By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer
West Ham have moved closer to signing Liverpool's Craig Bellamy after
holding talks with the Wales striker.
BBC Sport understands Bellamy met West Ham officials on Thursday and will
agree a £70,000-a-week contract.
Liverpool and West Ham will now hold fresh negotiations about a fee after an
initial £7m bid was turned down.
Bellamy, 28, is rated at £8m, and a swap with West Ham's Yossi Benayoun has
stalled over Liverpool's valuation of the Israel midfield star.
West Ham would be happy to do a straight exchange between the two players,
but Liverpool believe Benayoun is only rated at around £3.5m.
Bellamy has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield following boss Rafael
Benitez's summer signings of Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.
He would help to plug any gap at Upton Park left by the possible departure
of Argentine international Carlos Tevez to Manchester United.
The Wales captain joined Liverpool from Blackburn for £6m in June 2006.
After starting his career with Norwich City, he has also had stints with
Coventry City, Newcastle United, plus a loan spell at Celtic.
Bellamy scored nine goals in 42 appearances for the Reds.
But the addition of £20m signing Torres this week means Liverpool have five
senior strikers on their books - with Bellamy, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and
fellow new-boy Voronin making up the total.
Asked, at the unveiling of Torres, if he was happy the player was at the
club and part of his plans, Benitez said: "Are you talking about Torres?"
Told Bellamy was the subject, he said: "I'm really happy with Torres here."
He added: "We have some clubs asking about Bellamy and it's a possibility.
"He knows my idea. He is our player at the moment and we will see what
happens in the future.
"It is clear we have new players here and then it could be more difficult
for some of the players.
"The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have
said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with
us."
Striker Djibril Cisse is already close to the exit door as he is set to be
sold to Marseille after a spell on loan at the French club.
Benitez played down a move for Manchester United left-back Gabriel Heinze
and instead insisted he was trying to sign new wingers.
The Reds boss believes he needs to add to the signing of Torres to help his
side challenge for the Premier League title.
"It is clear we need to improve to be contenders. You will ask if we can
fight for the title with Torres. I think we need something more," he stated.
"It is clear we will improve with Fernando but if we can find other players
good enough I think we will have better balance.
"When you talk about the Premier League you talk about nine months and you
need a big squad.
"We have some names. We are especially looking for wingers."
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The plot thickens - KUMB
Filed: Friday, 6th July 2007
By: Matthew O'Greel
Eggert Magnusson has told Manchester United that they will not be signing
Carlos Tevez without his permission.
Magnusson - speaking via whufc.com this evening - has told the Reds that
they will not be signing Tevez imminently, despite a number of media sources
claiming that a deal had been done between Man Utd and Tevez's agent Kia
Joorabchian.
"Carlos Tevez is a registered West Ham United player, contracted to the Club
until June 2010," said Magnusson.
"There is no agreement with West Ham United for Carlos Tevez to leave the
Club and we expect him to return in time for next season's preparations.
"No decision on his future can be reached without the agreement of West Ham
United."
Magnusson's defiant statement follows earlier reports which claimed that
Tevez would be moving to Old Trafford on a two-year loan deal upon his
return from the Copa America, in which he is currently starring.
But the United chairman remains committed to keeping the 23-year-old
striker, who recently confessed that he would be happy to remain a Hammer
next season.
UPDATE, 7.44pm GMT - Kia Joorabchian has responded to Magnusson's statement
by claiming that Tevez has agreed personal terms with Manchester United -
and that West Ham United gave him permission to talk to other clubs.
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Tevez ready to be Fergie pupil -Sky Sports
By Graeme Bailey - Created on 7 Jul 2007
Carlos Tevez insists he cannot wait to link-up with Sir Alex Ferguson.
Tevez's future looks to be at Old Trafford, even though West Ham are digging
their heels in over the Argentine.
Tevez's representative Kia Joorabchian says he has agreed terms with United
over the move and it seems the transfer will be concluded within the next
few days.
The Argentina striker, currently in Venezuela competing in the Copa America
for his country, has again revealed his delight at the prospect of playing
for Ferguson and United.
"I only know Alex Ferguson from what I see from the outside but I believe he
is a great manager and that I will be a good pupil for him," he told the
Daily Mirror.
"Manchester United is a team with a very offensive, attacking style of play.
This is the system I always desire.
"Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world. I have spoken with him
during the season and I admire him for being a star on the pitch and on the
street."
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Three Steps Backwards? - WHO
Alex V - Sat Jul 7 2007
Nigel Reo-Coker has already gone, and it looks very likely that he will be
joined by two more of our finest players. Is it time to downgrade
expectations for the coming season?
It looks as if the only barrier to Tevez's transfer to Manchester United is
the question mark over who owns the player and deserves the transfer fee -
that wrangle may continue but it certainly looks as if the Argentinian has
played his last game for our club. I think we have to be realistic about
this - he was courted by Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United.
When those clubs come sniffing, the player is hardly going to stay.
Obviously it's a huge blow to see him go, but we have to remain positive.
Curbishley will bring in two more strikers minimum before the season starts,
and I've no doubt they will be of Premiership quality. So I don't think it's
curtains to our hopes. But Tevez had the quality that made almost anything
possible. Though it should also be said that he had a long period of being
utterly ineffective in matches for us, and may have done so again. We can't
predict with absolute certainty what a future with Tevez might have held.
Obviously to be shot of this strange loan deal and relationship with his
advisors would be a bonus.
More shocking perhaps is the seemingly certain departure of Benayoun. I was
certainly hoping that reports of interest from Liverpool would die down,
that once he returned for pre-season the club would sit him down and patch
up the problem. But reports indicate that he has all but refused to even
consider staying at West Ham, and so the only option has been to haggle with
Liverpool over a price. I must say I don't understand how figures of £4-6
million could be bandied about for one of the best creative midfielders in
the Premier League at the prime of his career - you could spend £20 million
and not find a played of Benayoun's class. And clearly Benayoun has been
left in no doubt of Liverpool's determination to have him - where are the
Premier League when a player is so clearly and obviously tapped up?
How you replace Benayoun I just don't know - I feel this leaves us with a
huge creative hole in the midfield. Over the last two seasons when Benayoun
hasn't played I feel we have looked very predictable - there's nobody else
in the squad that seemed able to find space in attacking areas, and upset
the opposition with their movement and skill. While we were always
struggling to find the right position for Tevez, who looked consistently
awful on the wing, Benayoun managed to play as a winger but have a huge
influence on the game. You don't replace that - you simply don't.
At least with Reo-Cokers sale we have the replacement already at the club,
but I am still very disappointed that one of the best prospects in the
country found the idea of staying at West Ham inconceivable. And I feel a
familiar bitterness towards section of the West Ham support who turned on
him because... I don't really know why they turned on him. Because of his
attitude? For me his attitude was spot on - God forbid we have a player who
believes they can lead a set of players to success. So his on the field
performances were patchy - nobody was complaining when he helped us get to
the FA Cup final the previous season on similar form. Was he the reason we
struggled this season? - not at all, not in the slightest. He was made a
scapegoat for our poor form, and even had the balls to come out fighting
when he was criticised. He leaves with my respect - I would say that I
expect him to win things in his career, but unfortunately a move to Villa
doesn't seem the best way of doing that.
I am utterly tired of the boo-boys though at West Ham. The people who jeered
at young Spector all last season - he kept his head high and kept coming
back for more, well done young man, you showed more resilience than most
players ever will! The people who jeered at Lampard Jnr all through his time
at the club, the people who seemed so disappointed when he scored another
matchwinning goal for us. The people who jeered Carrick at such a young
age - if you look at his career you wonder if that had a big effect on his
development. I know, I'm sounding like a broken record - let it go, why
can't I?
If you want to criticise players, criticise Benayoun and Tevez - both have
shown us as fans a complete lack of respect. Their loyalty was clearly
bought with a chequebook and was wafer thin. That's the way it is in
football these days, and I don't begrudge them their chance to 'move up',
the people who really suffer are the fans who invest their hopes and dreams
in 11 players on the pitch. Maybe it's us who need our heads checked.
Indeed it was the supporters that MADE Tevez in this country - without the
relentless support of the West Ham faithful he would never have played
through his indifferent spell to eventually find form in the shirt, he would
have just sulked and crumbled and moved on as Mascherano did. Manchester
United would have had NO interest in the Tevez we saw at the turn of the
year. It's another of those obvious lessons - with consistent support we see
the best of players.
So where does this all leave West Ham? Well let's not start sobbing,
especially after the miracles of the end of last season. We have a damn good
squad still, with more additions to come. I think you have to say that with
Benayoun and Tevez leaving, it looks to me that Curbs may be that more
likely to hang onto Etherington and Zamora, just in case.
If you look at the playing staff now you would have to say there is a lack
of creativity in the side, and Curbishley will have to look at that
seriously now, because I feel that was one of the things that Pardew failed
to address properly last Summer with disastrous consequences. We definitely
need a wildcard to play at some point I feel - other than a hopefully
in-form Boa Morte I don't see another player able to come up with the
unexpected in the squad. I would be looking seriously at Kewell, even though
he favours the left as well, but despite his terrible record of injuries he
is still a player who can turn a game with a moment of brilliance.
But generally I expect us to be a more resilient, straightforward side this
coming season. I think Curbishley will be looking for two banks of four in
defence and midfield, and make us hard to break down. I think we'll get 0-0s
away from home. In Neill, Upson and Parker we have solid players with good
experience, hopefully in the prime of their careers - I think they give the
whole squad a very different feel, less the plucky upstarts, more the
dependables (hopefully). We need a right-winger, a left-back, another
central midfielder, and two strikers, so there's still plenty to come in the
transfer window.
Expectations now? You'll have yours and I have mine. I expect top 10 still,
Europe as a bonus, anything above relegation as safe progress. Again I'm
looking at Ashton as the key man - IF he could deliver again, we could still
surprise a few this season...
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West Ham threaten Tevez deal - Daily Telegraph
By David Bond
Last Updated: 12:49am BST 07/07/2007
Carlos Tevez's move to Manchester United was plunged into fresh confusion
last night after West Ham issued a statement insisting they control the
Argentine striker.
This extraordinary act of brinkmanship came at the end of another day of
frantic negotiations involving lawyers from West Ham, Manchester United, the
Premier League and Kia Joorabchian, the player's agent and part owner.
Although it is almost certain a deal will eventually be struck which will
allow Tevez to move to Old Trafford - he was said to be undergoing a medical
yesterday - the confusion and controversy which has clouded the player's
short career in England is set to continue for some weeks yet.
With the Premier League insisting that West Ham must conduct the transfer,
the East London side have been forced to publicly assert their rights over
Tevez.
advertisement
That's because West Ham were only granted permission by the Premier League
to continue playing Tevez at the end of last season after they ripped up
third party agreements with Joorabchian and MSI and Just Sport Inc, the two
companies who own the player's economic rights.
In boldly declaring that they hold the right to the player's registration,
as well as three years of a four-year playing contract, West Ham are certain
to now face legal action from Joorabchian.
Despite that West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson said: "Carlos Tevez is a
registered West Ham player, contracted to the club until June 2010. There is
no agreement with West Ham for Carlos Tevez to leave the club and we expect
him to return in time for next season's preparations."
A source for Joorabchian disputed West Ham's claims over the player last
night, insisting that the club only had a one-year playing contract with a
three-year option to renew.
But, while those terms might apply to some of the side agreements ripped up
in April, those claims appear to be at odds with the findings of the
independent commission who fined West Ham £5.5 million for breaking third
party rules. That judgment stated clearly that Tevez had a four-year playing
contract with West Ham.
The Joorabchian camp also claim Magnusson was offered the chance to renew
the club's deal with Tevez for a fee of £40 million three weeks ago but that
he declined, freeing the player to start talking to other clubs.
Joorabchian's lawyers said: "We confirm that Carlos Tevez has, with the
knowledge and permission of West Ham United, been in discussions with other
clubs. Subsequently, personal terms have now been agreed with Manchester
United."
Only once the truth of this tangled contractual web is established by a
judge will United be able to negotiate a deal for Tevez to join them.
But the Premier League have made it clear they will only sign off Tevez's
move to United if West Ham handle the deal and get a slice of any transfer
fee agreed.
Joorabchian may then have to sue for his share of the deal from West Ham.
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Just who does own the rights to Tevez? - The Times
James Ducker
From The Times
July 7, 2007
Manchester United are seething at suggestions that they made an illegal
approach for Carlos Tévez. United were given permission by West Ham United
to speak to Tévez, although Eggert Magnússon, the West Ham chairman,
insisted last night that there was "no agreement" for the Argentina forward
to leave the club. "No decision on his future can be reached without the
agreement of West Ham," Magnússon said.
Nonetheless, United expect to complete the signing of Tévez on a two-year
loan once the player returns from Copa America in Venezuela later this
month. Provided the deal is ratified by the FA Premier League, which has
insisted that any fee for Tévez must be paid to West Ham and not Kia
Joorabchian, the businessman who owns the economic rights to the player, the
23-year-old will undergo a medical having already agreed personal terms
worth £90,000 a week.
With serious doubts still surrounding the transfer, however, The Times
answers the questions that matter:
Who owns Carlos Tévez?
West Ham United hold the player's registration. Kia Joorabchian's Media
Sports Investments firm owns the economic rights to the forward.
Does Tévez's transfer to Manchester United mirror Javier Mascherano's move
to Liverpool in January?
Yes and no.
How do they differ?
Liverpool signed Mascherano on an 18-month loan - at the end of which they
have the option to buy the player permanently - after West Ham ripped up the
player's registration and gave up any rights to him to facilitate the
transfer. Joorabchian, who owns the economic rights to Mascherano as well as
Tévez, was paid £1.5 million by Liverpool as part of the deal.
United have agreed a two-year loan deal for Tévez, with the option to sign
the forward permanently at the end of that period, but West Ham cannot
simply give up the rights to the player in this case to facilitate the
transfer.
Why not?
After the verdict delivered by the independent commission into the transfer
on April 27, when West Ham were fined £5.5 million, the club were given
three choices. Either they stop playing Tévez, they bring the third-party
agreement with Joorabchian into line with FA Premier League rule U18 so
Joorabchian could not materially influence the club's policy, or, finally,
terminate its agreement with Joorabchian on the proviso that they would
continue to behave in that manner and assert their rights over the player.
So what did they do?
Given that Tévez was central to the club's hopes of staying in the
Premiership, West Ham decided to terminate their agreement with Joorabchian
and assert their rights over the player. As part of the agreement, West Ham
would effectively have to answer to the Premier League regarding any future
dealings with Tévez. Even if they wanted to, they could not simply terminate
the player's contract, but the decision left the club open to a legal action
from Joorabchian for breach of contract.
So what has to happen to satisfy the Premier League before Tévez can join
Manchester United?
United must strike a deal with West Ham for Tévez. That means that any fee -
thought to be £6 million over the two years - would have to be paid to West
Ham and not Joorabchian.
But couldn't West Ham just receive a fee from United and then give it all to
Joorabchian as compensation?
No. The Premier League would want to see that a "significant portion" of the
transfer fee remained with West Ham and, given that it has power to
scrutinise transactions over £25,000, that would be easy. Otherwise, it
could be accused of trying to cover up the third-party agreements that
caused so much controversy in the first place.
But what about Joorbachian? Won't he try to sue West Ham if he does not
receive some compensation for a player he holds the economic rights for?
He could, but it is likely that, somewhere down the line, West Ham will pay
him a compensation fee in an out-of-court settlement, although that will
have to be handled carefully.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chris Cohen Moves to Forest - West Ham Till I Die
July 7th, 2007
Former West Ham starlet Chris Cohen, who moved to Yeovil after failing to
land a first team spot at Upton Park has moved to Nottingham Forest for a
fee of around half a million pounds. I wonder if we had a sell on clause.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Beni's Bell goes cheap - The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
July 07, 2007
WEST HAM finally landed £9million hitman Craig Bellamy last night - after
Liverpool dropped their asking price.
And Kop flop Djibril Cisse is returning to Marseille on a permanent basis
after they increased their offer to £8m.
Bellamy, 27, packed his bags after Liverpool backed down having initially
claimed they wanted £12m for the fiery Welshman.
But they have settled on an initial £7m payment, with a further £2m coming
from various add-ons over time.
The fee is £1m more than the Hammers wanted to pay but they hope to recoup
the lion's share of that by allowing Yossi Benayoun to go to Anfield over
the next few days.
Liverpool have already had a £3.5m bid KO'd but should get the Israeli
midfielder for just over £5m.
West Ham are desperate for strikers with Carlos Tevez off to Manchester
United and were keen to make it a double swoop by landing Bellamy's fellow
Kop outcast Cisse.
But the France international striker, 25, had his heart set on returning to
Marseille, where he spent all of last season on loan.
The chances of that seemed remote when the French outfit offered just
£1.2m - despite having just trousered £17m from selling Franck Ribery to
Bayern Munich.
Yet they dramatically upped their offer last night and Cisse will get his
dream move.
Winger Mark Gonzalez, 22, currently on Copa America duty with Chile, has
also left Liverpool for Spain's Real Betis.
Liverpool chief Rafa Benitez plans to meet keeper Scott Carson for
clear-the-air talks next week. The England Under-21 stopper spent last
season on loan at relegated Charlton.
Carson, 21, wants to cement his place in the England squad as Wigan's former
Reds keeper Chris Kirkland has struggled with injuries.
But he needs reassurances he will not spend the campaign on the bench and
hopes a meeting with Benitez can ease his fears.
Bellamy's departure came in the wake of Liverpool's £21.5m capture of
Spanish striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid - a swoop that gave
them five frontline attackers.
p.thomas@the-sun.co.uk
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Hammers OK'd Tevez deal - The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
July 07, 2007
CARLOS TEVEZ expects his £38million Manchester United switch to go ahead -
after West Ham gave him written permission to discuss a move.
Worried Premier League chiefs were yesterday blocking United from officially
announcing the deal.
But the Argie striker has been hawked around Premiership clubs for the past
three weeks with the full knowledge of the Hammers - who passed up a £40m
option to buy him.
Tevez's representatives last night confirmed he has agreed personal terms
with United and they hope to finalise the move quickly.
The Premier League said United must deal with the Hammers rather than
directly with the consortium who effectively own Tevez.
But the fact West Ham have given the player permission in writing to talk to
the champions should overcome that insistence.
Last night, the waters were muddied further with the Hammers apparently
saying they would not release Tevez's registration in an apparent attempt to
get a major cut of the deal.
In a statement, club chairman Eggert Magnusson said: "No decision on his
future can be reached without the agreement of West Ham United."
But while the Upton Park outfit will receive a compensation payment for
releasing Tevez's registration, they have been told to forget landing a
major cash windfall.
Although the Eastenders still hold his registration they do not have a
contract of employment with him.
A source close to Tevez, who is contracted to a consortium headed by
businessman Kia Joorabchian, said: "West Ham might be able to get a small
amount of compensation to pass on Tevez's registration, but claims they can
get millions are, quite frankly, laughable.
"The initial agreement with West Ham was for a year loan with an option to
buy Tevez on a three-year contract for £40m when that period expired. The
club did not take up that option.
"It's my understanding that around three weeks ago Kia was given written
permission by the club to discuss a possible move for Carlos."
United had hoped to officially announce the star's capture.
But the Premier League blocked that plan and last night they still had not
given the green light.
However, Joorabchian's lawyers said in a statement: "We confirm that Carlos
Tevez has, with the knowledge and permission of West Ham United, been in
discussions with other clubs.
"Subsequently, personal terms have now been agreed with Manchester United."
Tevez, 23, is understood to have undergone a medical yesterday in Venezuela,
where he is playing for Argentina in the Copa America.
As SunSport revealed yesterday, United boss Alex Ferguson is committing the
club to take Tevez initially for two years, with the option to extend that
by a further three.
United stand to pay out around £28m in wages to Tevez if he stays for five
years - plus £10m in 'service fees' to Joorabchian and a fee yet to be
decided if they sign him permanently after his first two years.
The plan is for Tevez to join United on their pre-season tour to the USA
once the Copa America is over.
Argentina legend Carlos Bilardo, their 1986 World Cup-winning coach, said:
"Tevez and Rooney are still young and they will be like two tanks at the
sharp end of United's attack."
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Half measure as Hammers land Bellamy - thisislondon.co.uk
07.07.07
West Ham, desperate for an injection of pace and firepower up front,
believed they had succeeded at the double after agreeing terms with Craig
Bellamy and matching Djibril Cisse's £8million asking price.
But Cisse dashed West Ham's hopes of a dramatic £16million raid on Anfield
by sticking to his guns and finally landing his dream move home to France
with Marseille.
Hammers completed the signing of Bellamy for an initial £7.5m, rising to
£8m, but they suffered further frustration over Cisse as the France
frontrunner followed Darren Bent's lead by turning his back on Upton Park.
Much as Bent held out for a move to Tottenham, Cisse could not be talked out
of waiting for Marseille to end weeks of haggling and turn last season's
loan deal into a permanent transfer.
The French side, who also signed freed ex-Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden,
had angered Anfield chiefs by repeatedly pleading poverty, despite Franck
Ribery's big-money summer switch to Bayern Munich.
With West Ham and Portsmouth both meeting Liverpool's valuation, though,
they finally relented and agreed to a number of staged payments that will
ultimately allow Liverpool to recoup £8m of the then-record £14m they paid
Auxerre three years ago.
Cisse will at last end an unhappy Anfield stay on Monday and clear the way
for Liverpool to step up their efforts to recruit West Ham's Yossi Benayoun
and Manchester United left-back Gabriel Heinze.
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Tevez turmoil - Hammers fight for cut in £60m United move -
thisislondon.co.uk
06.07.07
Carlos Tevez, having agreed a stunning £60million deal with Manchester
United, has been ordered to start pre-season training with West Ham,
sparking a furious row last night.
Sportsmail can today reveal the full cash details of the stunning transfer,
even though West Ham moved to try to block the deal.
A legal battle will now follow between Tevez's owner, businessman Kia
Joorabchian, and Upton Park.
Joorabchian is believed to have "potentially explosive documentation" that
could yet blow apart the Premier League's decision not to dock West Ham
points at the end of last season.
Sources close to the biggest transfer of the summer believe West Ham's
statement to be a tactic designed to ensure that they receive a cut of the
transfer fee and, at the same time, avoid accusations from the Premier
League that their declaration of outright ownership of Tevez back in April
was false. West Ham deny this.
Earlier, details of the transfer emerged:
Tevez, 23, will join United on an initial £6million two-year loan.
If Manchester United then exercise a three-year buy-out option, it will cost
them a further £35million. They will then own the player outright.
Tevez's wages have been agreed for five years - and United will pay him just
under £100,000 a week.
All transfer monies will be paid directly to owner Kia Joorabchian.
The Premier League are determined not to sanction the transfer unless West
Ham are seen to be exercising their rights as the player's employers, and
Hammers last night refused to play ball with United, demanding that the Old
Trafford board negotiate directly for the player.
West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson said: "Carlos Tevez is a registered West
Ham player, contracted to the club until June 2010. There is no agreement
with West Ham for Carlos Tevez to leave the club and we expect him to return
in time for next season's preparations.
"No decision on his future can be reached without the agreement of West
Ham."
Champions United are still optimistic that the deal will go through at the
start of next week but officials were privately conceding that they now have
a battle on their hands.
Ironically, Joorabchian tried to buy West Ham last summer, which is why
Tevez was taken to Upton Park.
However, a bitter falling-out has taken place, with West Ham often refusing
to return Joorabchian's calls as he tried to discuss an extension of the
Tevez deal.
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Benayoun swap attempt scotched - ClubCall
20070707 11:10
West Ham's reported offer of Yossi Benayoun in a straight swap for Liverpool
striker Craig Bellamy has been snubbed by Rafa Benitez.
The Hammers have been heavily linked with a swoop for 27-year-old Wales
international Bellamy, whose spell at Anfield is on borrowed time following
the recent arrival of £20million Spanish starlet Fernando Torres at
Liverpool.
However, while West Ham are thought to have offered £7million for Bellamy,
who cost the Reds £6.5million from Blackburn last summer, the Champions
League finalists are looking for around £8-9million.
Fresh reports are claiming that West Ham are now willing to hand over
Israeli international midfielder Benayoun, who has already been linked with
a move to Liverpool this summer, in a straight swap for Bellamy. But
Liverpool boss Benitez has laughed off the bid as he only values Benayoun at
£3.5million, so would want around £5million in cash as well as the player
before a deal could be concluded.
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Hammers battle Magpies for Hutchinson - Daily Mail
Last updated at 17:05pm on 6th July 2007
West Ham and Newcastle are set for a £3million tug-of-war over Canadian star
Atiba Hutchinson.
The FC Copenhagen midfielder played against Manchester United and scored
against Celtic in last season's Champions League and could be the right man
to help the Hammers survive after the expected departure of Carlos Tevez to
Manchester United.
The 24-year-old moved to Sweden to play for Osters IF in 2003 before moving
to Helsingborgs and he joined the side from the Danish capital in 2006.
The club won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007.
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Hammers move for Cisse - Sky Sports
By Peter ORourke - Created on 6 Jul 2007
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has confirmed West Ham have made an approach for
Djibril Cisse.
Cisse is surplus to requirements at Anfield and Liverpool are ready to
listen to offers for the French international.
Marseille had been leading the chase to sign Cisse after he spent the whole
of last season on loan at the Stade Velodrome.
However, West Ham could now be ready to pinch the former Auxerre ace from
under the noses of Marseille.
Liverpool are believed to be holding out for a fee in the region of
£9million for their former club record signing and West Ham could outbid
Marseille for Cisse's signature.
West Ham are actively scouring the market for striking reinforcements with
Carlos Tevez seemingly on his way to Manchester United.
The Hammers are also though to be keen on Cisse's Liverpool team-mate Craig
Bellamy.
Bellamy has been pushed down the pecking order by the recent arrival of
Fernando Torres and Benitez confirmed earlier this week he was considering
offers for the Welsh international.
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