Daily WHUFC News - 25th June 2016

Ogbonna delighted for teammate despite defeat
WHUFC.com

West Ham and Italy defender Angelo Ogbonna, despite experiencing defeat against the Republic of Ireland at UEFA Euro 2016, was delighted for Club teammate Darren Randolph as The Boys in Green secured qualification for the knockout stages. The Azzurri, who had already topped Group E heading into Wednesday's fixture against Martin O'Neill's side, named a starting XI containing eight changes, including a place for Ogbonna who was yet to feature at the tournament. And the Hammer who impressed at the Boleyn Ground in his first season at the Club helped Italy shut out Ireland until the final five minutes, when Robbie Brady sent his nation into raptures with a late header. Ogbonna was left frustrated with the result, but was nevertheless pleased for Randolph who kept a clean sheet at the opposite end. The Italian said: "I'm really happy for Darren because he played really well. For me, though, it was a massive game and we are disappointed. "It was a really tough game against Ireland, and of course we are disappointed that we lost. We need to react now and look forward to the next game."

Antonio Conte's side knew their fate before the tie, and Spain await them in Paris in an exciting round-of-16 clash after they were beaten by Croatia to finish second in Group B.
Many have expressed the importance of momentum during the tournament however, and Ogbonna was no different after the single-goal defeat. "We really wanted to win this match. Every game is really tough. But you don't have to talk about that now though. We are focused on the next game against Spain. "The game against Spain is very complicated. We have to prepare everything everywhere on the pitch. We have to keep our feet on the ground also, so step-by-step, we need to get there. We have to be focused for the match."

The West Ham pair reaching the next stage of the competition made it four-out-of-four Hammers through to the knockouts, with Dimitri Payet's France topping Group A and James Collins Wales doing the same in Group B. And the experience all four players will have gained at tournament could prove vital for Slaven Bilic's side in the Premier League and in Europe next season, according to Ogbonna. "Darren, Ginge [James Collins] who will hopefully have the opportunity to play, and Dimi are all through. Dimi; I cannot explain Dimi! Everyone knows how superb he is. "It's good for us, it's good for the team, for next year and for the new Stadium. It's great for things going forward for West Ham. This is a really good tournament for us, for West Ham players to play at a European level."

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Lyall family - It is the ultimate tribute
WHUFC.com

The opening of the new state-of-the-art Stadium Store on Queen Elizabeth Park was a historic day for West Ham United, but for the Lyall family in particular it had extra significance. John Lyall will always be regarded as one of the greatest managers in the Club's history having won the FA Cup back in 1975 and 1980 and steering the Hammers to their highest ever finish in the top flight when they finished third in 1986. Having spent 15 memorable years in charge of West Ham United, Lyall was honoured by the Club, with the main gates at the Boleyn Ground being named in his memory in December 2009. With the Hammers making a historic move into the new Stadium during the summer, the Club have ensured that three leaves of the iconic gates have been relocated to the Stadium Store in tribute to the legendary manager.

Club skipper Mark Noble formally opened the new Store on Thursday and to mark the occasion, wife of the late John Lyall Yvonne, his son Murray and daughter-in-law Samantha were in attendance to see the gates in their new home. It proved to be an emotional moment for the Lyall family when they saw the gates for the first time and the big screens showing Lyall as both a player and a manager - a moment they will never forget. Lyall's late wife Yvonne, said: "They are absolutely superb and John would be very proud of them so I want thank everyone at West Ham United. "The pictures of him as both a player and manager on the big screens were superb."

John's son Murray, added: "It is the ultimate tribute to my late father. We have to thank the owners Mr Sullivan and Mr Gold and Baroness Brady.
"They promised us a fitting tribute and it has exceeded anything we expected. We have come to a new facility but have still got the history of something coming along from the Boleyn Ground. "We didn't envisage the planning that has gone into it. There are a number of entrances into the new venue and the Club have done everything to put it in the right place. "It has certainly been an emotional day. The last year has not been the easiest but we would not have missed this for the world. "Dad would have relished this move to the new Stadium and he would have loved to have someone like Mark Noble in his squad so that was fitting as well. The little guy Payet has got something special as well!"

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From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com

This has been a historic day for the country and there are going to be a lot of implications for the Premier League and football in general.

If the sterling continues to fall against the euro, players at European clubs will become more expensive as that impacts our buying power.

Even at this present time, where we currently owe instalments to clubs who we have signed players from, we will also lose out if the value of sterling falls, but every club is in the same boat.

I have seen reports that some big name players including Dimitri Payet would not have been able to secure their moves into the Premier League if we would have already left the European Union.

Long term players from the European Union will need to obtain work permits, but I have to stress that is a few years away.

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The Insider
WHUFC.ocm

The search for a striker continues to dominate all the headlines surrounding West Ham United once again this week.

Big name players including Michy Batshuayi, Alexandre Lacazette and Simone Zaza have all been linked with a move to the Hammers as Slaven Bilic looks to bring a proven striker into the squad.

My sources have confirmed to me that the Club have bids out for many players at the moment and are continuing to work hard behind the scenes as they look to secure the best possible deal.

It is my understanding that reports stating that we have made substantial bids for Batshuayi and Zaza are correct but there are no imminent moves in the pipeline.

Reports this week have also stated that the Hammers have made an offer for Besiktas midfielder Atiba Hutchinson.

I have been told that the Canadian international is a target for the Club and they are waiting to see if a deal can materialise in the near future.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United

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West Ham make bid for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 24/06/16 9:32am
SSN

West Ham have made a €35m bid for Marseille striker Michy Batshuayi, according to Sky sources. The Hammers' offer was worth around £28.25m at 9am on Friday morning, although the amount may change as the exchange rate fluctuates following the Brexit vote which could put a number of potential moves in doubt. Batshuayi is currently with the Belgium squad at Euro 2016 and has attracted interest from several top clubs in Europe after it was confirmed he will leave Marseille this summer. Juventus are also believed to have made a lower bid for Batshuayi and he has also been on Tottenham's radar. Batshuayi scored 24 goals for Marseille in Ligue 1 last season and is attracted by a move to the Premier League, but he said last month that he would not change clubs until after Euro 2016. "I don't think about that, I prefer to concentrate 100 per cent on the Euros, then we will see what happens," Batshuayi told Sky Sports News HQ last month. "Everybody likes the Premier League. It has a lot of spectacle, a lot of goals and many good players. It is natural that every good player is attracted by that league." Batshuayi has scored two goals in five appearances for Belgium but was an unused substitute for their three Group E games at Euro 2016.

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Hammers linked with £40m bid for striker
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 24, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

L'Equipe is reporting today that West Ham have made a new proposal of approximately £40m for Alexandre Lacazette. They claim the bid was made between Thursday and Friday for the French International. L'Equipe also quote the figure of 52 million Euros which would equate closer to £42m after the large currency exchange drop over night.

I am sorry I don't buy this rumour what so ever. The club's own 'Insider' described the negotiations at stalemate last week and I understand nothing has changed since then.

We were told just three days ago by our top insider: "We have been told 100 per cent by the player's agent that he doesn't want to come and won't be joining us. As a result of course there can be no further bids. It would need a dramatic change of heart by the player and that is seriously unlikely to happen ."

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Irons stick to guns on striker price
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 24, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H

Reports that West Ham have reduced their asking price for Enner Valencia to £7.5 million have been rubbished by club sources this evening. The club are sticking to their £12 million valuation on the Ecuador international after the forward enjoyed a good Copa America tournament.
Suggestions declaring the Hammers will knock an immediate £4.5 million off his price tag shows a deep misunderstanding of how the two Davids operate. And ClaretandHugh was told a few minutes ago: "The price remains exactly where it was – £12 million. Valencia's joint agent Barry Silkman has told this site that there is interest abroad and that his client's form in the summer tournament had created an impact amont watching clubs.
He said: "The talk of Swansea was always nonsense but there is no lack of interest in Enner and there is plennty of time from abroad and the transfer window hasn't even opened yet."

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Hammers active on two strikers
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 24, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H

It's now pretty well a given the official site's 'Insider' is a very well placed source within the club itself.

So when – as today – he/she says various "rumours" are "understood" to be correct, it's fair to believe them.

The Insider column has been at the centre of some pretty fierce criticisim over recent weeks for not bringing any information that hasn't already been reported.

So it's a change that the latest column confirms a couple of important striker names as clearly and definitely being in the frame.

He/she says that "substantial bids for Batshuayi and Zaza are correct." However, it's difficult to make head or tail of the next line which says "there are no imminent moves in the pipeline."

A substantial bid represents a pretty large move in itself and you can now take it as read that two top strikers are being actively hunted.

It looks pretty well nailed on to that Besiktas' Canadian midfielder Atiba Hutchinson is a likely arrival with the column saying he has been told club are waiting to see if a deal can materialise in the near future.

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Dimitri Payet 'loves West Ham' and wants to stay, but 'football is football, so you never know' concedes club captain Mark Noble
Mark Noble says he has been speaking to Dimitri Payet about his future
Noble confident that West Ham star will return to the club this summer
Payet's impressive form at Euro 2016 has attracted outside interest
But Noble says the Frenchman 'loves the club' and thinks he will stay
By JONNY SINGER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:41, 24 June 2016 | UPDATED: 09:41, 24 June 2016

Dimitri Payet 'loves West Ham' and has no intention of leaving, but Hammers captain Mark Noble still admits 'you never know' if he'll remain at the club. Payet, the club's stand-out performer last year, has been one of the stars of Euro 2016 so far, scoring twice for France in their first two matches. And while that has increased interest in the midfielder, Noble says he has spoken to his team-mate and is confident he will remain. 'I think he will be (at West Ham next season),' Noble told Sky Sports. 'I've been in a lot of contact with him over the summer and he loves the football club.' However, Noble did concede that, given Payet's exceptional form, he can't guarantee the Frenchman will be at the Olympic stadium next season. 'Football is football, so you never know,' he added. 'But obviously we'd all like to see him back here in the summer.' Noble, who was tipped as an outsider to play at Euro 2016 for England, but missed out, also explained that he always knew the same fate would not befall his team-mate. 'We were all hoping he would go. I said to him: "Dim, I'm 100 per cent [sure] you're going to go", even though he thought he had no chance. 'To see him doing so well is great because he's been the player of the tournament so far. I think we all knew how good he was but now the world knows how good he is.'

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