WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola's striking options have been boosted by the arrival of Benni
McCarthy
01.02.2010
West Ham United are pleased to confirm the signing of South Africa striker
Benni McCarthy from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee. The UEFA
Champions League-winning forward has joined on a permanent contract until
summer 2012 after passing a medical and being granted a work permit. He will
wear the No17 shirt and could make his debut in Saturday's Barclays Premier
League match at Burnley. McCarthy, his country's all-time leading goalscorer
with 32 goals in 77 internationals, was thrilled to finally sign on at the
Boleyn Ground. He said: "I am very pleased and extremely happy. "This is a
great club. The reason why I am happy that it has finally happened is
because about five years ago I had a disappointing experience when I thought
I was going to be a West Ham player until Porto pulled out and I had to go
back. "I would have loved this to be my first Premier League club, I went to
Blackburn instead but West Ham kept on pursuing me and eventually I am
here."
McCarthy's reputation rose while playing under Jose Mourinho at Porto,
having first shot to prominence with AFC Ajax in the Netherlands. He then
moved on to Celta Vigo in Spain before his hugely successful stay in
Portugal. He scored 12 goals in his first eleven matches while on loan in
2001/02 before winning the domestic golden boot in the triumphant 2003/04
Champions League campaign with 20 goals in 23 matches. He joined Blackburn
in July 2006 - a year after his proposed move to West Ham fell through - and
went on to score 37 goals in 109 league matches. Already friendly with many
of his new team-mates, McCarthy, 32, has spoken of the warm welcome he has
received from everyone at the Boleyn Ground. "I am looking forward to making
up for lost time and I can't wait to make my debut. The reception I have got
from everyone at the club and the fans I have already met in the street has
been great. Everyone was optimistic and gave me a really good feeling. "It
left me thinking 'Wow, this is the club I want to play for'. Although I
could have gone to other clubs, this was the only one I wanted. Blackburn
were very good to me and I had a wonderful time there but now this is a new
opportunity. This for me is fantastic and I can't wait to play for the
manager. "They wanted me before, it didn't happen but now the opportunity
arises again and this time I am going to prove myself. It is my destiny to
be here. All I want to do is score goals for West Ham and make the fans
happy."
McCarthy is set to lead the line for his country at this summer's FIFA World
Cup on home soil, having already played and scored at both the 1998 and 2002
finals.
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Parker going for goals
WHUFC.com
Scott Parker believes he and his fellow midfielders need to start scoring
more regularly
01.02.2010
West Ham United might be five games unbeaten, but Scott Parker is desperate
to turn draws into wins as the Barclays Premier League approaches its
climax. The Hammers have recorded four draws and a victory over Portsmouth
in their last five matches, climbing to 15th in the standings. However,
inspirational midfielder Parker knows that a run of wins over the coming
weeks will all but ensure the club's top-flight future. "We've got some
massive games coming up with teams that are around us and they're winnable
games and we really need to go and win them and get three points," said the
29-year-old. The England midfielder returned from a one-match absence with a
hamstring injury as a second-half substitute in Saturday's goalless draw
with Blackburn Rovers. A driving force as always, Parker came agonisingly
close to creating a winner for his side, beating two defenders before
stabbing a dangerous cross through the Rovers six-yard box. Attacking intent
is something Parker said he and his fellow midfielders will have to show
consistently between now and the end of the season. "I've been out for a
little bit so was pleased to get involved and try and help the team," he
said. "It's a shame we couldn't get the three points but we have to take the
positives. We got a draw and it was another clean sheet. "With my cross, I
got to the by-line and I'm sure the forwards are very disappointed they
didn't get on the end of it, but it's just one of those things. It's the way
it's going at the moment. "I think we all need to chip in [with goals from
midfield]. At the moment we need to turn the draws into wins. We're getting
a lot of draws. We're unbeaten in five now in the league, so we are doing
well and we have got a little bit of solidity about us, but we need to start
turning those points into three."
While Parker believes a victory at Burnley on Saturday would provide a
massive boost, he revealed that everyone connected with the club was already
feeling positive following the arrival of new chairmen David Sullivan and
David Gold. "I think it can only be good for the team," he confirmed
"Obviously the negativity surrounding the club over the last few months
never helps. As a player, you're always probably the last to know but you
read what you read and it wasn't good. "Things have settled down and it
feels more stable now, so I'm sure we can really go and push on. We need to
win some games now. We're in a relegation fight and we need to win games.
"Thankfully now it has been dealt with. We have two owners come in who look
like, not only are they massive fans, but they really want to take the club
forward, which is pleasing."
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Ilan in
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2010
By: Staff Writer
Brazilian striker Ilan is at the Boleyn Ground to finalise a move to West
Ham United. The St Etienne forward, capped three times by Brazil flew into
London this morning to put pen to paper on a deal that will see him join
United with immediate effect. Ilan, 29, arrived at the club's Chadwell Heath
training ground late this morning and could go straight into the team to
face Burnley at Turf Moor next weekend should everything proceed smoothly.
However West Ham have been in a similar position before and not landed their
man - back in 2006, when Benni McCarthy, who is also expected to be
confirmed as a Hammer later today, successfully completed a medical only to
see his then-club Porto pull out of the deal at the last minute. Fortunately
there appears to be no chance of that happening on this occasion as Ilan has
reached a mutual agreement with his current club to release him from his
contractual obligations four months early.
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Ilan arrives at Hammers
Brazilian expected to sign two-and-a-half-year contract
Last updated: 1st February 2010
SSN
West Ham United appear to be on the verge of completing the signing of Ilan
after the Brazilian striker arrived at the club on transfer deadline day.
The 29-year-old is expected to sign a two-and-a-half-year deal as St Etienne
are prepared to release him from the remaining six months of his current
contract. Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola has been eager to sign new attacking
options in the January transfer window following the takeover of new owners
David Gold and David Sullivan. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Eidur Gudjohnsen
snubbed moves to Upton Park in favour of Hamburg and Tottenham,
respectively, but deals for Ilan and Benni McCarthy are imminent.
Skysports.com also understands that West Ham have made late contact with
Paris St Germain's former Chelsea striker Mateja Kezman.
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Hammers contact Kezman
Former Chelsea man also linked with Portsmouth
By Patrick Haond Last updated: 1st February 2010
SSN
Skysports.com understands that West Ham United and Portsmouth have made late
contact with Paris St Germain striker Mateja Kezman. The former Chelsea man
has recently returned to the French capital after a loan spell at Zenit St
Petersburg but does not feature in the plans of Antoine Kombouare. West Ham
are in the market for strikers after missing out on Ruud van Nistelrooy and
Eidur Gudjohnsen and are therefore thought to have made enquiries, despite
an imminent deal for Benni McCarthy. The Hammers' Premier League relegation
rivals Portsmouth are also believed to have approached Kezman with a view to
securing additional attacking options. Any move would come late on transfer
deadline day but the 30-year-old would bring experience of England's top
flight. Kezman played for Chelsea during the 2004/05 season after a
£5million move from PSV Eindhoven, although his time with the Blues failed
to meet expectations as he scored just four league goals in 24 appearances.
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McCarthy a Hammer
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 1st February 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have confirmed the arrival of striker Benni McCarthy on a
two-and-a-healf year contract. The South African striker agreed terms with
the Hammers last week but saw his signing delayed by. Talking to whufc.com,
the 32-year-old international said: "This is a great club. The reason why I
am happy that it has finally happened is because about five years ago I had
a disappointing experience when I thought I was going to be a West Ham
player until Porto pulled out and I had to go back. "I would have loved this
to be my first Premier League club, I went to Blackburn instead but West Ham
kept on pursuing me and eventually I am here."
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Mido is a grand striker
The Sun
MIDO has offered to play at West Ham for just £1,000-a-week. The Egyptian
striker is so desperate to prove himself in the Premier League that he is
willing to move from Middlesbrough for one of the top-flight's lowest wages.
Former Spurs ace Mido, 26, has been on loan in his home country from Boro
but wants to join West Ham. Hammers co-owner David Sullivan said: "It would
be one of the most amazing deals of all time. "He doesn't want to be known
as a 'has been' of English football, so he is willing to come here to play
for a nominal fee, just £1,000-a-week. "Mido is a rich boy, even though he
is still only 26, and he told us he doesn't need the money, but he wants to
prove something in English football. "He is a Middlesborough player who is
on loan back in his home country Egypt, but he desperate to show people here
what he can do. we are hoping to clinch this deal today."
Sullivan has ruled out a move for Spurs star Robbie Keane due to his
£105,000-a-week wages. He said: "We simply can't afford Robbie. Of course,
we'd love to sign him — but it's too much money." The Hammers are hoping to
conclude the signing of Brazilian international striker Ilan, 29, after
sealing Benni McCarthy's transfer from Blackburn this morning.
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West Ham plan moves for strikers Ilan and Mido
Ken Dyer
01.02.10
Evening Standard
West Ham were today making a late bid to solve their striker crisis. In
addition to Benni McCarthy, who was expected to complete his £2.5million
move from Blackburn, West Ham's new co-owner David Sullivan was busy trying
to tie up loan deals with Brazilian striker Ilan — who has been released
from St Etienne — plus former Tottenham striker Mido from Middlesbrough.
Ilan was at West Ham's training ground today for talks. Although born in
Brazil, the 29-year-old has an Italian passport so a work permit would not
be an issue. England striker Carlton Cole, meanwhile, is relishing the
opportunity of playing alongside South Africa international McCarthy for the
rest of the season. Cole continued his comeback from injury with a
second-half substitute appearance in the goalless draw at home to Blackburn
and said today: "I'm very happy that Benni is joining us. He is a quality
player. "I am sure I can learn from him and pick his brains. I can't wait to
start training with him."
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