WHUFC.com
The Hammers attack has been bolstered by the early return from Scunthorpe of
Freddie Sears
22.12.2010
Freddie Sears has been recalled for the busy Christmas programme at West Ham
United. The 21-year-old striker impressed during a two-month loan spell at
Championship side Scunthorpe United and will hope to force his way into
Avram Grant's plans with matches to come against Fulham, Everton and
Wolverhampton Wanderers between now and New Year's Day. The Hammers also
have an FA Cup third-round tie against Barnsley on Saturday 8 January, three
days after the league trip to Newcastle United. Sears has had three loan
spells away from the Boleyn Ground, playing at Crystal Palace and Coventry
City before Scunthorpe. He was due to rejoin his team-mates for training on
Wednesday before Sunday's trip to Fulham. Matthew Fry remains the only
Hammer out on loan, with his hugely successful spell at Charlton Athletic
continuing until early January.
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West Ham recall striker Freddie Sears from Scunthorpe
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have recalled 21-year-old striker Freddie Sears from his loan spell
at Championship side Scunthorpe. The England Under-21 player made nine
appearances without scoring during a two-month spell at Glanford Park. Sears
spent six months on loan at Crystal Palace in 2009, and three months on loan
at Coventry at the start of 2010. He signed a five-year contract in November
2008 when Gianfranco Zola was the manager at West Ham.
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Sidwell in Hammers talks
Midfielder set to leave Villa during transfer window
Last updated: 21st December 2010
SSN
Sky Sports News understands Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell is in
advanced talks over a January move to West Ham United. Sidwell is currently
sidelined by an Achilles injury and may well have played his last game for
Villa as he nears a return to fitness. The 28-year-old's contract expires at
the end of the season and it appears Villa are set to cash in on Sidwell
when the transfer window reopens. West Ham are determined to bolster their
squad in the New Year as Avram Grant looks to lift his team off the bottom
of the Premier League table. Grant recently expressed his hope that the
Hammers' board would provide him with £10million to spend next month in the
quest for top-flight survival. It appears that a portion of any transfer
kitty will be spent on Sidwell, who joined Villa from Chelsea in 2008. He
has made almost 70 appearances in all competitions for the club, but has
started only once in the Premier League this season.
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Hammers poised for Sidwell swoop
The Sun
Published: 21 Dec 2010
WEST HAM are poised to sign Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell. The
Hammers are desperate to bolster their ranks as they look to climb off the
foot of the Premier League. Sidwell has made just three starts for Villa
this season because of an Achilles injury. And he is understood to be in
negotiations with the Hammers over a move to the capital. The London club
are four points from safety at the bottom, and face matches with Fulham,
Everton and fellow strugglers Wolves over Christmas and New Year. Sidwell,
28, is out of contract at the end of the season and is thought to be keen on
a move to his home city. He would give the Hammers more options in midfield
where the team have struggled after losing Mark Noble and Thomas
Hitzlsperger to injury.
A move would reunite Sidwell with Hammers boss Avram Grant, who managed the
midfielder during an ill-fated stint at Chelsea. Grant is under pressure
having seen his side pick up just two wins so far this campaign — and they
are still looking for their first away victory of 2010-11. The Israeli
recently said that he was looking to add up to three players to his squad
during the transfer window and has also been linked with a move for
Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
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Ben Haim heads home to Pompey
Published 23:00 21/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Flop West Ham defender Tal Ben Haim is set to become the Championship's
highest paid player by returning to parent club Portsmouth next month. Ben
Haim has been told his loan at Upton Park is unlikely to be extended after
playing only five Premier League games for the bottom of the table Hammers.
The Israeli former Chelsea, Sunderland and Manchester City centre-back has
18 months left on his £38,000-a-week Fratton Park contract.
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West Ham crocks have Grant feeling the strain
Published 23:00 21/12/10 By John Cross
The Mirror
Under-pressure Avram Grant has seen his desperate fight for survival
undermined by problems on the training ground - his struggling West Ham
squad includes FIVE players who can only train twice a week because of
long-standing injury problems. Grant also faces the prospect of losing
England centre-half Matt Upson on a free transfer next summer, because he
heads up a list of four players who are out of contract at the end of the
season. Bottom of the table West Ham's Carlton Cole, Kieron Dyer, Herita
Ilunga, Danny Gabbidon and Luis Boa Morte can only train twice a week
because of injury problems.
Cole is one player Hammers are willing to let go for around £6m, to enable
them to raise funds for new players, but the striker has a long-standing
knee problem which may make it difficult for West Ham to sell him in
January. West Ham are keen to bring in Tottenham's out-of-favour Robbie
Keane on loan, but Harry Redknapp insists that they only want to do a
permanent deal for the Republic of Ireland striker. England striker Cole
nearly went to Liverpool last summer and West Ham agreed a £7m fee but Dutch
forward Ryan Babel did not want to go in the opposite direction.
Cole's knee problem put off Arsenal from making a bid a year ago, while
Dyer, Ilunga, Gabbidon and Boa Morte have all struggled to play on occasions
because of the long-standing problems that hinder them in training. West Ham
may also have to cash in on Upson in January as he is a free agent at the
end of the season.Tottenham were interested in the player but that trail has
now gone cold and West Ham may even be interested in allowing him out on
loan for a fee. Dyer, Lars Jacobsen and on-loan Victor Obinna are also set
to leave at the end of the season as the club looks to cut its wage bill and
will not hand out the sort of big money contracts which have left the club
crippled financially.
West Ham would also be forced into a fire sale if they get relegated with
Scott Parker as their prize asset. Midfielder Parker signed a new five-year
contract last summer after West Ham resisted overtures from Tottenham and
refused to sell. Spurs boss Redknapp is likely to revive his interest in the
Hammers midfielder in January as he looks to bolster his squad for a Premier
League title push. Grant is desperate to hold onto Parker, but with West Ham
facing relegation the club's resolve will be tested if Tottenham come in
with a £8m bid in January. West Ham are set to sign Steve Sidwell from Aston
Villa to strengthen their midfield but Grant is desperate to keep Parker,
too. Parker has been inspirational this season despite West Ham's problems,
producing performances that have pushed his claims for an England recall.
Tottenham may be tempted to do a loan deal on Keane if it meant landing
Parker but West Ham do not want to lose their midfield kingpin. There is
also permanent-deal interest in Keane from Aston Villa, Birmingham and
Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS. Grant insists West Ham will stay up and has
shrugged off suggestions he was given only three games to save his job - a
figure that is now down to two after their draw at Blackburn. Under-fire
Grant is facing a battle against history as only West Brom have been bottom
at Christmas and still survived the drop. Israeli Grant is defiant but the
uncertainty and problems within the squad leave him facing a huge task to
turn things around. Grant was in a similar desperate situation with
Portsmouth last season when their off-the-field financial problems wrecked
their survival hopes. This time, Grant - bottom of the table and facing a
desperate fight for survival - is struggling again because the squad rarely
trains together and several of them know they will be leaving next summer no
matter what happens.
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Permit wrangle hits West Ham target Mbokani
Published 23:00 21/12/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
West Ham are ready to sign striker Dieumerci Mbokani from Monaco – but boss
Avram Grant faces a fight to get a work permit for him. Hammers have set up
a loan deal for the former Standard Liege hitman who has not enjoyed his
time in France's Le Championnat since he moved from Belgium. The powerful
forward does not qualify for a permit as his homeland – Democratic Republic
of Congo – is only 130th in the FIFA rankings because of a lack of
international matches. Hammers hope to win their case as Mbokani is made to
suffer for the status of his national side, although DRC club side Mazembe
proved their quality in the Club World Cup final last weekend. Mbokani could
give Hammers a badly-needed lift up front and his arrival at Upton Park
would also make it easier for them to sell off Carlton Cole, who is on the
wish list of several Premier League rivals. The basement club hope to have
an answer on Mbokani in the next few days and will fly him in to sign
immediately if he is granted his permit on appeal as a special case.
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Norwich determined to hold onto Holt
Published 23:00 21/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Championship promotion chasers Norwich have slapped an official "Not for
sale" sign on £2million-rated star striker Grant Holt. Several Premier
League sides, including Wigan, West Ham, Bolton and Blackpool, have been
linked with Canaries captain and nine-goal leading scorer Holt, 29, who has
become a cult hero at Carrow Road since being snapped up from Shrewsbury for
just £600,000 in 2009. Holt still has 18 months to run on his current
contract but club officials will shortly begin talks about a new deal. A
Norwich spokesman said simply: "Grant Holt is not for sale."
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Cut-price Sidwell swaps Villa for Hammers
Published 23:00 21/12/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Aston Villa will make a £4million loss on Steve Sidwell's West Ham switch.
Midfielder Sidwell scored four goals in 67 appearances for Villa after a £5m
move from Chelsea in July 2008. Now Villa are off-loading £48,000-a-week
Sidwell, 28, for around £1m because he could leave on a free next summer
when his contract ends. West Ham hope to confirm the signing next week.
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I'd Rather Have Barton Than Sidwell
West Ham Till I Die
What on earth is going on? Why are there all these stories about signing
Steve Sidwell re-emerging? I'd have thought central midfield was the last of
our problems. We already have Parker, Noble, Behrami, Hitzelsperger (when
he's back) and Kovac. OK, if Behrami or Kovac go then they will need
replacing, but personally I'd have thought Joey Barton, available at a snip
of £1.5 million was a better prospect than a player who can't make the Villa
first team and is very injury prone. But what do I know?
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Obinna ready to fire for strugglers West Ham
By talkSPORT
Tuesday, December 21
West Ham striker Victor Obinna believes his best form is yet to come and
hopes he can score the goals to help keep the club in the Premier League.
Obinna, 23, has taken time adapting to the English game following his loan
move from Inter Milan during the summer. But the Nigerian international
believes he is now finding his best form in England and feels he will get
even stronger as Avram Grant looks to ease the pressure on his job over the
Christmas period. Obinna said: "The backroom staff and the players have
been fantastic since I've been here and have helped me a lot to adapt
easily, joking in the dressing room and stuff like that. It's been really
wonderful since I've been here. "Gradually we've been trying to pick up wins
but it's not been easy. The Premier League is the toughest league in the
world and obviously the fastest. In terms of physique, you have to be
prepared. "I've been having a wonderful time since the beginning and like I
said from when I was first here, football is going to speak for me - not
saying I'm going to do this and do that."
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West Ham close to Sidwell signing
By Paul Hirst, PA
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
Independent
West Ham are closing in on the signing of Aston Villa midfielder Steve
Sidwell, Press Association Sport understands. The Hammers are desperate to
add to their ranks as they look to climb off the foot of the Barclays
Premier League table. Sidwell, who has made just three starts for Villa this
season due to an Achilles injury, is understood to be in negotiations with
the Hammers over a move to the capital, although reports that the former
Chelsea man has undergone a medical at the club are thought to be wide of
the mark. The 28-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and is
thought to be keen on a move to his home city, having grown up in Wandsworth
which is around 10 miles away from Upton Park. Sidwell would give the
Hammers more options in midfield where the team have struggled after losing
Mark Noble and Thomas Hitzlsperger to injury. The move would reunite Sidwell
with Hammers boss Avram Grant, who managed the midfielder during an
ill-fated stint at Stamford Bridge which saw him make 10 starts in a
year-long spell following a move from Reading, where he played a key part in
the Royals promotion to the Barclays Premier League. Grant is under pressure
having seen his side pick up just two wins so far this campaign to leave the
East London outfit rooted to the foot of the table as the season reaches the
halfway stage.
The Israeli recently said that he was looking to add up to three new players
to his squad during the transfer window and has also been linked with a move
for Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
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Joey Barton will cost £1.5m up front, Newcastle tell West Ham as interest
hots up for midfielder
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:52 AM on 22nd December 2010
Daily Mail
Newcastle will consider allowing Joey Barton to leave the club for just
£1.5million up front. The midfielder has been in outstanding form this
season and has been the subject of interest from West Ham and Aston Villa.
But he has just 18 months left on his £60,000 a week contract and rather
than open negotiations on a new contract Newcastle are looking to cash in
now if the deal is right. West Ham were keen but wanted to spread payments
of any fee and are unlikely to come back as they look to finalise Steve
Sidwell's £1m move from Villa on Wednesday. The deal for the former Reading
player is '90 percent done' depending on medical tests. Villa are interested
in Barton but are wary of the backlash from supporters. West Ham have also
made their move to sign Dieumerci Mbokani of Monaco on loan and hope to win
a work permit on appeal for the Congo striker.
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