WHUFC.com
Avram Grant said his team should be judged over ten to 15 games and not just three tough opening fixtures
30.08.2010
Avram Grant is hoping to have new faces in his squad come Tuesday night's closure of the transfer window as the manager reiterated how he is prepared to be patient this season. Although the campaign has started in stuttering fashion, he said the time to judge his squad would be after ten to 15 matches. The fixture list has been unkind to the Hammers - Chelsea are up next on Saturday week - but the manager has positives in the form of those returning after long absences and the addition of half-a-dozen quality players to his options. The first to arrive in the summer was Thomas Hitzlsperger, and the manager is hopeful his influential Germany midfielder will be back sooner rather than later while Nigeria forward Victor Obinna, signed from the UEFA Champions League holders Internazionale, could make his debut against Chelsea. Add Tal Ben Haim and Winston Reid to the defensive mix and help is certainly on the way. "It's only the beginning of the season so we cannot make any conclusions after three weeks," said Grant as he reflected on a 3-0 defeat at a rampaging Manchester United side virtually at full strength on Saturday. "We must wait for 10-15 games to see our direction. "They are a good team, a better team than us for sure but we were in the game in the first half until the [Wayne Rooney] penalty. This is football. Of course we are disappointed but in time it will be better. "There are positives I can take from that. Kieron Dyer did well and with time we will be more organised to help him. We have two weeks to think about Chelsea. "We are trying to bring in new faces. Still we have Obinna, Ben Haim, Reid and Hitzlsperger. Half of the team will be back [including Saturday substitutes Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne] and I hope to have them in the next few weeks. I am sure we will do good things and we are patient. "
Grant has identified his greatest areas of need for strengthening - "we didn't have players in the positions we needed them" - but also reiterated that his players need to focus on the future rather than the past. "Chelsea is a tough fixture and I can't ever remember a team at our level having such tough fixtures at the beginning of the season. But these are fixtures we have been given and, in football, anything can happen. We have two weeks to think about things. We can become stronger. "It's not easy to keep the morale up - especially after last season - but I don't like talking about last year because we do not need to be reminded about it. "It's not easy but I've told the players from the beginning that I want to see their character both when they win and when they lose. It's only the beginning of the season and if we win two games we will be as good as any other team. "Last season things were decided for me off the pitch [Portsmouth] but this year they will be decided on the pitch. It's a big, big difference."
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Daprela on the move
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th August 2010
By: Staff Writer No.2
Promising left back Fabio Daprela has left the club for Brescia, according to the Italian club's website. The Swiss U19 international has joined the Serie A side on a five-year deal for an "undisclosed fee". Daprela joined United in July 2009 from Swiss side Grasshoppers, for whom he made his first XI debut at the age of 16. He made only 7 appearances in the claret and blue during the 2009/10 season, despite a long term injury to first-choice left-back Herita Ilunga. Many observers believed that the Swiss youngster showed a great deal of promise on his rare first team outings. However, it appears that this was not a view shared by Avram Grant and the defender follows Alessandro Diamanti on the road to Lombardy.
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Fabio Daprela leaves West Ham for Brescia
BBC.co.uk
Italian side Brescia have signed Swiss defender Fabio Daprela on a permanent deal from West Ham. The 19-year-old has agreed to a five-year contract with Brescia, who have been promoted to Serie A. A statement from the club read: "Brescia announce the acquisition of Fabio Daprela. Daprela has signed a five-year contract." The left-back made seven appearances for West Ham last season, having joined them from Grasshoppers in 2009.
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Harry's Scott to get Parker
The Sun
Published: Today
SPURS will make one final bid for West Ham star Scott Parker. The Hammers are desperate to hold on to their prized midfielder and have already resisted a £7million bid. And even though West Ham boss Avram Grant is a fan of unsettled Spurs striker Robbie Keane, it is unlikely he would be tempted into a swap deal. Midfielder Parker, 30, has been offered a new deal at Upton Park but has yet to put pen to paper. Spurs boss Harry Redknapp missed out on Luis Fabiano after the striker opted to stay at Seville.
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Siaka hoping for Prem switch
Ivorian defender holding out for 'dream' move
By Giscard Gourizro Last updated: 30th August 2010
SSN
Tiene Siaka is hoping to secure a 'dream' move to England, with West Ham and Fulham reported to be keen. The Ivorian full-back is currently on the books of Ligue 1 outfit Valenciennes, but could soon be on his way to the Premier League. Fulham are in the market for a new left-back, with Paul Konchesky set to join Liverpool,while West Ham are still looking to strengthen. German giants Werder Bremen are also understood to be keen on Siaka, but the African ace admits the Premier League would be his preferred destination. "My advisors in England are on top of all the contacts," he told skysports.com. "I am waiting to see what will happen. There is one day to go and anything is possible. "I am a bit nervous but if everything can be put in place, I could fulfil my dream of joining my Ivorian colleagues in England."
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Brescia bag Daprela
Defender signs five-year deal with Italian outfit
Last updated: 30th August 2010
SSN
West Ham United have sold Swiss full-back Fabio Daprela to Serie A new boys Brescia. The 19-year-old has penned a five-year contract with the promoted Italian side after being deemed surplus to requirements by Hammers boss Avram Grant. A statement from the Serie A side read: "Brescia announce the acquisition of Fabio Daprela. Daprela has signed a five-year contract." The left-back, who is currently on international duty with the Switzerland Under-19 squad, made seven appearances for West Ham last season, having joined the Hammers in the summer of 2009 from Grasshoppers.
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Hammers ponder Keane move
Grant would welcome addition of Irish striker to Upton Park ranks
By Chris Burton Last updated: 30th August 2010
SSN
West Ham boss Avram Grant has admitted to holding an interest in Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. The Hammers, who remain pointless three games into the new season, are looking to bring in fresh faces before Tuesday's transfer deadline. Having mustered just one goal in the Premier League so far, it is clear that their shot-shy attack could do with some fine tuning. Grant is well aware of the need to strengthen if possible, providing the club's board make the necessary funds available. Should he receive the kind of backing he requires, he admits that Spurs ace Keanewould be towards the top of his wish list. "The club has big, big debts but he's a player I would like to get," said the Israeli coach.
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has been quick to play down any suggestion that Keane could be moved on over recent weeks, maintaining that the Irishman remains an integral part of his plans. "I wouldn't accept an offer for Robbie Keane before the window shuts, not at the moment," he said. "We haven't got anybody else. I couldn't afford to let him go."
However, having been restricted to just two substitute outings in all competitions so far this season, the experienced frontman may welcome the opportunity to leave White Hart Lane, either on a short-term deal or in a permanent switch. Keane took in a productive loan spell at Celtic last season and could be tempted by a similar agreement in 2010/11.
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Spurs in last-ditch bid for Parker
Published 22:30 30/08/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Tottenham have made a new bid to sign Scott Parker from West Ham. The north Londoners remain sufficiently encouraged - by Parker's reluctance to sign the new five-year-deal on the table for him at Upton Park - to try again for his services. But the Hammers have again rejected the offer from their London rivals, understood to be £8million plus right-back Alan Hutton. Spurs have included the Scot in the deal because they are well aware that West Ham are desperate to fill their right-back slot. But the Hammers are more keen to do a sizeable cash deal. Parker, 30, is seen as central to Avram Grant's plans at the Boleyn. But Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has publicly admitted his is a big fan and has already had an £8m bid turned down. The offer sparked fury within the Hammers boardroom with the club accusing Spurs of unsettling their captain. It is believed, however, that Parker IS keen to play Champions League football with own club without a win, or even a point for all their expenditure during the summer.
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Tottenham miss out on £7million Scott Parker and unsettled Everton star Steven Pienaar
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:42 AM on 31st August 2010
Daily Mail
Harry Redknapp has failed with bids for unsettled Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar and West Ham's Scott Parker. Pienaar is in the final year of his contract, but Tottenham's offer was described as derisory by Everton. The Goodison Park club have expressed an interest in a loan for Wolfsburg's Brazilian forward Grafite but are unlikely to get a work permit before the transfer deadline. West Ham underlined their desire to keep Parker after rejecting a fresh £7million bid from Tottenham. Hammers manager Avram Grant is trying to sign Ivory Coast left back Siaka Tiene, 28, for £1.5m but Swiss defender Fabio Daprela has joined Brescia. Fulham are back in for Monaco striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
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Spurs to make new bid for Scott Parker, offering Robbie Keane as bait
Tottenham keen to sign midfielder and will make improved offer
Parker 'not for sale at any price' said West Ham after first bid
David Hytner
guardian.co.uk, Monday 30 August 2010 23.01 BST
West Ham have offered Scott Parker an improved deal which he has yet to sign. Harry Redknapp will test West Ham United's resolve over Scott Parker by making a renewed attempt to sign him from Upton Park before the closure of the transfer window. The Tottenham Hotspur manager is expected to offer the striker Robbie Keane to sweeten the deal. Redknapp wants another body in central midfield, even though he has signed the 21-year-old Brazil midfielder Sandro from Internacional for £6m, and he has looked at Parker, Lassana Diarra of Real Madrid and Internazionale's Sulley Muntari. Redknapp has already seen a £7m bid for Parker turned down but, in keeping with the Tottenham strategy of going down to the wire on deadline day, he is ready to go back to West Ham, his former club, with an improved offer. He knows that Parker, West Ham's captain and key player, would welcome the chance to consider the move, despite its potential for acrimony, yet there is resistance to the sale at boardroom level at Upton Park. When the club's co-chairman David Sullivan rejected Tottenham's £7m offer at the end of July, he was categorical on the situation. "I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters," he said. "Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone."
Parker has three years to run on his West Ham contract and the club have offered him a lucrative new five-year deal, which he has not yet signed. Keane has grown frustrated at his fringe role at Tottenham and Avram Grant, the West Ham manager, is on record as saying that he likes the Ireland striker.
Redknapp watched one of his attacking targets, the Sevilla striker Luís Fabiano, commit his future to his current employers by signing a two-year contract extension today. Redknapp had admitted that the Brazil international was "a player I like" but Tottenham were put off by Sevilla's valuation. "One year left on his contract, in excess of £24m-£25m for a 29-year-old – the figures don't stack up," Redknapp said.
The Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon will see a specialist tomorrow about an ankle problem that has bothered him of late. He has been left out of the England squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland. West Ham hope to conclude a loan deal for the Everton centre-half Joseph Yobo. Fabio Daprelà, the 19-year-old Swiss defender, has left West Ham to sign a five‑year deal with the Italian club Brescia.
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Palermo Set Sights On West Ham Midfielder Valon Behrami - Report
Palermo have turned their focus back on West Ham's Valon Behrami.
By Rick D'Andrea
Aug 30, 2010 11:46:00 PM
Goal.com
Palermo have turned their focus back onto West Ham midfielder Valon Behrami, hoping to sign the player prior to the end of the transfer window.
The Rosanero were interested in the Swiss international during the winter transfer window, but were unable to land the player,according to Palermo24.net.
Roma wished to acquire the services of the former Lazio player on a season-long deal, but the Hammers rejected the notion, preferring to only sell him.
The side are seeking €4 million for the 25-year-old. The player are his agent currently find themseves in Milan, hoping to finalise a deal prior to the transfer deadline.
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Everton FC defender Yobo could be set for West Ham loan move
Aug 31 2010 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post
EVERTON are considering allowing Joseph Yobo to join West Ham United on loan. The Hammers have contacted their Goodison counterparts about the possibility of taking centre-back Yobo on a temporary deal before the transfer window closes at 6pm today. Follow our transfer deadline day live blog by clicking here. And the London club have not given up their interest in Yobo's Nigerian counterpart Yakubu, although they would have to improve their previous best bid of £6million for the striker. Yobo, though, has become West Ham's priority as manager Avram Grant looks to plug a defence that has leaked nine goals in three Premier League games to leave the Hammers bottom of the table. The defender, who is 30 next week, has not been involved for Everton since returning from the World Cup and has made just three starts this calendar year. And with Phil Jagielka, Sylvain Distin and John Heitinga all ahead of Yobo in the centre-back pecking order, David Moyes may allow the player to leave on loan.
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Grant : I'm not worried yet
The Sun
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT insists there is no need for rock-bottom West Ham to hit the panic button. The Hammers have lost all three of their opening Premier League games and face champions Chelsea next. But Grant is adamant a defeat against the Blues at Upton Park on September 11 will not be a disaster. He said: "It's only the beginning of the season, so we cannot make any conclusions after three weeks. "We must wait for 10 to 15 games to see our direction. "Chelsea is a tough fixture and I can't ever remember a team at our level having such tough fixtures at the beginning of the season. "But these are fixtures we have been given and, in football, anything can happen. "We have two weeks to think about things. We can become stronger."
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Tottenham launch renewed bid for Scott Parker
ESPN Soccernet staff
August 30, 2010
ESPN
Tottenham have made another attempt to sign West Ham midfielder Scott Parker, though the offer - believed to be around £7 million - is not substantial enough to convince the Hammers to sell. Soccernet understands that Spurs have made a new enquiry for Parker just ahead of transfer deadline day, putting a cash plus player deal on the table - with Jermaine Jenas or Robbie Keane likely to be those players offered as makeweights. However, there are a multitude of problems for Spurs trying to clinch a deal for Parker, mainly because his current employers believe the north Londoners are way off the mark with their valuation of the player. Parker has agreed a new five-year contract at Upton Park, but as yet hasn't actually signed it, and Harry Redknapp is still keen on a ball-winning midfield player having become concerned about the form of Wilson Palacios. A West Ham insider informed Soccernet of the new approach on Monday, but the Hammers are incensed that Spurs are continuing to try to lure him away and will not even begin to think about letting Parker leave until a significantly increased offer is put forward.
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Daprela Off On a Free: Staggering
West Ham Till I Die
I can hardly believe I am writing this, but West Ham have let Fabio Daprela join Brescia (Nani's new home) on a free. Daprela was a brilliant young prospect who cost us £1 million when we signed him 18 months ago. His debut against Arsenal was sensational and I could never understand how Zola seemed to prefer Spector to him when Ilunga was injured. I have to say I am dreading the next 24 hours. I'm now convinced we will let Parker join Spurs.
UPDATE: Some people are suggesting we got a fee for Daprela. If that were the case, I suspect it would have been trumpeted on the official site by now.
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Spurs set to offer Keane in bid to sign Parker
Soccernet staff
August 31, 2010
ESPN
Tottenham are set to make a deadline day bid for West Ham's Scott Parker as Harry Redknapp looks to strengthen his Champions League squad before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. Spurs had a £7million bid rejected previously but Redknapp is reportedly willing to offer striker Robbie Keane as part of a cash plus player package. West Ham manager Avram Grant is reluctant to let Parker go. The 30-year-old midfielder was in inspired form in the late stages of last season as the Hammers narrowly avoided relegation. And West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has promised supporters he will not Parker at any price when knocking back Spurs' initial offer. With mega-spenders Manchester City having completed their transfer activity for the summer, few major purchases are expected on deadline day, with loan moves and swap deals more likely.
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West Ham join race for Tottenham's Robbie Keane but Harry Redknapp needs a replacement first
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:45 PM on 30th August 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham have joined the race to sign out-of-favour Tottenham striker Robbie Keane. Fitness concerns over leading man Carlton Cole as well as Benni McCarthy and new boy Frederic Piquionne, have forced Hammers boss Avram Grant into a desperate search around the transfer market for a striker. West Ham are pointless in the Premier League and have found the net only twice all season, with one of those coming from the penalty spot. The club secured a loan deal for Inter Milan forward Victor Obinna last week but Grant would rather deploy the Nigerian out wide. And after missing out on the likes of Thierry Henry, Yakubu, Loic Remy and Roque Santa Cruz, Grant's search has bought him back to London, and to the unsettled Keane. But he admits financial constraints may prevent him beating the likes of Aston Villa and Newcastle to the Irishman's signature. The club has big, big debts but he's a player I would like to get,' said the Israeli coach. Any deal for Keane depends on Tottenham's own recruitment plans. The London club want to bring another body in up front before they let Keane go. Luis Fabiano has been mooted as a potential target after Sevilla missed out on a spot in the Champions League. Manager Harry Redknapp, though, claims no deal either way is close. 'I wouldn't accept an offer for Robbie Keane before the window shuts, not at the moment,' he said. 'We haven't got anybody else. I couldn't afford to let him go.' Keane has made just two substitute appearances for Spurs this season, continuing his indifferent form. The Irishmen appeared rejuvenated by a loan spell at Celtic in the second half of the campaign and Neil Lennon is another keen to rekindle the relationship.
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West Ham keeper Stech ponders loan exit
30.08.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United goalkeeper Marek Stech admits he could move away on-loan. The Czech Republic Under-21 international was handed a debut in the Carling Cup win against Oxford and was awarded the man-of-the-match award. And, with Peter Kurucz picking up an injury, it looks unlikely Stech will be allowed to leave unless a new keeper is brought in by Hammers boss Avram Grant ahead of Tuesday's deadline. "When I spoke with Mr Grant, he said I had a great talent and he would like to give me somewhere to play," Stech, 20, told the press in his homeland. "Maybe in the second or third league, where I could play two games each week. "So certainly there were rumours that a keeper would be bought as a deputy [to Green] and I was sent out on loan.
"But I still don't know how things stand."
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