Daily WHUFC News - 21st June 2012

Diame deal agreed
WHUFC.com
Mohamed Diame has agreed terms on a deal to join West Ham United
20.06.2012

West Ham United are delighted to confirm that the club have reached an agreement to sign Senegal international midfielder Mohamed Diame. Diame has agreed terms on a three-year contract and will become a West Ham United player on 1 July after his contract with Wigan Athletic expires. The 25-year-old dynamic midfielder is highly-rated and was being pursued by a number of clubs in the Premier League and abroad. He decided to move to the Boleyn Ground though after meeting manager Sam Allardyce in London this week.

Diame will meet up with his new team-mates at Chadwell Heath on 1 July for the Hammers' first day of pre-season training before flying out on the club's trip to Austria the following day. The 6'1" midfielder will compete with the likes of Kevin Nolan, Gary O'Neil, Jack Collison and reigning Hammer of the Year Mark Noble for a spot in Allardyce's midfield.

Diame began his career with Racing Club de Lens in France, before moving to CD Linares and then Rayo Vallenco in Spain. His big move to the Premier League followed in 2009 and he made an immediate impression with a strong performance on his debut against Manchester United just hours after signing. Diame, who becomes West Ham's third summer signing after Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen, is eagerly anticipating the new challenge awaiting him in east London. He said: "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season. "I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

Allardyce was understandably pleased to have secured a deal to bring Diame to the Boleyn Ground. He said: "His potential is really good and he's ready to go and compete in the first team straight away as he's had three years in the Premier League already. He's 25 and can only get better and I hope he can go on to prove that to me and all of the West Ham United fans. He will be a very exciting addition to the squad."

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Hall called
BBC.co.uk
Robert Hall has been named in the England Under-19 squad for the European Championships
20.06.2012

Robert Hall has been named in the England squad for this summer's UEFA European U19 Championship Finals in Estonia Manager Noel Blake has called the forward into his 18-man squad for the tournament, which kicks off on 3 July in Talinn. Hall had another strong season with the Hammers last season - making his first-team debut and going on to collect the much-coveted Doris Bell Award for being the stand-out player in the Academy side. The Young Lions secured their place in the last eight of the competition following their success in the Elite Qualifying Round in May. England have been drawn out in Group B, alongside Croatia, Serbia and France. The top two teams from each group will go through to the semi-final, while teams that finish third will join the top two in qualifying for and the 2013 U20 World Cup.
The squad will meet up in England on Monday 25 June before flying to Estonia the following weekend ahead of the opening game with Croatia on Tuesday 3 July.
Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Manchester United), Connor Ripley (Middlesbrough).

Defenders: Eric Dier (Sporting Lisbon), Luke Garbutt (Everton), Michael Keane (Manchester United), Jack Robinson (Liverpool), Tom Thorpe (Manchester United).

Midfielders: Conor Coady (Liverpool), Ross Barkley (Everton), Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), John Lundstram (Everton), Nathan Redmond (Birmingham City), George Thorne (West Bromwich Albion).

Forwards: Benik Afobe (Arsenal), Saido Berahino (West Bromwich Albion), Robert Hall (West Ham United), Hallam Hope (Everton).

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Mohamed Diame to join West Ham from Wigan on a three-year deal
BBC.co.uk

Midfielder Mohamed Diame has turned down a new contract offer from Wigan to join West Ham on a three-year deal. The 25-year-old Senegal international will sign for the Hammers on 1 July when his deal at Wigan expires. Diame is West Ham's third signing since returning to the Premier League, following keepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson to Upton Park. He said: "I am very excited to have joined the club. I am looking forward to showing what I can do on the pitch." West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said: "His potential is really good and he is ready to go and compete in the first team straight away because he's had three years in the Premier League already."

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You're in Diame now
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have confirmed the arrival of former Wigan midfielder Momo Diame on a free transfer. The Senegalese international has put pen to paper on a three-year contract and will officially become a Hammer on 1st July. Diame told whufc.com: " "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season. I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

Meanwhile West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce added: "He's 25 and can only get better and I hope he can go on to prove that to me and all of the West Ham United fans. He will be a very exciting addition to the squad."

Diame, who had been interesting Liverpool, Manchester United and Everton amongst others prior to agreeing to move to east London first moved to England from Spanish club Reyo in August 2009 in a cash-plus-player swap ( €3.8 million plus defender Antonio Amaya). At the time he was said to have been watched by the likes of Real Madrid and Arsenal having ressurrected his career in Spain. Diame becomes Sam Allardyce's third signing of the summer following the permanent signing of goalkeepers Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen.

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No Olympics for me
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

Winston Reid has rejected the chance to feature for New Zealand at this summer's Olympic Games in order to concentrate on preparing for the forthcoming Premier League campaign. Reid was set to be one of three overage players named in the Kiwis' Olympic Squad that heads for London next month. However the 23-year-old has rejected the opportunity in order to ensure he has the best possible chance of featuring for the Hammers when the season kicks off at home to Aston Villa in August. Replying to suggestions that Sam Allardyce had told he that he could not be involved, Reid told RadioSport: "It was my decision and I felt what I was doing was the right decision. "I'm not saying I didn't want to go to the Olympics or play for New Zealand, because I would have loved to, but I've got other commitments right now and in the long run that will hopefully benefit myself and New Zealand as well. "It would be different if I'd been at the club for six or seven years and I'd been playing regularly then maybe I could have done it, but I needed to work hard this pre-season and make sure the spot's mine at West Ham. "Of course I'd love to be at the Olympics, but I'll hopefully get the opportunity to take part in one later on in my career."

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Hammers strike Diame deal
Allardyce believes midfielder can 'only get better'
Last Updated: June 20, 2012 4:05pm
SSN

Mohamed Diame will become a West Ham United player on 1st July after agreeing a three-year contract at Upton Park. The Senegal midfielder will move as a free agent at the beginning of next month when his deal ends with Wigan Athletic, who will be the newly-promoted Hammers' Premier League rivals. Diame had been linked with a number of top-flight clubs and held talks with Liverpool before the sacking of Kenny Dalglish. But West Ham boss Sam Allardyce won the race and Diame will be the third new face to arrive this summer after Stephen Hendersonand Jussi Jaaskelainen."I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season" The 25-year-old told his new club's official website: "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season. "I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

Potential

Diame will compete with the likes of Kevin Nolan, Gary O'Neil,Jack Collison and Mark Noble for a place in the heart of Championship play-off winners West Ham's midfield. Allardyce will have to decide who will be his first-choice selections but he has no doubt his latest acquisition will prove a great signing. The West Ham boss said: "His potential is really good and he's ready to go and compete in the first team straight away, as he's had three years in the Premier League already. "He's 25 and can only get better and I hope he can go on to prove that to me and all of the West Ham United fans. He will be a very exciting addition to the squad."

West Ham co-chairman David Gold also confirmed the deal on his personal Twitter account on Wednesday lunchtime. "I am pleased to announce that we have just signed the Wigan midfielder 25 year old Mohamed Diame on a 3 yr contract," said Gold.

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Castaignos to leave Inter
Dutch striker doubts return to Feyenoord on loan
Last Updated: June 20, 2012 1:00pm
SSN

Luc Castaignos has confirmed he will be leaving Inter Milan over the summer and has targeted a move to a 'big club'. The Netherlands Under 21 international only joined Inter from Feyenoord 12 months ago, but he struggled for playing time in Serie A last season. He has recently been linked with Liverpool and West Ham United, and the 19-year-old is expecting to join a club outside of Italy. "Inter want to loan me to an Italian club or sell me," Castaignos said to Sky Italia. "I told them that I don't want to play anywhere else in Italy but at Inter.

Disappointed

"I came to Italy to wear the Nerazzurri colours and not play for any other club. Now I must go and Inter will help me find a club. "I am saddened, I cannot deny it, I am disappointed not to have shown my worth, but this is football. "It's a decision taken by the club and by me. Now I want to join a big club." Feyenoord had expressed an interest in taking the striker on loan next season, but Castaignos admits a return to De Kuip is unlikely. He added: "If I could change anything, then I would decide to go out on loan abroad, but this will not happen. "Feyenoord? I'm disappointed that it is not possible for me to play there next season."

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Palace - No Zaha approach
Parish hopes to clear up rumours of interest from West Ham
Last Updated: June 20, 2012 11:12am
SSN

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has dismissed reports that West Ham United have made an approach for teenage winger Wilfried Zaha. The highly-rated Zaha only signed a new five-year contract at Palace last December, but has persistently been linked with a move to the Premier League. Following West Ham's promotion back to the top flight, speculation has claimed that Sam Allardyce wants to add the 19-year-old to his squad. However, Parish has moved to clear up any uncertainty over Zaha's future by confirming that there has been no contact with the Hammers. He wrote on Twitter: "We haven't had any contact from West Ham actually ever about anything. Hope that clears things up."Zaha is one of the hottest properties outside the top flight, scoring nine goals last term on his way to being named the Championship's young player of the year.

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Should We Bid £5.5m for Grant Holt?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

So, it has been confirmed today that Mo Diame has signed for the club. And the general opinion amongst supporters seems to be that he is a very good signing, who will strengthen our squad in a key position.

Hot on the heels of the Diame signing, the transfer focus has now shifted to an alleged increased bid for Norwich City Striker, Grant Holt. The figure being quoted in the press is an improved bid of £5.5m. If true, that is a substantial fee for a 31 year old striker, with little or no resale value. Although, maybe the club's rationale is that Holt is the striker to keep us in the PL nexr season, and that on its own is well worth the outlay?

With the Yakubu deal looking increasingly unlikely, is Holt the best striking option available to us? Or should we be looking elsewhere in our efforts to improve our fire power next season? At the end of the day, and all things considered, is it a good prospective investment to bid an alleged £5.5m for Holt's service?

SJ. Chandos.

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You're in Diame now! West Ham beat Liverpool to signing of midfielder Mohamed
The Mirror

West Ham have confirmed a deal to sign Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diame on a free transfer from Wigan. The 25-year-old has agreed a three-year deal at Upton Park and will make the move on July 1 after the expiry of his Wigan contract. "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season," Diame told the club's website. "I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

Diame will meet his new team-mates on the first day of pre-season training on July 1 before flying out with the team to Austria. He is the third new signing of the summer for the newly-promoted Hammers, joining Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen in Sam Allardyce's squad. Allardyce said: "His potential is really good and he's ready to go and compete in the first team straight away as he's had three years in the Premier League already. "He's 25 and can only get better and I hope he can go on to prove that to me and all of the West Ham United fans. He will be a very exciting addition to the squad."

Diame joined Wigan in 2009 from Spanish club Rayo Vallecano, having previously played for Lens and Linares.

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I want to face and beat Parker, roars former Hammer Diamanti ahead of quarter-final clash
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 17:57, 20 June 2012 | UPDATED: 17:57, 20 June 2012
Daily Mail

Italy midfielder Alessandro Diamanti is relishing the chance to face former club-mate Scott Parker in Sunday's Euro 2012 quarter-final meeting against England in Kiev. Diamanti played alongside Parker at West Ham during the 2009/10 campaign and is hoping to put one over his old colleague. 'I would really like to face and beat Parker, who was a team-mate of mine at West Ham,' Diamanti said in Wednesday's press conference. 'Parker is a top player, a great rival, but since I left (West Ham), I haven't spoken to him.' Diamanti, who scored seven goals in 30 league appearances for Serie A side Bologna last season, is confident about his side's chances heading into this weekend's match but, although he feels Italy are superior to England, he is taking nothing for granted. The Azzurri finished second in their pool behind holders Spain, while England topped Group D. 'Perhaps in terms of the things that surround football like stadiums, fans' behaviour, they (English) are 30 years ahead of us, but when it comes to the pitch, we are much stronger and play a more beautiful football,' Diamanti said.

'However, even if history says that we are much stronger than them, it doesn't count for anything in these types of games. 'I have only watched England's game against Ukraine and they are strong side, with great champions. 'It's going to be a big battle, we respect them but we have no fear.' Diamanti is hoping he will get the chance to feature in the quarter-final having made his debut in a major international competition in Monday's 2-0 triumph over the Republic of Ireland. 'I was very excited to make my debut against Ireland,' the 29-year-old said. 'Now I have a chance to play in a game that only a couple of years ago I could only dream of playing on the PlayStation. 'I never gave up hope and I've worked hard for it. 'I will do everything that I can to help my team progress to the next round' Even without playing, Diamanti is enjoying the adventure in Poland and Ukraine and says training alongside veteran playmaker Andrea Pirlo is a privilege. 'I'm having a lot of fun and it's great to play alongside Pirlo,' he said. 'The past couple of days have reconfirmed to me that Pirlo is the strongest player in the world.'

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Hammers sign Diame with a new striker set to follow
London24
Kirk Blows
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
4:55 PM

Mohamed Diame says he is "happy and excited" after becoming West Ham's third permanent new signing of the summer. The defensive central midfielder, 25, has signed a three-year contract at Upton Park and will officially become a Hammer when his current deal with Wigan Athletic expires on July 1. The Senegal international is a free agent after spending three years with the Latics, for whom he made 103 league and cup appearances. And he is looking forward to playing his part as West Ham seek to consolidate their place back in the Premier League. Diame said: "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season. "I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was pleased to have secured Diame's signature after being linked with the player for several weeks. "His potential is really good and he is ready to compete in the first team straight away as he has had three years in the Premier League already," he said. "He is 25 and can only get better – and I hope he can go on to prove that to me and all of the West Ham United fans. "He will be a very exciting addition to the squad."

Sunderland and Aston Villa had also been linked with the player, who joined Wigan from Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano for a fee of £3.6million in 2009. Diame joins goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson as West Ham's new signings following the club's return to the top flight via the play-offs. West Ham are also hoping to bolster their attack with the signing of a new striker next week. The Hammers have been linked with several hitmen in recent weeks, including Grant Holt of Norwich City and Real Madrid's Spain under-21 international Joselu. Reports suggest that West Ham have made an increased £5.5m bid for Holt, who scored 17 goals as the Canaries enjoyed a comfortable first season back in the Premier League. The 31-year-old wants to quit the East Anglia club, but Norwich rejected the striker's initial transfer request in May. Joselu, 22 – full name Jose Luis Sanmartin Mato – was born in Germany, but after spending time with Celta Vigo has been playing for Madrid's B team Castilla. Allardyce has been in Italy, where it was claimed he was seen speaking to Juventus director Fabio Paratici. One of his targets was believed to be Dutch winger Eljero Elia, 25, who made a £7m move from Hamburg to Juve last summer, but made only four appearances and recently submitted a transfer request. Allardyce has also been linked with another Dutchman in the shape of Luc Castaignos, a 19-year-old striker who spent last season with Inter Milan after two years at Feyenoord. Sweden defender Jonas Olsson is another potential target, but new West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke is reluctant to let him go.

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Wigan Athletic's Mohamed Diamé joins newly promoted West Ham
Midfielder signs three-year contract
Sam Allardyce has made three summer signings
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 20 June 2012 13.28 BST

West Ham have confirmed a deal to sign the Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diamé on a free transfer from Wigan Athletic. Diamé has agreed a three-year deal at Upton Park and will make the move on 1 July after the expiry of his Wigan contract. "I'm very happy and very excited to have joined the club and I'm looking forward to the start of the season," Diamé told the club's website. "I know the fans here get behind the team all the time and I'm looking forward to showing everybody what I can do on the pitch."

Diamé will meet his new team-mates on the first day of pre-season training before flying out with the team to Austria. He is the third new signing of the summer for the newly-promoted Hammers, joining Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen in Sam Allardyce's squad. Allardyce said: "His potential is really good and he's ready to go and compete in the first team straight away as he's had three years in the Premier League already. "He's 25 and can only get better and I hope he can go on to prove that to me and all of the West Ham United fans. He will be a very exciting addition to the squad."

Diamé joined Wigan in 2009 from Spanish club Rayo Vallecano, having previously played for Lens and Linares.

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