WHUFC.com
whufc.com and the club's twitter feed are the place to be for the latest for
Hammers transfer news
26.01.2012
West Ham United are hoping to conclude at least one important new signing in
the next 48 hours. Joint Chairman David Sullivan says he and manager Sam
Allardyce are working hard to make additions to the Hammers squad as the
club continues its push for promotion from the npower Championship. With the
transfer window drawing to a close on Tuesday 31 January, the club are
pulling out all the stops to strengthen after going top of the table at the
weekend. News of all new arrivals will be announced exclusively on whufc.com
and the club's official twitter feed before anywhere else, so make sure you
keep checking back regularly for any new updates. "This has been one of the
most difficult transfer windows I have ever been involved with in all my
time in football," said Mr Sullivan. "However, with the window now coming to
a close, we would like to reassure supporters we are still working
tirelessly to bring in new faces and are hoping to make one or two important
additions to the squad in the next 48 hours."
West Ham's two January transfer signings so far, George John and Joe Dixon,
were announced exclusively on the club's official site, with both players
giving their first interviews as West Ham players to whufc.com and West Ham
TV before anyone else.
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'You are part of a family down here'
WHUFC.com
Olympic medalist Kriss Akabusi believes the Hammers are on track for
promotion
26.01.2012
Three-times Olympic medalist Kriss Akabusi believes 2012 is going to be an
exciting year for both West Ham United and east London as a whole. The 400m
hurdle and relay champion has been a Hammers fan for more than 40 years and
was back at the Boleyn Ground to act as guest stadium announcer ahead of the
2-1 npower Championship victory over Nottingham Forest. Now a motivational
speaker, Akabusi got the crowd going in his own unique and enthusiastic
style - an experience he enjoyed so much that he is planning to do it all
again soon. The 53-year-old is equally enthusiastic about West Ham's chances
of gaining promotion and of east London's prospects of hosting a successful
2012 Olympic Games. "I absolutely loved it, especially when they gave me the
team sheets and said 'Go on Akabusi, have some fun!'" he told West Ham TV.
"I called out the players' names in my own little style, so Jeremy, I'm
coming back for you next week son!"
"I've been a West Ham fan since 1969. I've seen thh ups and the downs with
West Ham. Our song says it all 'like my dreams they fade and die. You are
part of a family down here. It's great to support a great club. "I'm hoping
this year we'll win the Championship and then, next year in the Premier
League, not be vying to avoid relegation but to be in the mid-table."
While he cannot wait for London 2012, Akabusi did admit that he would love
to be at an age that would allow him to compete at the Games himself.
A medalist at both Los Angeles 1984 and Barcelona 1992, the Paddington-born
runner knows this year's Olympics will create a whole new generation of
sporting stars. "I was competing 20-odd years ago and had a great career. I
just wish I was 20 years younger and could compete again in London. It's
going to be tremendous. "The partisan crowd will give Team GB a 25 per cent
uplift. For this area, it's going to be phenomenal. You've already seen how
the landscape has changed and can see the excitement in the area. "In four
or five months it will be ramped up as we have the greatest Games on Earth
in our back yard. Superstars will be made. Hopefully we can carry on that
energy and excitement to West Ham next season. "We obviously love football
down here, but there will be stars made in all sorts of different sports.
I've been working with a handball team and there are a couple of really good
players. I just hope that, when it comes down here - cycling, rowing,
running, throwing or whatever - that we will get on board and support the
boys and girls who are representing our country."
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Taylor pleased to be back
WHUFC.com
Midfielder Matt Taylor was all smiles after returning to action after six
weeks on the sidelines
26.01.2012
Matt Taylor is planning his first-team comeback after returning from a
frustrating period on the sidelines. The popular West Ham United midfielder
was back in action in Tuesday's 1-1 Development Squad draw with Gillingham -
more than six weeks after suffering a calf injury in the 2-1 home npower
Championship defeat by Burnley. The 30-year-old said he would not rush back,
but admitted he did feel happy to be back out on the pitch for the first
time since 3 December. "It was OK. I played the first 45 minutes which is
nice," said Taylor. "It was decent to put a shirt on again to be honest and
get back out on the pitch. It has been a while so hopefully it will all be
rosy from here on in."
Having been ruled out twice with calf problems this term, Taylor is hoping
he will soon be back to full fitness. After being assessed and treated by
the club's medical team, the No14 is confident his injury issues are behind
him and he will soon be back to doing what he does best. With a club-high
six assists to his name, the left-sided player is set to be an influential
figure for the Hammers as they continue their quest for the title and
promotion back to the Premier League. "The calf its feeling better but has
been niggly and we have seeked out the best treatment that we could find,"
he confirmed. "Fortunately, we've got a programme in training and hopefully
it will all start coming together now and we can get back to playing
football."
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West Ham make £7m offer for Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 16:10 GMT, Wednesday, 25 January 2012
By Chris McLaughlin
Senior Football Reporter, BBC Scotland
West Ham have offered £7m for Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic, BBC Scotland
has learned. The English Championship leaders have been in negotiations with
the Ibrox club for more than a week. Rangers though, believe the 26-year-old
is worth more and could hold out in the hope of an improved bid from
elsewhere before the transfer closes next week. Manager Ally McCoist wants
any deal concluded quickly so that he has time to find a replacement.
McCoist has already described a reported £6m bid from the Hammers for the
Croatian international as "not nearly enough" and says no formal bid has
been received. However, BBC Scotland understands that West Ham have come
forward with an offer for Jelavic. Liverpool and Fulham have also shown
interest in the player. Jelavic, who has scored 30 goals for Rangers, made
the switch to Glasgow from Rapid Vienna in 2010 and helped deliver the title
under Walter Smith last season. Rangers have already concluded business this
month with the arrival of Swedish midfielder Mervan Celik from Gais of
Gothenburg. They ended their interest in St Johnstone striker Francisco
Sandaza after he turned down the chance to sign a pre-contract agreement.
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Hammers offer Bywater contract
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th January 2012
By: Staff Writer
16-year-old schoolboy Kieran Bywater is the latest young talent to be
offered a place at Tony Carr's world-famous youth Academy. Bywater - no
relation of former Hammer's goalkeeper Stephen - has been with West Ham's
youth team for a number of years but was only recently offered a
scholarship. Speaking with the Evening Telegraph, his father Simon said: "At
the moment Kieran is captaining the Under 16 team and has also featured in a
number of this season's Under 18 matches. "He has put lots of time and
effort into his football and has been rewarded by a scholarship. "Paul
[Baynes] and Nigel [Smith, Kieran's school's Head of Year and Deputy
Headmaster] have worked closely with the club to enable Kieran to
concentrate on his studies while focusing on his football. "This close
liason has enabled Kieran to live at the club's house away from home while
keeping up his studies."
Bywater has been at West Ham since the age of ten and has captained youth
teams at various levels. In 2007 he was a member of the West Ham youth team
that reached the final of the Shizuoka World Junior Football Tournament in
Japan. Later, in 2010, he captained West Ham's under-15 side to victory in
a Premiership Cup tournament.
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Sullivan hopeful of further arrivals
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 26th January 2012
By: Staff Writer
David Sullivan has revealed that he is hoping to conclude at least one
further signing before the transfer window closes early next week. West
Ham's co-chairman, speaking in a statement released on whufc.com this
afternoon confirmed that the club are hopeful of concluding one - possibly
two - new signigs beofre the month is out. "This has been one of the most
difficult transfer windows I have ever been involved with in all my time in
football," said Sullivan. "However, with the window now coming to a close,
we would like to reassure supporters we are still working tirelessly to
bring in new faces and are hoping to make one or two important additions to
the squad in the next 48 hours."
Despite rumours that Sam Allardyce had a transfer war-chest of up to
£10million to play with, the Hammers have failed to spend a single penny on
transfer fees thus far this month. The only two arrivals since the window
opened are American defender George John and rookie striker Joe Dixon, both
of whom arrived at the club on short-term deals.
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Hammers eye Muslimovic
West Ham look at Bosnia international
By Graeme Bailey - Tweet me: @skygraemebailey. Last Updated:
January 26, 2012 10:14am
SSN
Sky Sports understands that West Ham United are the latest club to take a
look at Bosnia international Zlatan Muslimovic. The 30-year-old has already
trained with Sunderland and Rangers in the past week as he looks to secure a
move to Britain. Whilst a deal with Rangers is still an option, Sam
Allardyce has now handed him the chance to make an impression at Upton Park.
Allardyce is looking to bolster his striking options in January and
Muslimovic has emerged as a target. Muslimovic is a free agent after leaving
Greek club PAOK last year.
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West Ham offer trials to defender Torres and striker Muslimovic
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:59 PM on 26th January 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham are giving a trial to Panama central defender Roman Torres. Manager
Sam Allardyce is eager to have back-up despite signing George John from FC
Dallas.
Bosnia striker Zlatan Muslimovic, 30, is also undergoing a trial after brief
spells with Rangers and Sunderland. West Ham have also expressed interest
in Genk striker Jelle Vossen.
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West Ham consider cooling their interest in Nikica Jelavic
Ken Dyer
26 Jan 2012
Evening Standard
West Ham were today considering pulling out of their attempts to sign Nikica
Jelavic from Glasgow Rangers after the Scottish Premier League club rejected
their £6 million offer for the striker. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is
keen to add a striker to his squad before next week's transfer deadline and
after having bids for several players turned down, has turned his attention
to the Serb Croat star, who has netted 17 goals in 28 appearances so far
this season. The Upton Park club have tabled a bid of £5 million plus
another £1 million based on games played but Rangers have said they want £8
million for the 26-year-old Jelavic. Discussions are on-going but West Ham
are reluctant to increase their offer for a player who, though he has scored
regularly in the SPL, is unproven south of the border. The Upton Park club
would also require Jelavic to moderate his personal terms, for any deal to
be a possibility. Liverpool and QPR have also been linked with Jelavic but
neither club has made an offer, which leaves West Ham as the only club who
have declared a firm interest in the striker.
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Hammers legend: 'West Ham have only four Premier League standard players!'
London24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Thursday, January 26, 2012
10:54 AM
West Ham goalkeeping legend Phil Parkes believes that the current squad
compares badly to the 1980/81 side that ran away with the second division.
West Ham legend Phil Parkes is confident that the Hammers will win promotion
this season, but he fears for their fate in the top flight with their
current squad of players.
The 61-year-old former goalkeeper, who made nearly 350 appearances for West
Ham over 11 years at Upton Park, has been a keen observer of the team this
season, but he has not been impressed by what he has seen. "I really think
that West Ham only have three or four players in their squad that will be
able to do the business in the Premier League," said Parkes. "Robert Green
and James Tomkins have been excellent, while I have been impressed by Matt
Taylor because he gives the team something a little bit different. "But
apart from that, maybe Mark Noble is the only other one who is good enough
for me."
West Ham sit top of the Championship following Southampton's surprise home
defeat by Leicester City, but Parkes suggests that is only because of the
poor standard of the division this season. "I still think they will be
promoted and I also think that they have the strongest squad in the division
and could run away with it if they can find a consistent run of form, but in
truth I think that says just how poor the Championship is," said Parkes,
voted West Ham's greatest-ever goalkeeper. "I thought that West Ham were
dreadful against Forest and really should have lost the game and in truth I
haven't seen them play that well all season."
The legend is, of course, from a different era of football, but he firmly
believes that the Hammers teams of his time would have run away with this
league. "I think when you consider the team we had in 1980/81 when we won
the second division, that side would have got promotion in this division
already. I don't think I have seen a team this season who would have beaten
us," he said. "Carlton Cole has got eight goals this season, but he should
have had double that. How many goals would David Cross have got against
oppositions like these? So many. "The team is set up well away from home
where they can sit back and hit teams on the counter-attack, but at home
they need someone with a bit of imagination and flair who can unlock
defences and, except perhaps for Taylor, I don't think they have got it."
Parkes was quick to praise one of his successors in the West Ham goal
though. He has been hugely impressed by the efforts of Green. "I think he is
back close to his best and that is testament to the character of the
player," said the former England international. "He doesn't come and collect
the ball like he used to, but he punches well from his six-yard box and I
think that he is vital for the team. "If they didn't have Green fit, I can't
see them going up because the back-up is just not good enough," he
concluded.
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Rangers look at Uchebo as West Ham plan new Jelavic bid
Herald Scotland
Graeme Macpherson
MICHAEL UCHEBO yesterday became the latest player to arrive on trial at
Rangers as the Ibrox club wait to hear whether West Ham United will return
with an enhanced bid for Nikica Jelavic. Uchebo has rejected a contract
extension with Dutch club VVV Venlo and is keen to further his career in
British football, despite failing to secure a deal with Stoke City earlier
this month. The Nigerian under-20 international is out of contract at the
end of the season and would be allowed to leave for a fee in the region of
£1m. "I feel I have enjoyed my time at Venlo and I believe now is the time
for me to get a move and go on another adventure in my career," he said. "I
want to move to an ambitious club either now or at the end of the season. My
dream is to play for the national team and I believe I would have a better
chance of doing that if I play in the UK."
Sources in London had suggested West Ham were weighing up an improved bid of
£7.5m for Jelavic although, as of last night, Rangers had received no
further offer for the Croat after turning down a deal worth £7m on Thursday.
It is understood the npower Championship side are also keen on Robert
Snodgrass, the Scotland forward, and are thought to have had a bid of £4m
rejected by Leeds United yesterday. They are expected to return with an
improved offer for Snodgrass, and possibly Jelavic, as they look to improve
their chances of returning to the Barclays Premier League at the first
attempt. "This has been one of the most difficult transfer windows I have
ever been involved with in all my time in football," said David Sullivan,
West Ham's joint chairman, last night. "However, with the window now coming
to a close, we would like to reassure supporters we are still working
tirelessly to bring in new faces and are hoping to make one or two important
additions to the squad in the next 48 hours."
With Jelavic's exit looking increasingly likely, Rangers have been active in
looking to secure possible replacements. As well as Uchebo, they have also
been linked with a move for Hamdi Salihi. The Albanian has been ordered not
to attend Rapid Vienna's winter training camp and looks set to leave the
Austrian club. "Hamdi has been told he will not fly with us to Portugal,"
said Peter Schottel, the Rapid manager. "That gives him time to conduct his
phone calls about his transfer, while the rest of us train in peace. He has
several teams interested in him and he is constantly thinking about the
transfer. So it's best he sorts it out by January 31."
Sasa Papac, meanwhile, has revealed he is no hurry to make a decision on the
future. The Bosnian defender, who has been at Ibrox since 2006, is out of
contract in the summer and will decide whether to extend his stay at Rangers
nearer the time. "I'm definitely staying at Rangers until the summer because
my contract binds me to that," he said. "But I am not going to hurry and
make a decision beyond that. I don't do long-term planning. If I stay at
Rangers beyond my contract, I will end my career here."
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West Ham hoping to make signings in the next 48 hours
By talkSPORT
Thursday, January 26, 2012
West Ham are set to make a new signing in the next 48 hours with Rangers
striker Nikica Jelavic still reported to be the number one target. Jelavic
has emerged as Sam Allardyce's first choice signing having scored 30 goals
in 45 Scottish Premier League games. West Ham have already had a £7m bid
turned down for the Croatian forward, but are expected to come back with an
improved offer. Fulham and Liverpool have also been linked with a move for
the 26-year-old, but it appears West Ham will win the race to clinch his
signature. West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan is working around the clock
to bring in a big name striker and is confident he can strike a deal in the
next two days. Sullivan said: "This has been one of the most difficult
transfer windows I have ever been involved with in all my time in football.
"However, with the window now coming to a close, we are still working
tirelessly to bring in new faces and are hoping to make one or two important
additions to the squad in the next 48 hours."
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West Ham sign Sawtry lad
PeterboroughToday.co.uk
Published on Thursday 26 January 2012 15:30
TOP boy Kieran Bywater has realised his lifelong dream after being offered a
scholarship at the famous West Ham Academy. The 16 year-old is currently in
his final year of GCSEs at Sawtry Community College but has been with the
London club since the age of 10. During that time Bywater has won an army of
admirers in the Hammers' junior set-up but has also managed to maintain his
studies thanks to the help of his head of year at Sawtry College, Paul
Baynes, and deputy head Nigel Smith. Dad Simon said: "Paul and Nigel have
worked closely with the club to enable Kieran to concentrate on his studies
while focusing on his football. This close liason has enabled Kieran to live
at the club's house away from home while keeping up his studies. "At the
moment Kieran is captaining the Under 16 team and has also featured in a
number of this season's Under 18 matches. He has put lots of time and effort
into his football and has been rewarded by a scholarship. "Above all this
though he wants to thank his schoolteachers, especially Paul who has acted
as his mentor and a liason between the school and the club."
Bywater will spend next year at the academy where his career will come under
the guidance of West Ham's director of youth development Tony Carr MBE. It
is the next step to stardom for the young Sawtry ace who was first spotted
as a six year-old by former Posh coach Mark Tracy in the Photo Unlimited
tournaments held at the Embankment. However, at the time Posh had no youth
set-up and he was snapped up by the Hammers. And over the past six years
Bywater has played for the club in Japan, Italy and France while in 2010 he
captained the Under 15s when they won a Premiership cup competion at Warwick
University.
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Collison: Plenty more to come
Thursday 26th January 2012 11:40
TeamTalk
Jack Collison has fired a warning to the rest of the Championship by
insisting there is plenty more to come from West Ham. The Hammers hit the
top of the table last weekend with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest and even
though a lacklustre performance drew cristicism from some supporters,
midfielder Collison insists results are all that count this season. "It is
great for us if we are at the top of the league and we have another couple
of gears to find," he said. "It's frightening and it sends out a message to
the other teams to say 'we're there, we are not playing too great but we are
getting the results'. Then when it all comes together it is going to be
great for us. "Last season I was out injured so I know how it feels to be a
fan. It is frustrating for them at times but it's frustrating for us as
players. "We don't go out and not try to put five goals in, we go and do our
best. At the end of the day they have to be satisfied with where we are in
the league. I know we can produce a few good performances between now and
the end of the season and the ultimate goal is to get promotion."
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