Upton Park last August from Brazilian club Corinthians. The issues had deterred United manager Sir Alex Ferguson from taking up an option to sign the striker and his international team-mate, midfielder Javier Mascherano, when they were offered to United last summer. Tevez was offered to everybody,' said Ferguson. We were offered both him and Mascherano but, if I remember it correctly, we weren't sure of the deal.' The controversial disciplinary action against West Ham raised a furore because the Premier League's independent commission refused to impose a points penalty on the relegation-threatened club. Tevez built on that reprieve by scoring six goals in West Ham's amazing run of seven wins in their last nine matches as Alan Curbishley's team escaped the drop. It included the only goal of the game against champions United at Old Trafford when the issue was settled on the final day. Sheffield United were condemned to relegation instead and responded by threatening legal action. Ferguson has been unstinting in his admiration for the part Tevez played in West Ham's survival. He is the one who lifted their game,' Sir Alex said. He scored a couple of really good free-kicks and seems to have a lot of enthusiasm.'
West Ham broke Premier League rules when they signed Tevez and Mascherano because the players were part-owned by a third party. Mascherano has since joined Liverpool, whose manager Rafael Benitez is keen to reunite the pair at Anfield but who could be undone by United's audacious swoop. Tevez's registration is currently held by West Ham, with whom he signed a four-year deal. Technically that agreement still exists but the repercussions of the tribunal could mean Tevez is no longer bound by it and is, therefore, available on a free transfer. The player's future will be thrashed out at a meeting this week between his lawyer, Graham Shear, and West Ham's legal team. Kia Joorabchian, the Iranianborn British businessman whose company, MSI, own the economic rights to Tevez's transfer, has yet to meet West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson and is currently in Buenos Aires on business with the striker, who is preparing to play for Argentina in the Copa America. But Joorabchian has appointed Shears to negotiate on his company's behalf after a planned meeting with Magnusson was cancelled last week. MSI will demand that West Ham reinstate the now-notorious clauses in Tevez's contract which give the company rights over the striker's transfer. The Hammers claimed,following the disciplinary case against them, to have torn up that part of their original deal with Joorabchian, a move that prompted the Premier League to allow Tevez to play on during West Ham's controversial escape from relegation. West Ham want to discuss the possibility of keeping Tevez at Upton Park but that is an increasingly forlorn hope given United's interest. However, in order for negotiations to begin between the clubs, the West Ham issue will have to be resolved. est Ham's negotiations with Joorabchian and Tevez's lawyers may also impact on the forthcoming arbitration claim by Sheffield United, who requested a hearing over the player's continued eligibility. Joorabchian is likely to sue West Ham if the club do not reinstate his player's contract, which allowed the businessman to dictate where and when Tevez could move.
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No Bell prize for Pompey boss - TeamTalk
Harry Redknapp has admitted Portsmouth cannot compete with West Ham in the race to sign Craig Bellamy and has also given up on Jimmy Briand. The Pompey boss is keen to boost his striking options this summer with the futures of Svetoslav Todorov and Kanu in doubt and had identified Liverpool forward Bellamy as a major summer target. But Redknapp has now ruled out a move after discovering he would not be able to match the spending power of West Ham if Liverpool decide to part with the Welsh striker Redknapp told the Portsmouth News: "Craig Bellamy would do for us. But West Ham want him and would double his wages to £100,000-a-week. How do you compete with that? "We've got no chance of getting Bellamy." Redknapp has also ruled out a switch for French forward Briand, who is valued at £8million by his club Rennes, because several bigger clubs are also in the hunt. He added: "Jimmy Briand is very good - he's just been called up for France. "But again, I won't get him. Rennes don't want to sell him - and there are bigger fish than us trying. "You look at France, and Nicolas Anelka, who I tried to get here last summer, is centre-forward for his country again now. "What chance have we got of getting him? With Thierry Henry, he's the best French centre-forward."
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Spurs, West Ham battle for Charlton's Bent
tribalfooball.com - June 09, 2007
Tottenham and West Ham are locked in a battle for Charlton Athletic striker Darren Bent. The Mirror says the England hitman is the prime target of both clubs. But the Hammers are prepared to offer him £60,000 a week in wages - double the sum Spurs had banked on paying. Spanish giants Valencia - poised to lose marksman David Villa this summer - are also keen. But Charlton supremo Peter Varney warned all interested clubs that they won't land the south Londoners' prize asset unless they match the Addicks' valuation. Varney said: "Darren Bent will only leave Charlton if the price is right for Charlton. If it is not then he will be going nowhere."
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Man Utd open talks over stunning Tevez deal
tribalfooball.com - June 09, 2007
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is swooping for West Ham United strike-ace Carlos Tevez. The Mail on Sunday says discussions have taken place between high-ranking Old Trafford officials and connections of Tevez, 23. Hijacking the brilliant Argentina forward from under the nose of north-west rivals Liverpool would eclipse even United's recent �50m splash for Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson. United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been unstinting in his admiration for the part Tevez played in West Ham's survival. "He is the one who lifted their game," Sir Alex said. "He scored a couple of really good free-kicks and seems to have a lot of enthusiasm."Tevez's registration is currently held by West Ham, with whom he signed a four-year deal. Kia Joorabchian, the Iranian born British businessman whose company, MSI, own the economic rights to Tevez's transfer, has yet to meet West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson and is currently in Buenos Aires on business with the striker, who is preparing to play for Argentina in the Copa America.
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est Ham's Ferdinand hopes for Rio reunion
tribalfooball.com - June 09, 2007
West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand hopes to use the U21 European Championships as a platform to join his brother Rio, of Manchester United, in the England senior team. Anton said: "That is a dream of mine, a dream of my family's and a dream of his. It is down to me now to make that dream come true. It would be fantastic."
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Tottenham's Defoe rejects £12M West Ham return
tribalfooball.com - June 09, 2007
Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe has rejected a £12 million move to West Ham. The News of the World says Hammers moved for Tottenham's England striker after being knocked back in a bid to sign Andy Johnson from Everton. But Defoe told his former club there was �zero chance' of him rejoining them. And the highly-rated 24-year-old, who hit 18 goals last season, has also rejected any move to Portsmouth. A Tottenham insider said: "Jermain's just not interested.
"Remember, Spurs finished fifth and, with the right quality signings, could well break into the Champions League positions next season. Why would he want to walk away from that?"
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Manchester United Nip In For Carlos Tevez On Loan - Soccerblog
Posted on Sunday, June 10th, 2007
In quite possibly one of the least substantiated rumour source ever, the football blog of the Orlando Sentinel is saying that they've gotten a sneak peak at the back pages of The Daily Mail (err…) which is claiming that Manchester United are looking to take Carlos Tevez away from West Ham on a one year loan deal.
Since beggar's can't really be choosers during silly season, we'll give this one a bit of thought. Tevez adapted very well to the Premiership towards the end of last season, scoring goals, dealing with the physicality and generally showing the kind of talent that made everyone sit up and take notice when the Hammers signed him in the first place. Given Sir Alex's fondness of strikers who can drop deep and help link play, this one makes sense from a purely footballing stance. Also, he is hideous and won't take attention off the more glamorous stars.
But, of course, there are potentially many non-footballing problems with signing Carlos Tevez. Is all the weirdness about his ownership really over? A club like Manchester United does not need to take a gamble on such a signing, and risk finding out the player is actually owned by a pair of monkeys in Cuba - leading to a points deduction. Then again, West Ham were eventually cleared of the worst charges so maybe all is well.
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