Daily WHUFC News - 3rd May 2016

Samuelsen delighted by Norway debut
WHUFC.com

Martin Samuelsen was all smiles after making a successful senior international debut for Norway in Wednesday's 3-2 win over Iceland in Olso. The West Ham United winger came off the bench eight minutes after half-time to replace goalscorer Pal Andre Helland of Rosenborg with the hosts leading 2-1. Samuelsen caught the eye with his fast feet and willingness to take on his man and was involved in the move which led to Norway's third goal, scored by FC Groningen's Alexander Sorloth. Speaking to Norway's TV2 after the game at the Ullevaal Stadium, the 19-year-old was happy with his contribution, saying: "It's always nice to be involved when a goal is scored. That's why I want to play. It was fun!
"I did try a few things and to take on my defender, but did not always work. It's a bit of a long time since I've played a match, so I quickly got tired. I made some little stupid mistakes with my touch that I need to weed out the next time. "I'm not really happy when I lose the ball, but these things sometimes happen."

Samuelsen, who debuted for West Ham in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round win over Maltese club Birkirkara in July 2015 following his arrival from Manchester City, could now be involved when Norway take on Iceland's fellow Euro 2016 qualifiers Belgium on Sunday. The confident teenager will certainly not be fazed should he be involved in Brussels. "It's good to get my debut done and out of the way," he continued. "It introduced me to the audience and allowed me to become familiar with the national team set-up and my teammates. "I can play the next game with more confidence now."

Norway coach Per-Mathias Hogmo was pleased with Samuelsen's senior debut, but avoided putting more pressure on a player whose skills and creativity have got the Norwegian football public excited. "We have seen his expertise in training, he has scored goals and has been so fearless and we saw that tonight," said Hogmo. "He has a unique talent, but you can see that he has a good way to go in terms of making the right decisions in match situations. But for a debut, I think we should give the boy credit and perhaps even more."

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From the Treatment Room
WHUFC.com

Head of Medical and Sports Science Stijn Vandenbroucke on summer training programmes – with Spire Roding Hospital...

With our early start in the UEFA Europa League and prolonged run in the Emirates FA Cup, our season was considerably longer than normal. Therefore, it is vitally important that the players give their bodies and minds sufficient rest that they both need and deserve. Once they are refreshed, they will begin progressive individual maintenance programmes prior to returning for pre-season training. The off-season programme involves schedules for each player to follow over the next two months, along with the strength and conditioning work they are required to complete.

After a long season that included more games than normal, it is important that they fully rest in the beginning and then meet their individual programmes to enable them to come back in the right condition.
We hit the ground running in pre-season as we go to the United States, with a competitive game against Seattle Sounders early July, so this will require professionalism from the players and staff to be ready. It is important that the players do not rest for too long, so every player has been given an off-season programme that stipulates every exercise that they have to do to keep themselves in good shape. For example, the players rested from the end of the season and will do so until 9 June, when they start their first strength and conditioning session. This starts generally and slowly progresses to specific football related work.

We have a number of international players who have continued to train since the end of the season and we congratulate them on making their respective county's final selections, whether that be for Euro 2016, the Copa America, Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers or international friendly matches. For them, the off-season plan looks completely different as they will train and play until they are finished with their international commitments, and will then be important for them to have a few weeks to rest and recover mentally and physically before they join us after a specified period. For example, the four players who are taking part in the Euros will obviously finish at different times depending on how far their nations go in the competition – and of course we want them to go as far as possible. These players will of course have a shorter off-season, but they still need a period of rest.

Even if one or more of our players reaches the Euro 2016 final, there are still a few weeks from then until the start of the Premier League season. West Ham is on a journey and we want to be a top team, so the experience the players have at big tournaments like the European Championship finals will only benefit us as a Club. One other aspect to consider is that we have reached the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round, which starts on 28 July. Last season was a real challenge when we started in the first qualifying round, but we got the players fit and ready and we have confidence as a staff that we will do so again this time around.

Stijn Vandenbroucke
Head of Medical and Sports Science

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Westley delighted for debutant Samuelsen
WHUFC.com

Academy Director and Head of Coaching and Player Development Terry Westley has hailed Martin Samuelsen's first senior international cap for Norway. Westley played a major role in attracting the exciting winger to join West Ham United from Manchester City in summer 2015. A year on and Samuelsen has made his Hammers debut, starred for loan club Peterborough United, helped the Development Squad to lift the U21 Premier League Cup and now made a successful bow for his national team. The Haugesund-born youngster caught the eye in Oslo, with his mazy run helping to set up Alexander Sorloth's winner in Norway's 3-2 victory. Westley, for one, says the teenager has worked hard for the opportunities he has earned over the past 12 months. "For any club to have full internationals shows they have a very talented team, but for someone of 19 years of age to be called-up to the full squad for matches against the likes of Portugal, Iceland and Belgium shows how far Martin has come in a short space of time," said the Academy Director. "He went out on loan and had a real impact for Peterborough against West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup live on TV, has also done very well for our Under-21s and has consistently caught the eye. "As an Academy and as a Club, we were proud to see Martin become our latest full international when he came on and helped Norway to beat a decent Iceland side on Wednesday evening."

Westley says Samuelsen still has a way to go before he is the finished article, but his attitude, work ethic and match-winning ability will all stand him in good stead as he continues to develop. Having already featured twice for Slaven Bilic's side, the next challenge for the young Norwegian is to force his way into the first-team squad on a regular basis. "Even before he made his debut for Slaven last year, Martin showed glimpses of what a talented boy he is, so I'm delighted for him because he and his family put their trust in us by joining West Ham when he had many other options. "For Martin, making his Norway debut is a fairytale end to the season and will hopefully push him to achieve even more next season and make the next step in his career with us."

Samuelsen will hope to earn his second cap when Norway take on Euro 2016 qualifiers Belgium in Brussels on Sunday.

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New Stadium progress report
WHUFC.com

Following last week's installation of the World Cup winners' giant shirts on the new Stadium concourse, whufc.com brings supporters the very latest images from the Hammers' new home.

The Club's 50,000 plus Season Ticket Holders for the historic 2016/17 campaign will be particularly keen to note the bespoke Founders graphics going up. Every Season Ticket Holder will have their names proudly displayed on the walls of the iconic arena.

Elsewhere, the brand new Stadium Store is looking the part, ahead of its official opening later this summer.

The Stadium Store is nearly three times the size of its Boleyn Ground equivalent and, as well as a stylish Claret and Blue-themed coffee house, boasts a dedicated shirt printing area with 12 stations.

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Kouyate goes for AFCON qualification
WHUFC.com

Cheikhou Kouyate and Senegal will clinch qualification for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) if they avoid defeat in Burundi on Saturday.

The Lions of Teranga top Group K with four wins out of four so far, including a 3-1 home victory over Burundi in the reverse fixture played in June 2015.

Captain Kouyate and his compatriots know a win or a draw at the Prince Louis Rwagasore Stadium, Bujumbura, will secure their place at next summer's finals in Gabon.

With 25 caps and two goals, the West Ham United midfielder is a vital member of the Senegal squad, having scored in the 2-0 win in Namibia in the current AFCON qualifying campaign.

However, the West Africans took time out from their preparations in Burundi on Monday to pay an important tribute to the Tutsi people.

Kouyate, head coach Aliou Cisse and the squad visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Nyarugenge District in neighbouring Rwanda on Monday afternoon.

There, they paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The team was showed around the memorial site, where the remains of 250,000 victims of the massacre were laid to rest.

In an Instagram post, Kouyate wrote: "Senegal National Team Pay Tribute to Genocide Victims of #Rwanda #Tutsi #Love #Peace #Respect #Senegal"

On Tuesday, Kouyate captained Senegal to a 2-0 friendly victory over Rwanda at the Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali, with Stoke City's Mame Biram Diouf among the scorers.

Saturday's vital qualifying match in Burundi kicks-off at 3pm local time (2pm BST).

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Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph still coming to terms with Euro 2016 inclusion
Last Updated: 02/06/16 6:35pm
SSN

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph has conceded he is still coming to terms with his involvement in Euro 2016. The West Ham goalkeeper will travel to France with Shay Given, one of his boyhood heroes, who he recalls trying to emulate during past international tournaments. Now the 29-year-old has the prospect of representing his country in a major competition for the first time, and he expects Given's experience will help him deal with the situation. Randolph said: "You are running around the pitch with your mates when you are younger calling out names of different players from different World Cups and European Championships, and it will be surreal to be there myself, involved in one.
"Shay is one of the names, yes. He was around then as well, so he would have been one of them, yes. Not only Irish goalkeepers, but most goalkeepers, he's up there with the top ones. "It's always good to have any experienced player there, especially someone with his experience. I was reading the programme the other day - 133 caps, or 134 after last night - that's invaluable."
Ireland boss Martin O'Neill rarely gives anything away about his team selection, even to the players, but Randolph and his fellow goalkeepers have become used to that. "It's how he works. It has been that way since he first came into the job. You go out and train, train hard and we know he's not going to have the team until we get to the changing room," Randolph said. "Everyone just prepares like you're going to play if you get the nod - and if you don't get the nod, be prepared to come on."

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West Ham's £15m bid for Carlos Bacca rejected by AC Milan - agent
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 02/06/16 10:53pm
SSN

West Ham's offer to sign AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca has been rejected, the player's agent has confirmed. Earlier this week, Sky sources reported that the Hammers had made a £15m bid for the Colombian. But his intermediary Sergio Barila confirmed to the Guardian on Thursday: "There was an offer last week from West Ham which was rejected, so we must wait. "Carlos is very happy in Milan because it is a very big club and he has enjoyed his time there so far. But they will not play in European competition next season and that could be a problem. "At the moment Carlos is training with the national team for the Copa America and it is likely we will have to wait for the new investors before anything can develop."
West Ham are confident they can sign a top striker this summer and have been putting in bids for forwards across Europe since the last day of the Premier League season. They had a £31m bid for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette turned down last month as well as offers for Bournemouth duo Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie, and Marseille forward Michy Batshuayi. Sky sources reported back in March that the Hammers had made Lacazette, Batshuayi and Liverpool's Christian Benteke their priority targets this summer. Bacca, 29, signed for AC Milan from Sevilla last summer and scored 18 goals in 38 Serie A performances as the club finished seventh.

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Burke linked with clubs -maybe we know why!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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The Daily Mail say West Ham face a battle holding onto Reece Burke as Manchester City and Southampton both target the highly-rated young defender. The 'paper claims the Hammers will facing a fight to keep highly-rated youngster saying a host of Premier League clubs are plotting moves for the Hammers academy graduate. He also adds Newcastle have also shown a firm interest in the talented 19-year-old. Burke signed up with agent Mark Curtis towards the end of Sam Allardyce's final season at the club. Unsurprisingly there are no quotes from him or anybody else to back up the claims in what is a shamelessly speculative piece!. Maybe bored with with linking Reece Oxford with a move away the media appear to have turned turned their attentions to another West Ham star in the making. Agent activity is not ruled out Reece Oxford spolit the Sun's fun by laughing at suggestions he was asking for £40,000 calling them fake. In the modern world at least players have the right to reply quickly to dispel rumours on social media.

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Oxford..the agent.. and other int£re$ts
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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By Pete Ellis

Agent provocateur or merely a football agent?

If you were to name the two biggest transfer sagas of recent years, the chances are the Raheem Sterling move to City and th Saido Berhinho non move to Spurs would be right up there.
Raheem believing he was the English Messi and wanting out of Liverpool was worthy of an episode in the Brookside soap while Berahino was being touted as a £20m player to Spurs, which seemed to me to be uncharacteristically generous from everyone's favourite the desperately dour and dull Mr Levy.
So what connects these two sorry affairs?
The agent. The guy that has these players "int€re$ts" at heart.
Call me crazy, but were both these players ready and willing for a big money move?
Even if they were, was it handled in a manner that would fill you with confidence if you were a player?
Sterling's gamble in playing hardball eventually paid off. Berhinho has suffered an embarrassment of a season in contrast, often holding the bibs on the bench while the fourth choice striker comes on to try and rescue a game.
It's a risky strategy, and one that causes serious rifts with both club and fans if you don't get you move.
With young Mr Oxford, the papers say that he'll sign a mega deal for for years with city, United, Liverpool etc.
The fact he can't sign anything longer than two years at the moment is irrelevant (as it makes the story less spectacular).
I think the Oxford family will probably know where Reece is likely to get more game time, and also where he can get more money. His agent knows, and I suspect we can imagine what option he prefers.
Regardless, Reece is a young man that has not said he wants to leave, so let's hold off on the character assassination just yet.
He could decide to go down the Reece Burke route and prove himself to be one of the outstanding players at League One or Championship level.
He may want West Ham action instead, but whatever he decides, if he stays we'll certainly back him, and if he goes, then it's a shame but better players have gone and we have been ok.
Let's wait and see what happens, as even as I write this, more reports of another club bidding and a signature on a new whufc deal are being touted about in equal measure.
We want everything NOW and the requirement to put in the graft is sometimes an inconvenience.
The fact people pollute our TVs most Saturday nights with a poor singing voice or a mediocre party trick are proof enough of that.
Same with young players. There are those that want the Audi TT at 17 and those that are more interested in playing the game and developing themselves.
Burke is clearly a young man that wants to do the graft. I suspect Oxford is the same, so let's hope he decides to show it at West Ham, rather than a reserve squad elsewhere. I still have faith in him staying, despite the agent that he has.
Over to you young Mr Oxford. Whatever you decide I'll wish you well (although how well will be up for discussion)!
Transfer windows, Twitter ITKs, and agents.
What a delightful cocktail…..
The views expressed are those solely of the blogger and are not necessarily shared by ClaretandHugh

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Hammers linked with Austrian playmaker
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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According to a report from German newspaper Kicker West Ham is interested in Werder Bremen midfielder Zlatko Junuzovic.

The playmaker will be heading to the forthcoming European Championships this summer with Austria, and has made a huge impact in the Bundesliga since arriving at Bremen in 2012 from Austria Wien.

It is understood that the 28-year-old has recently been playing on the left side of the pitch in a wide formation and has since fallen out with his manager after stressing that his capabilities are better utilised from a central role.

Junuzovic has scored 15 goals in 115 appearances for Bremen and seven goals in 45 for his national side. West Ham can offer Europa League football next year which could sway a decision to the Premier League. Southampton are also said to be tracking him. West Ham played Werder Bremen in a pre-season friendly last August losing 2-1 in the last ever friendly at the Boleyn ground.

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Bacca's wage demands
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Carlos Bacca's agent, SergioBarila will fly to London for talks with West Ham over the possible transfer of the Inter Milan striker claims Sky Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio.
West Ham have reportedly offered 20 million Euros (£16m) despite Milan asking for 25 million Euros (£19.4m) for the 29 year old goal scorer and a deal seems some way off as it stands. The Colombian is currently Milan's joint top earner on 3.5 million euros per year (roughly £52,500 per week) but he wants a pay rise to a minimum 4 million Euros a year basic wage (roughly £60,000 per week) to join the Premier League plus peformance related bonuses. Bacca has smashed 20 goals for AC Milan this season in all competitions having arrived from Sevilla last summer, and that's now 97 league goals in the last four seasons, across spells with Belgian side Club Brugge, La Liga's Sevilla and now AC Milan.

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Irons 'Insider' shouldn't give up day job
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 1, 2016 in News, Whispers
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I'm still trying to work out exactly why West Ham's 'Insider' – who now and again appears on the official website – decided to do so today. Indeed he or she does so under the sub head: 'The Insider brings you exclusive insight into the behind-the-scenes goings on at West Ham United…

But apart from repeating rumours that have been in the media generally over the last few days/weeks and confirming what ClaretandHugh told you regarding Reece Oxford (that he's going nowhere) there appears to be absolutely nothing else happening as far as he or she is concerned. The expression 'insider' in these terms depends very much on having inside information – read on and make up your minds whether this qualifies… 'Another international player who has seen his name mentioned in conjunction with West Ham is AC Milan's Colombia striker Carlos Bacca, who is currently preparing to take part in the centennial Copa America tournament. 'The Insider understands the Club are on the lookout for new signings to add to that of Norway midfielder Havard Nordtveit, who will join on a free transfer on 1 July, with the intention that any new players markedly improve the strength of the squad.
'The Insider has been told that no senior players will be allowed to leave the Boleyn Ground until after their replacements have been secured. 'However, the Insider has learned that Hammers do not want to reveal the names of any targets for fear of alerting rival clubs to their interest. 'The media have also been speculating over the future of promising England U19 international Reece Oxford, with Manchester United among the clubs rumoured to be interested in securing the 17-year-old's services. 'The Insider has been told that West Ham have no intention of allowing Oxford to leave and are hopeful that the teenager will sign a new long-term contract in the near future.'

Well thanks for that Insider – don't give up the day job!

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Hammers linked with French International
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham have made a 'very significant proposal' for young French defender Samuel Umtiti according to reports in French daily newspaper Le Parisen. The Cameroon-born France Under-21 international made 30 appearances for Lyon last season and is regarded as one of Europe's brightest young talents. Umtiti has previously been linked with moves to Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Spurs. France manager Didier Deschamps has named the 22-year-old on the standby list for this summer's European Championships which starts this month.
His natural position is centre-back but he can also play in the Left back. Despite being just 22 years of age Umtiti has played 163 times for Lyon, 140 of those at centre-back, 19 as left back. He has scored three times in 124 Ligue 1 appearances and once in 13 Europa League games. Last summer the then 21-year-old was claimed to snub offers from Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City to play in the Premier League instead signing a new four-year contract with the French club.

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Turkish right back available on free transfer
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Fenerbahce full-back Gokhan Gonul has received interest from West Ham according to reports in Turkey. His agent, Ahmet Bulut was quoted in the Turkish media as saying: "Other than Besiktas there have been five offers which have come from England and Spain." A report in www.aksam.com.tr claims the Hammers reached an agreement-in-principle with the right-back whose contract with Fenerbahce expires in June. The Hammers are reported to have offered a three-year deal worth €2.5 million per-season (£37,000 per week) and a €3 million sign-on fee (£2,3m) who would join on a free transfer. 31-year-old Gonul has over 50 caps for Turkey and has been a regular at Fenerbahce since joining the club from Hacettepe in 2007. According to another Turkish football website, Ajansspor, Gonul wants to join Istanbul rivals and Slaven Bilic's former team Besiktas instead and is likely to turn down interest from West Ham.

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Clock ticking on Lacazette bid
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claims the club will refuse any bid for Alexandre Lacazette from July onwards, irrelevant of the fee offered. "If on 28th August, we are offered €80m for Alexandre Lacazette, he will not leave," Aulas told French newspaper L'Equipe. 'However, if he comes to me in the days to come, because he has an offer he cannot refuse, it's possible. Finally, if there must be departures, they will be before June 30. There will be none after, except for minor players."

West Ham have already put in a bid of £31m only to have it rejected but a widely rumoured bid from PSG has yet to materialise. West Ham are sais to be happy to play a waiting game but that game will run out in less than a month's time if Aulas sticks to his word.

The 24-year-old has excelled once again this season, having followed up his Ligue 1-leading haul of 27 goals in 2014/15 with an impressive 21 goals this term – second only to Paris Saint-Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic

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Ozzy unlikely to join West Ham this summer
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Oguzhan Özyakup has enjoyed his best season at to date in his young career at Besiktas. The 23 year old Turkish international was instrumental in Senol Günes' side that conquered the 2015-2016 Süper lig title. With 9 goals and 7 assists to his name as a playmaker, Oguzhan managed to impress friend and foe and attracted the interest of several clubs, including but not limited to Inter Milan, Chelsea as well as former coach Slaven Bilic.

Despite the plethora of interest Kaan Bayazit of www.besiktas-international.com says that Ozzy, as he is known in Turkey is not keen on an exit this Summer and instead wants to remain at least one more season with the Black Eagles to win another title and get some Champions League experience under his belt.

The 23-year-old played for Arsenal's youth set-up between 2008 and 2012 but never made a senior league appearance for the north London side. He's since made 110 appearances for the Turkish club and has broken into the Turkey international side.

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Sakho/Tomkins Sunderland update
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 2, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Despite continuing rumours suggesting that both Diafra Sakho and James Tomkins are fancied by Sunderland, there has been "absolutely no contact" between the Hammers and Black Cats.
The local newspaper – the Northern Echo is again linking Sak strongly with a Sam Allardyce reunion which given the atmosphre beteen the pair seems odd in the extreme. Sakho went out of his way to thank David Sullivan for his move to the club after the former manager tried to turn a permanent move into a loan deal. And this morning a top source inside West Ham repeated assurances that nothing was currently on saying: "There has been no contact whatsoever for either player. "If something were going to happen one would have expeted to have heard some sort of word by now."
The Hammers co chairmen enjoy a good relationship with Sunderland chairman Ellis Short and would expect to have been injformed but our soure added: "It's entirely quiet – nothing."
Should interest surface in Sakho the Hammers have a £15 minimum price tag attached to him. The club have consistently claimed that no player will be sold until better ones are brought in and our source said: "That remains very much the case."

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Reece Oxford to reject Manchester United and sign long-term deal at West Ham United
Guardian Series

Reece Oxford is set to stay at West Ham as he is willing to sign a new long-term contract in the near future to fend off any potential suitors. The Daily Express reported Oxford is likely to commit to the Hammers after the club said they had no intention of allowing the 17-year-old to leave. Manchester United were reportedly interested in the England Under-19 international after his breakthrough season at the Boleyn Ground. The Sun linked United with a £15million move after Jose Mourinho, who was announced at Old Trafford last week, is said to have sanctioned a summer move for the defender.

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West Ham eyeing £6m-rated Prem star, may have to pay over double
By James Jones - Jun 1, 2016 0
westhamworld.co.uk

West Ham have expressed an interest in signing Newcastle forward Ayoze Perez, according to the International Business Times. The Spain U21 international only signed an improved contract with the Magpies earlier this year but is said to be considering a move away from St. James' Park this summer following the club's relegation to the Championship.
IBTimes claim the Hammers have joined Everton and Inter Milan in keeping close tabs on the 22-year-old's situation this summer, while he has also previously been linked with moves to Man United and Tottenham. It is being reported that Rafa Benitez is eager to keep Perez at Newcastle in order to boost his chances of guiding them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, but would be willing to cash in if a club stumps up around £15m for the striker's services. That price tag may put potential suitors off, though West Ham's clear intentions of spending big money on players this summer may also put them in the driving seat for Perez's signature. Perez signed for Newcastle from Tenerife in 2014 and has since scored 13 goals in 70 Premier League appearances. Transfermarkt.com value him at just £6m, which is less than half Newcastle's reported asking price.

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STRIKER LINKED WITH WEST HAM MAKES MAJOR ADMISSION OVER HIS FUTUREFeatured Image
Date: 2nd June 2016 at 5:00am
Written by: Gareth McKnight
foreeverwesthamcom

West Ham United target Jonathan Calleri has admitted that he is closing in on getting an Italian passport, which would in turn facilitate a move to Europe. The Boca Juniors forward has impressed in his homeland and also scored consistently during a loan stint at Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo. With Calleri making headlines for his goals and individual performances, the promising attacker has been named in Argentina's Olympics squad for the summer event. A move to Europe looks like an inevitability, with West Ham one of those clubs said to be most closely looking at the South American ace. Calleri has stated that in the near future he wants to get his dream move to one of the continent's top leagues.
"In a month or so I should get an Italian passport, to relocate to Europe in September," he told Tutto Mercato Web. "That would be my dream." Should Calleri get an Italian passport it would remedy any work permit issues and make it much easier for West Ham to bring him to the Olympic Stadium. The Hammers are most likely set to sign two strikers this summer, with the Argentine potentially the second option.

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This is the most promising thing about West Ham's future….
By Rob Taylor - Jun 1, 2016 0
westhamworld.co.uk

So with the season behind us, Bilic providing us with Europa League football and the new look side taking to the Premiers League like ducks to water, we are now at close season.

And whilst the impatient amongst us await the start of the Euros, the launch of the fixture list and the release of a new kit, it isn't past me to sit and reflect on what we've seen, but also look forward to what should be a very exciting and prosperous future.

For a while, the opinion of Sam that our owners had was, whilst he'd done a good job for us and consolidated the side, he wasn't investing in the future.

Our academy, of which we had been so proud of for producing stars, was not getting much attention. Ultimately, it was important to consolidate and ensure we had Premier League survival, but at what cost?

Money was thrown around, and not all of it was spent successfully, but stay up we did, possibly at the expense of youth and our future.

So Sam eventually left, in time finding himself on Wearside, performing one of his famous survival routines. We cast our net as far as Turkey, bringing in an old Croatian face who not only provided success at his first knocking, but seems to have focused on bringing in, and developing youth.

Reece Oxford of course is the first name that springs to mind. His impressive display against Arsenal in August set the standard, and 90 minutes later we'd chalked up our first win of the season. Eyebrows were originally raised at the idea of playing an untested 16-year-old, but he admirably handled the threat of Mesut Ozil and broke up play with maturity beyond his years. Plaudits were tossed around for him after the game and well-deserved.

Add to him the younger players we sent out on loan. Reece Burke went on loan to Bradford City, playing the majority of the season for them, netting twice from defence. Impressive a feat as that is, for a youngster to go in and immediately play so often, even more incredible is his haul of trophies from the Bradford end of season awards, where Burke picked up seven, including Player Of The Season as voted for by both supporters and sponsors.

With Josh Cullen also plying his trade at Bradford, and Diego Poyet still gaining experience at various Championship sides, the learning curve they are climbing is very much invaluable.

Furthermore, investment is being made into signing young, up-and-coming players to benefit our future. Toni Martinez from Valencia has come in after the club tracked him for a while, seeing him as one definitely for the future.

Portuguese youngster Domingo Quina has come in from Chelsea, a talent that Academy coach Terry Westley ha already likened to Manuel Lanzini. As someone who is working alongside both players, this is nothing but encouraging news.

Martin Samuelsen, who signed last year from Manchester City, has already earned rave reviews from his loan performances at Peterborough, even getting called up to the Norway senior squad at just 19-years-old. Once he gets the chance, which given the European adventure on the horizon could be this season, I'm sure he'll grab it with both hands.

Serbian striker Luka Belic has also come in, looking to emulate the success of those who have come before him.

So, whilst we look forward to next season with anticipation, wondering who our next big signing will be and what colour our third kit will turn out once unveiled, it's worth maybe looking even further into the future and just wondering if the current crop of youngsters could be part of a famous West Ham story.

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