Maiga makes his mark
WHUFC.com
Modibo Maiga has every faith in his teammates following Saturday's 3-3 draw with the Baggies
29.12.2013
Modibo Maiga is convinced West Ham United are close to rediscovering their winning touch, after helping the Hammers to a pulsating 3-3 Barclays Premier League draw at home to West Bromwich Albion. The 26-year-old frontman was instrumental in overturning a 2-1 deficit on Saturday afternoon, scoring one and creating a second in a three-minute blitz, having joined the fray in place of Carlton Cole for the second period. But Saido Berahino's subsequent leveller meant the Hammers were to settle for a point, a result that Maiga foresees taking the Hammers ever-closer to turning the corner in their bid to clamber clear of trouble. He exclusively told West Ham TV: "It's true that we're all disappointed [to draw]. It was a tough game physically. We've scored twice [in the second half] but weren't able to hold on. Though we're disappointed, the most important thing now is to pick ourselves up for the next game, so that things turn in our favour. "Every point is important and the most important thing on Saturday was not to lose, and then we have to try [to turn draws into wins]. We've got to try to continue to play as we did in the second half. "At the moment, there's definitely that little something that's missing. So as soon as we can overcome that, I believe that we'll be OK, because we've got great players."
While victory on Saturday was elusive, there was still much to celebrate for Maiga, who had already forced an excellent stop from Ben Foster by the time he buried a left-footed curler. The Mali international then turned provider, with his prodigious leap enabling Kevin Nolan to fire the Hammers back in front. Maiga rightly took enormous satisfaction from his contribution, one that he hopes shows his versatility in a system to which he is now becoming accustomed. "I'm really happy, really happy," he continued. "Though I'm not that used to playing in this system, I've dealt with it and I'm pleased to have scored. It's reward for me and for my work and I hope it's going to continue, God willing. The keeper has saved the first one but the second one has gone in and honestly I'm really happy. I thank God but I thank the supporters a lot too! I thank them a great deal because honestly they continue to back and support me. That feels great and I'm very grateful."
Looking ahead to the New Year, Maiga remains confident that there are good times ahead, so long as the Hammers continue to put in the hard yards, while keeping the faith. He added: "As I always say, the only solution is to work hard. Hard work and then, ultimately, we'll see how it goes and, of course, we hope for the right result. But I think overall there's not much wrong, perhaps a slight lacking in confidence. We'll carry on working hard and I believe it's just the small things that are missing right now, but we'll be OK."
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Hodgson: Ravel Morrison can make World Cup squad
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th December 2013
By: Staff Writer
England manager Roy Hodgson has revealed that Ravel Morrison could yet feature in his World Cup squad next summer. The young Hammer has missed West Ham's last two outings against Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion but remains on the radar of Hodgson, whose team recently qualified for next summer's World Cup Finals in Brazil. Along with Everton's Ross Barkley, Morrison has become one of the country's most talked about young players - and both now have the opportunity to stake their claim for next summer. "What they have to do - those two players - is realise that we do have great faith in them," Hodgson told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We have enormous admiration for their talent and we believe that they are going to be exceptional players. "What they have got to do is keep performing week in and week out and they have got to make certain that they are that team sheet every week keeping more experienced players out of the team. If they continue to do that then come May their names will be in serious discussion with us as well."
Hodgson's names his final 23-man squad for the Finals ten days before the start of the tournament on 2nd June 2014.
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Jussi top of the charts
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th December 2013
By: Staff Writer
Jussi Jaaskelainen has made more saves than any other Premier League goalkeeper in the 2013/14 season so far. The veteran Fin, who conceded three goals against West Bromwich Albion yesterday has made no less that 141 saves in the league so far this season - three more than his closest competitor, Liverpool's Simon Mignolet. West Ham, who have conceded 28 goals in the league during the current campaign at an average of 1.47 goals per game have kept eight clean sheets so far this season - but crucially, have managed to win just three of those.
Top Five Premier League Save-Makers
1. Jussi Jaaskelainen (West Ham Utd) 141
2. Simon Mignolet (Liverpool) 138
3. Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) 115
4. Brad Guzan (Aston Villa) 110
5. Petr Cech (Chelsea) 98
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Allardyce on... West Bromwich Albion
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th December 2013
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce wasn't too disappointed with a draw - despite his pre-match billing of this encounter being a "must win" game.
Sam: I don't know what you put in their tea at half time but it was a rousing second half?
Well we didn't have any problems other than James Tomkins getting injured in the first half, up to them scoring two goals quickly and swiftly. That made everybody a little depressed because we started off well and were relatively comfortable. They scored with the first chance they had then they scored from a corner which we thought was a goal kick.
That's always going to change the fortunes of the game and for the lads it was about continuing to do the right things and try to open up the opportunities that we felt we could see would be possible from the first half performance.
In the end you always need a bit of quality to shine through and the quality was [Modibo] Maiga's goal. He'd shown a bit of quality before that when he pulled a great save out of Foster, then the goal itself. Then the second goal to put us 3-2 up in the second half was pure determination and desire, which is what we're all about.
The sad thing was not continuing from thereon, to protect the winning position after we'd got ourselves back into in the game. It's really bitter for me that pill, because we'd practised not allowing the opposition to get in our box.
Within the space of ten seconds we have to try and push them into their half, we have to try and win the ball back as quickly as we can. We try and keep them in their half if we can't win the ball back and we must have mentally switched off because of the delight of scoring the third, and we got heavily punished.
Anybody could have won it then. We both went for it, but fatigue kicks in because of two games in less than 48 hours.
I have to say it was a remarkable performance from our players considering we had four full backs playing across the back four today. Had we had a full back four fit today - never mind all the other injuries - I think we'd have won. We asked players to play out of position and unfortunately we've ended up conceding three goals, but three very good goals. The lads are a little disappointed that they haven't won, but it was a fantastic effort from all of them.
What you're saying is that overall there is a case for the defence, but both sides defended badly?
Well you try and defend with two full backs playing centre half. The fact of the matter is it's not their position and they're playing against the Anelkas of this world. Brunt played the ball through and they're going to catch you out, aren't they?
You try and defend a corner when I'm 6'1". Actually I'm 6'3" so imagine Joey O'Brien marking me at 6' or George McCartney at 5'11", I'd be saying 'get that ball in the box son, I'm going to score today!' You know what I mean? That's how they got the second goal. At the end of the day it's not really anybody's fault that you're out-powered by the size of the opposition players on that particular corner. Had we had our full quota of defenders fit today, we'd have won.
When do you think you'll have your full quota of players?
Cor, that's like drawing a rabbit out of the hat at the minute for me. Every day goes, every week goes by and the long-term extent of these injuries is why we're where we are at the minute. There's no doubt about that and we've got to get them all fit as quick as we can.
It's been weeks and weeks and weeks, not just a couple of weeks here and a couple of weeks there, which we can all manage. This season it's been weeks and weeks for too many of our players and that's why we're paying the price at the minute.
We used to be great at keeping clean sheets; now, because of our defensive problems we're finding it hard to do that. Finally, we've scored three goals at home and we haven't won the game but that's no real fault of the players that played today. You can make it their fault, but because they're playing out of position, you can understand it.
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West Ham striker Modibo Maiga says team are lacking in confidence
Last Updated: 29/12/13 1:38pm
SSN
Modibo Maiga believes relegation-threatened West Ham will need to cure 'a lack of confidence' in order to rise up the Premier League table. The striker was a scoring substitute during Saturday's 3-3 draw against West Brom at Upton Park. Maiga said: "I think overall there's not much wrong, perhaps a slight lacking in confidence. "The only solution is to work hard. Hard work and then, ultimately, we'll see how it goes. "We'll carry on working hard and I believe it's just the small things that are missing right now - but we'll be OK."
The Hammers have collected just two points from their last six league games and Maiga added of the West Brom draw: "It was a tough game physically.
"Though we're disappointed, the most important thing now is to pick ourselves up for the next game, so that things turn in our favour. "Every point is important and the most important thing on Saturday was not to lose. We've got to try to continue to play as we did in the second half."
With Andy Carroll still recovering from his heel injury, Sam Allardyce has played with no more than one striker so far this season and Maiga is still adjusting to a change in approach. "I'm really happy," he added. "Though I'm not that used to playing in this system, I've dealt with it and I'm pleased to have scored. It's reward for me and for my work and I hope it's going to continue."
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Former Manchester United starlet Ravel Morrison hailed by West Ham coach
By Dev Trehan | Last Updated: 29/12/13 12:42pm
SSN
Ravel Morrison's emergence as a key player for West Ham this season can give the club a reason to be optimistic going forward according to academy coach Anwar Uddin. The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, currently sidelined with a groin injury, has reportedly been the subject of interest from other clubs after forcing his way into the first-team picture at Upton Park this season. Uddin hailed the England Under-21 international as an exceptional talent but insisted West Ham could face a fight to retain his services if he continues his recent progression. "Looking at the depth of our squad another striker is probably necessary but look at players like Ravel Morrison this year," Uddin told skysports.com. "I think he's been unbelievable, I've watched him a few times at Upton Park and he's been special. "I think he's been unbelievable, I've watched him a few times at Upton Park and he's been special. I mean looking at the way our season has gone, that has to be the shining light." I hope we can keep hold of him and he can continue to play at the standard he's playing, but if he does, we'll have the big clubs at the end of season trying to take him off us."
Despite reaching the semi-final stage of the Capital One Cup, West Ham have struggled for league form, winning just once in their 12 last matches - a run which has seen them plummet to 19th in the table. But Uddin remains confident that Sam Allardyce's men, who drew 3-3 at home to West Brom on Saturday, can overcome a number of injuries to key players and improve their league standing. "At the moment we're suffering a little bit from luck," Uddin said. "If we had (Andy) Carroll fit, and (Stewart) Downing, (Matt) Jarvis and (Joe) Cole all remained fit, we'd be in a lot better place. "We just need that rub of the green but if you look at the bottom of the league, there are quite a lot of clubs that are down there and finding it quite difficult. "Fulham, Palace, Sunderland, Cardiff are all down there so it makes it exciting but I'd rather be a little bit higher in the table. "But it is what it is and the gaffer and the club are doing the best they can with the players they've got. "I know we can do it but it's about being positive. When things aren't going very well, it's easy to implode but West Ham will not do that. "There's too much strength and character there. Allardyce has seen it all before and he's done it all before."
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Asamoah Gyan happy at Al Ain after West Ham loan offer
Last Updated: 29/12/13 10:36am
SSN
Asamoah Gyan has suggested he wants to stay at Al Ain after the striker was the subject of an approach from West Ham United. Premier League strugglers West Ham are in the market for a new forward in January and are understood to have made an offer to sign Gyan on loan for the second half of the season.
The Ghana international moved to Al Ain from Sunderland in 2011, initially on loan, and appears to be in no hurry to leave the United Arab Emirates. "My heart and soul are attached to Al Ain and I always look forward to show the best level that satisfies my ambitions with my team and the fans and administration's aspirations as well," Gyan was quoted by ghanasoccernet.com. "When my mom passed away I was thinking about my team and, when I will be with my national team in the World Cup, I will work with the same level with my national team to hit the targets of myself and my people. "I will never think of avoiding to get injured during the matches of Al Ain as it may happen anywhere at any time, not only in training sessions and matches with Al Ain. "West Ham have made an offer for me, but it is up to Al Ain to make a decision. I have a contract with them. So I will remain focused on my work."
Gyan scored 10 goals in 34 Premier League appearances during his time at Sunderland and netted against West Ham in the League Cup in September 2010.
The 28-year-old is among a host of forwards to have been linked with a January move to Upton Park, with the likes of Everton's Nikica Jelavic and Atletico Madrid's Leo Baptistao also reported to be loan targets for Sam Allardyce.
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HOW WILL FINANCIAL FAIR PLAY AFFECT NEW WEST HAM BUYS?
By Sean Whetstone 29 Dec 2013 at 10:09
West Ham Till I Die
As we approach the January transfer window the term I am sure we will be hearing very soon is the restrictions enforced through the Premier League financial restrictions.
In a West ham statement on WHUFC.com dated 26th August 2013 stated that new rules state that "whatever a Club spent on wages last season, they are allowed to do so again, with an allowance for an extra £4m on top. If they did not spend £48m on wages last year, as was the case with West Ham United, they are allowed to go up to a new £52m limit."
Despite claiming we were already at or very close to our £52m wages limit we went on to sign Mladen Petric and Carlton Cole who were free agents. It is understood we were budgeted to go "marginally over" the FFP limit.
David Gold was asked about financial fair play at the recent Season Ticket Holders' fans forum
Mike, a West Ham season ticket holder asked "We seem to be ready to buy a striker now, therefore financial fair play must of changed in the last four months because before the start of the season we couldn't sign a striker without breaking the restrictions of financial fair play, so what's changed?"
David Gold answered
"Budgets move, you know in a business, you budget prudently then as you advance into your financial year so to speak, it changes and it doesn't have change dramatically to be able to afford, for example a loan player in the second half, first of all he is half the price, well half the cost because you going to to bring in a loan, there might be a loan fee but that loan fee might be half of what you would of been in the first half of the season and to your credit there is another aspect of financial fair play you can use and that is generate wealth or income I should say, income for example via sales through the club shop or sales through a corporate deal, that can be added to the funds, I think people have done quite well because one or two of them are here I don't want them asking for a salary increase, they have done very well and we have generated some extra money plus our budgets have been slightly better than forecasted. Don't forget we are not talking about a £10 million player, we are talking about bringing someone on loan for six months maybe with a view what emerges, one possibility is you can encourage a quality player to come and join us with a view that in the event we stay up we sign him on a 2,3,4,5 year contract so that's how it has changed over the period of time, does that help?"
Championship Financial Fair Play
However of possible bigger concern because our precarious position second from bottom at the moment is the Financial Fair Play rules already in place in the Championship. The rules for the championship is there is no wage cap but losses must be under £3m per season increased to £8m if the owners inject equity. Considering our losses were £25.4m for our season in the Championship we would find it difficult to buy our way out of the Championship as we did last time.
QPR appear to have ignored FFP rules and are set for a possible £60m fine if they get promoted at the end of this season as their losses are expected to be in the region of £80m. Championship clubs have been told they will have to pay a £1 fine for every £1 they lose over £18m in the 2013-14 financial year. If they do not achieve promotion to the Premier league they will be served with a lengthy transfer ban until they bring their losses under control.
Legal Challenge to Financial Fair Play
A Belgian sports agent representing a number of European footballers has launched a challenge against the legitimacy of UEFA's Financial Fair Play Rules. The allegation is that the rules breach fundamental EU rules on competition and free movement. It is also argued that the rules may reduce the number of big-money player transfers in the EU and that as a result it is more difficult for agents to make money by offering their services in relation to such transactions. If this legal action is successful you bet similar legal challenges against the football league and Premier League for an early end to financial restrictions.
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West Ham injury crisis means they must try to outscore Fulham in relegation six-pointer
Dec 29, 2013 22:30 By Neil McLeman 0 Comments
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has no fit centre-backs for New Year's Day match after losing James Tomkins and accepts Hammers may need at least two goals to win
Sam Allardyce claimed attack will now be the best form of defence as West Ham's season goes from bad to worse. Saturday's crazy 3-3 draw with West Brom means the Hammers have conceded nine goals in their last three games - and the vibrant visitors looked like scoring every time they went forward in the helter-skelter second half. The injury-ravaged Irons will now face fellow relegation candidates Fulham on New Year's Day without a recognised centre-back after James Tomkins joined the crocks. And Allardyce, the new favourite in the sack race, admitted he only has the money to bring in two new players in the January transfer window after blowing his transfer budget on Andy Carroll. So Big Sam, who has played without a striker this season, is now threatening to go gung-ho and try to out-score the Cottagers in a basketball-style contest. "My problem is that the team that'll play at Fulham is depleted at the moment," he said. "I need to recover these players as quickly as I can and try to produce a resilience and desire that they produced today and try to get a result at Fulham.
"Ultimately, it's stopping goals in. We used to be great at it because we had all our defenders were fit, now we have to say to ourselves, 'Look, it's unlikely we're going to keep a clean sheet so we're going to have to at least score two to win the game'."
West Ham only picked up only two points in December - the worst in the Premier League and have now won only once in the top flight in 12 games. There are unwelcome parallels with the last time the Hammers went down under Avram Grant with an unwelcome League Cup semi-final coming up next month. After 19 games under Grant, West Ham had 16 points. Under Allardyce half way through the season, they have 15 The West Ham hierarchy now admit they should have replaced Grant that season but co-owner David Sullivan again publicly backed his manager on Sunday. That has not stopped Allarydce's odds to be sacked to be trimmed to 7/4 though. "Maybe I should put a bet on!" joked Big Sam. "What will be, will be. It's not my problem what the bookmakers do.
"I have no interest in them and they have no influence over me. And they don't have any influence over the owners, so we just carry on and do what we're doing. "We know what the problems are and our problems are injuries. Injuries effect results - that's a fact not an excuse."
But with West Ham needing strikers and defenders, Allardyce will not be able to buy his way out of trouble although one report has claimed he is willing to sell Ravel Morrison to raise funds. How many new players will he bring in? "As many as I can afford with the budget I've got," he said. "But that would probably be two."
What this six-goal romp did prove is that Allardyce has not lost his players, and that West Brom, whoever they chose as their new boss, should score enough goals to stay up. After Joe Cole gave the Hammers the early lead, Nicolas Anelka scored his first two goals for the Baggies to see the home side booed off at the break. But West Ham responded with goals from super sub Modibo Maiga and captain Kevin Nolan before Saido Berahino netted the third goal in five minutes.
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Die Hard
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 29th December 2013
By: Steve Heighton
There are always issues at West Ham; it is our way after all. In forty years I have never known us not to be doing something odd!
However the current position we find ourselves in is still recoverable, as whatever happens off the pitch it is the team that gets the points and ultimately the manager who picks them.
I have run junior and senior teams, as I am sure many Hammers fans do, and I just can't understand Sam Allardyce's team, tactics or players. You simply cannot play passengers yet Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor and Carlton Cole have no impact on 90 minutes of play.
Cole may be getting goals, but he does little else. Against Arsenal he only won three attacking headers - and he is our centre forward; Modibo Maiga wins that in five minutes!
Nolan has now missed two cheeky free kicks from Mark Noble and has cost us both times. Sam went with Diame as the support (I think he was meant to, anyway) for Cole and left Nolan as a midfielder. But Nolan just isn't a midfielder any more.
As Nolan, Taylor and Cole are so ineffective we keep losing the midfield and the ball is back on our defence before you can blink. If you need a midfielder than why not Alou Diarra? What did he do wrong at Tottenham not to be given a run in the side?
This is the same for Maiga. He works hard, wins headers and scores and his reward for working hard and getting us a result? He gets dropped for Cole! That's not Carlton's fault but Sam's, he picks the team.
But herein lies the problem; Allardyce's inconsistency. Adrian does ok at Spurs and gets two games. He should have done better with the first two goals at Old Trafford and cost us versus Arsenal. But Jussi was considered too experienced to be left out against West Brom.
The back six (ie four from six) has been picking itself but when Ginge is missing we are in big trouble, as you saw when Olssen caused us issues at the weekend. With the midfield a mess it's no wonder so many ordinary teams are giving us the run around.
You have to work hard to at least stay even at this level and we seem to run out of steam completely on the hour mark. Which brings us back to fresh legs ie Diarra, Jack Collison, George Moncur, Danny Potts and Elliot Lee.
We are in trouble, big trouble. The view is that when Andy Carroll, Winston Reid, Stewart Downing et al return from their various injuries we will be brilliant and recover. We simply won't, because Sam doesn't know who to pick or what substitutes to make.
Take the Arsenal game, for instance; you are losing and have Maiga on the bench and so what did Allardyce do? Brought on Matt Taylor instead. The answer shows the level of commitment to win games especially at home.
Losing is losing, you simply have to go for it instead of slouching in your chair and giving the impression you don't give a toss. Sam could resolve this but frankly his lack of winning games, cups, leagues or anything suggests he won't.
The West Brom game was the biggest game in ages and to lose against a managerless team would have been unthinkable. To take a point isn't enough in our current circumstances so we should perhaps consider the same approach and go without a manager.
After all, we wouldn't be doing any worse!
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Allardyce blames West Ham slump on injury crisis as he targets two 'quality signings' in January window
By LAURIE WHITWELL
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 29 December 2013 | UPDATED: 22:30, 29 December 2013
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce has claimed he is to blame for West Ham's slide into the relegation places but said injuries were wreaking havoc on his team's season. James Tomkins limped out of the 3-3 draw with West Brom early on after suffering a groin problem, meaning Alladryce has no senior central defenders fit to play the huge match at Fulham on New Year's Day. Winston Reid and James Collins are also out but Ravel Morrison should return for West Ham, who are second-bottom without a league win in six games. Joe Cole's last six Premier League goals have all come at Upton Park — five for West Ham, one for Liverpool. The point gained on Saturday looked unlikely at half-time after two Nicolas Anelka goals, his first in English football since August 2011, cancelled out Joe Cole's opener with West Ham fielding a defensive line of only full backs. But Modibo Maiga's introduction worked wonders. He scored an equaliser then set up Kevin Nolan to make the score 3-2. Saido Berahino got the final goal with a fine finish. Allardyce, who wants two 'quality signings' once the January window opens, said: 'This is my fault if you like, and that's fine, the manager is meant to carry the can. But in my defence we've had six/seven players injured out for weeks and weeks and weeks. 'My problem is that the team that'll play at Fulham is depleted at the moment. I need to recover these players as quickly as I can and try to produce a resilience and desire that they produced against West Brom and try to get a result.'
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West Ham United owner David Gold expects Andy Carroll to return in "two to three weeks"
The injury-plagued England striker has not played for the club since completing his record £15 million transfer in the summer
West Ham United owner David Gold expects Andy Carroll to return in
By Gerry Cox, at Upton Park10:30PM GMT 29 Dec 2013
Telegraoh.co.uk
West Ham United expect Andy Carroll to be playing within "two to three weeks", according to owner David Gold, meaning Sam Allardyce can shift his focus to defensive reinforcements once the transfer window opens on Wednesday. Carroll, the club's record signing, has not played since his £15 million transfer in the summer because of a succession of foot and ankle injuries. But Gold tweeted on Sunday: "AC could be available in 2/3 weeks" and the player posted a cryptic tweet saying "The time is near..." Allardyce constantly bemoaned Carroll's absence while West Ham were struggling for goals, but now the manager concedes that a new centre-back is a priority with an injury crisis in that position. Saturday's 3-3 draw with West Bromwich Albion was the third game in succession the team have conceded three, on top of the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool three weeks ago, and James Tomkins limped off with a groin strain, joining James Collins and Winston Reid on the injured list.
Everton's Dutch defender, John Heitinga, is Allardyce's chief target, although he also hopes to soon conclude a deal for former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan, who has been playing in the Middle East. "We know what the problems are – injuries," said Allardyce. "Injuries affect results – that's a fact not an excuse. We've had six or seven players out for weeks and weeks, and our most expensive player hasn't played at all this season. If I had them all back and all playing we'd probably be around 10th like last year."
West Ham have kept eight clean sheets, but have now conceded 20 goals in their past nine league games. "Ultimately, it's about stopping goals. We used to be great at it because we had all our defenders fit, now we have to say to ourselves, 'Look, it's unlikely we're going to keep a clean sheet so we're going to have to at least score two to win the game'. "We want to do it [sign players] on Jan 2, which is the earliest we can, but after six weeks of hard slog we haven't got a definite we can say will come. We've been at it for six weeks or more now and we're finding it difficult to find a player who wants to come to the club based on what we can afford to pay."
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Hammers poised to land Inter striker
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th December 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Inter's out-of-favour centre forward Ishak Belfodil on a short-term loan deal. 22 next month, the Algerian international has been with the Nerazzurri for only six months since moving from Parma last summer but has managed just one start and seven appearances from the bench since - one of which he marked with a red card. With next summer's World Cup Finals just a matter of months away, Belfodil is reported to be keen to move on a short-term basis in order to secure first-team football ahead of the tournament, where he hopes to represent his country. Despite having appeared for the French at all levels from Under 17s to Under 20s, the 6'4" forward opted to play for the country of his birth at full international level. He made his debut for Algeria and featured most recently as a late substitute in their 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Mali back in September. Having failed to secure a place at the world-famous Clairefontaine technical centre, Belfodil worked his way to the pro ranks via Paris Saint-Germain, AC Boulogne Billencourt and Clermont Foot before securing a youth contract with Lyon, amidst rumours of interest from English clubs such as Manchester United and Chelsea. In 2010 he signed a four-year contract with Lyon - but not before he'd made his Champions League debut in a play-off against Anderlecht. However less than two years after signing pro terms Belfodil was sent on loan to Bologna for three months, before fellow Italian club Parma signed him on a permanent basis for €2.5 million in the summer of 2012.
A year later it was revealed that Inter had purchased the player for €7.5 million, although Parma would retain 50 per cent of the player's economic rights (don't panic, it's a perfectly normal practise in Italy). Having failed to make much of an impression at the San Siro, Belfodil's next stop could be the Boleyn Ground - especially as Inter representative Piero Ausilio spent last weekend in London. Further speculation tonight has linked West Ham with a move for Manchester United's Wilfried Zaha, who has made just four appearances for the Reds this season.
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