Daily WHUFC News - 3rd February 2017

Antonio - We're feeling the pain
WHUFC.com

Michail Antonio said he is feeling the pain after Wednesday's 4-0 defeat to
Manchester City
The winger was full of praise, however, for West Ham United's tough
opponents
Antonio admitted it was always likely to be tough against Pep Guardiola's
team

Michail Antonio admitted he is feeling the pain after Wednesday night's
Premier League defeat to Manchester City at London Stadium.
West Ham United were comfortably humbled at home by Pep Guardiola's outfit
for the second time this year when the visitors ran away with a 4-0 victory.
Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Gabriel Jesus and Yaya Toure all found the
back of the net during an extremely frustrating evening for the Hammers and
Antonio expressed his hurt after the final whistle. He said: "Right now,
that result is painful and it's really hurting us but we have another game
in three days and we just need to make sure we get things right against
Southampton on Saturday. "It's definitely hard to take but you just have to
give it to them; they're a quality team and they showed today that they're
lethal on the counter attack. "We made a couple of mistakes today but we
have just got to learn from it and pick ourselves up. Luckily we don't have
to play them again this season!"

Slaven Bilic's team lost out in early January against City when the Sky
Blues were 5-0 winners in the FA Cup third round and Antonio was full of
praise for the side who grabbed another win in east London on Wednesday.
"Man City are a quality team and if we make mistakes and give them
opportunities, they're lethal on the counter attack. It's just one of those
things for us today and we need to pick ourselves up. "In the Premier
League, there are tough teams every week when you play and we've had some
quality results. But we played Man City and they're a quality team and you
make mistakes in game like this, they will punish you. "We've lost today but
three days later we have another chance to pick up some points."

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Makasi - We are all motivated
WHUFC.com

Midfielder Moses Makasi says everyone is motivated to achieve promotion from
Premier League 2 Division 2 this season
Makasi came close to departing the Hammers on loan on deadline day
The 21-year-old is happy to continue his consistent from for the U23s

Moses Makasi believes everyone in the U23s setup is highly motivated to
achieve promotion to Division One this season. Makasi has been a mainstay in
Terry Westley's side this year, and came close to departing the club on loan
on deadline day. The 21-year-old admits he was disappointed that a temporary
transfer did not come to fruition, but he is keen to "kick on" in Premier
League 2 and the Cup. "Obviously I was disappointed not to go out on loan
because it would have helped me develop further," admitted Makasi.
"But now I just want to kick on and help the team achieve good things this
season. We can still get promoted and everyone is motivated to do so. "I'm
very pleased with the way this season has gone. The philosophy the team
plays with has improved me as a player."

Despite Makasi not achieving a loan move of his own, he was pleased to see
PL2 teammates Toni Martinez and Marcus Browne perform brilliantly in the FA
Cup 4th round at the weekend. Martinez scored on his Oxford United debut in
the 3-0 win over Newcastle United and Browne played the last 20 minutes of
Wigan Athletic's defeat at Manchester United. "The way our loan players are
playing gives all of us hope back at West Ham. Toni and Marcus both deserved
it at the weekend," "Toni is our top scorer and Marcus has had a great
season in the U23 league and they both got nominated for Player of the Month
(in December). "Their performances show to us that anyone can do and it
gives us motivation."

The PL2 Hammers make the long journey to Lancashire on Friday evening to
face Blackburn Rovers in Premier League 2. Terry Westley's men are still
battling on two fronts – promotion from Division 2 and the Premier League
Cup – and Makasi says the PL2 side are keen to end the season on a high.
"The long journeys do play a part but Blackburn had to do it when they came
down here to play us. "It's part of football and we just need to put in a
good performance and get the three points. "If we win most of our games,
we'll definitely go up through the play-offs so everyone it motivated to
achieve that."

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Oxford prepared for promotion push
WHUFC.com

Reece Oxford says he is fit and ready to help Championship team Reading make
a push for promotion this season
The defender joined the Royals on deadline day for the remainder of the
season
Oxford, who came through the Club's Academy of Football, can't wait to learn
from his new boss Jaap Stam

Reece Oxford declared he is ready to help Sky Bet Championship side Reading
with their push for promotion to the Premier League having secured a
deadline day loan move to the Madejski Stadium. The centre-back, who in
December penned a new four-and-a-half-year contract with West Ham United,
has teamed up with the Royals to gain more valuable first team experience.
Jaap Stam's outfit, who have won 12 or their last 16 league matches,
currently sit third in the second tier, just four points below the automatic
promotion spots. Teenager Oxford missed a large chunk of the first half of
the campaign through injury but, now fit and with a number of Premier League
2 appearances under his belt, is now prepared to hit the ground running in
Berkshire. "I'm fit, ready and looking forward to getting in front of a good
crowd and showing them what I've got," said the defender. "Hopefully I can
be part of an exciting season. "I heard a couple of days after I had played
a reserve game for West Ham that Reading were interested. I was thinking in
my head 'I want to get the deal done, they are one of the teams fighting for
promotion', so hopefully the loan can help both me and the club. "I just
wanted to get here as soon as possible really. You have to step out of your
comfort zone to grow up and play men's football. It's an exciting step being
at this Championship club and hopefully I can get some senior games under my
belt. I'm ready for it."

Oxford came through West Ham's famous Academy and made his first team league
debut on the opening day of the 2015/16 term, starring as the Hammers were
2-0 winners against Arsenal away from home. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic stated
on Tuesday that Reading's former Dutch international boss played a big part
in the decision to send Oxford to the Madejski, and the 18-year-old
concurred after joining the side for the rest of the season. "One of the big
reasons why I wanted to join Reading was Jaap Stam. Like Slaven Bilic said,
he was one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and the world, so
hopefully I can come here and he can teach me a few things. "It is a bit out
of my comfort zone. I've never been on loan! But it's good. I've been
speaking to the boys and they're helping me get to know the club. Hopefully
I can get in the team and help the boys push up the table. "I've played in
midfield a few times for West Ham. They've tried to help improve with
playing football, and hopefully I can come here now, sharpen up my game and
smooth out rough edges."

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Fonte - I am prepared to put the work in
WHUFC.com

Jose Fonte insists the players are determined to make amends for their
disappointing display against Manchester City and hopes there will be a big
improvement when they face his former club Southampton on Saturday. Fonte
suffered a frustrating start to his Hammers career on Wednesday night as his
side failed to produce the same level of performance they have shown in
recent games. The Portuguese defender is refusing to dwell on the defeat and
is already looking to put things right as he prepares to make a quick return
to St Mary's Stadium this weekend. Fonte played over 250 games for the
Saints, but is now focused on helping his side get straight back on the
winning trail. Fonte said: "We are prepared to work and get it right. It was
not a good day against Manchester City and we started the game badly. "When
you give a team like City a head start normally there is no way back. It is
not what I want but I am prepared to put the work in and and improve. "We
worked on a game plan during the week and when the game started we did not
apply it. We tried to over play in areas that the manager said not to. "We
should have gone with a game plan that would be to explore the play behind
and in the flanks and we need to improve. "I am experienced enough that when
the team has a bad day it is difficult for everyone not only me, but it is
not a problem for me as I am still breathing and I am prepared to put the
work in. I am looking forward to the next one as I want to win."

Fonte also wants to put things right for the fans who stayed behind the team
despite a disappointing evening at London Stadium. Fonte added: "What can we
can say? We lost when we are at home. No one likes it. The fans are
disappointed and we apologise and we want to put it right for them. "They
deserve everything and all our sacrifices. That is what we are going to do."

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LUNCHTIME ROUND UP: BIG SIGNINGS PROMISED, PAYET GRAPHIC REMOVED, FONTE
READY TO FACE SAINTS
BY DAN CHAPMAN ON 2 FEBRUARY 2017 AT 12:41PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk

David Gold has made a pledge to sign more players in the upcoming transfer
window. (Express)

That's good of him, but I think he needs reminding that we needed to sign
players in the window just gone too!

The graphic of Dimitri Payet outside the London Stadium has been removed.
(Mirror)

Good. I'm glad the club are removing things associated with him from the
stadium.

David Sullivan has explained why he did not spend much money in the January
transfer window. (Essex Live)

It may be a bad time to buy players, but if your club need signings then you
need to spend the money.

Robert Snodgrass says he is unfazed about replacing Dimitri Payet at West
Ham. (Standard)

Snodgrass impressed me when he came on last night, and hopefully he can
become an important player for us.

Jose Fonte says he is ready for his return to Southampton this weekend.
(Mail)

I hope he is. He will need to be better than what he was last night, but
then again so will everyone else.

Slaven Bilic says West Ham must improve, following last night's heavy loss
to Man City. (Sky Sports)

I think that is a given Slav. I love Bilic as our manager, but I believe he
will be gone in the summer. I hate to say it, but I think the board are
saving funds for a new manager.

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Ex-Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini ready to replace under-pressure
Slaven Bilic at West Ham
The Hammers are to review their manager's position in the summer and Italian
seen at their midweek match is believed to be keen on a return to England
The Mirror
COMMENTS
BYDARREN LEWIS
22:30, 2 FEB 2017

Roberto Mancini is waiting in the wings to take over at West Ham if Slaven
Bilic fails to turn it around. Manager Mancini was at the London Stadium to
see the Hammers lose 4-0 to his old club Manchester City on Wednesday, and
he is understood to be keen on a return to the Premier League. It was the
third time this season Pep Guardiola's men have been easy winners against
Bilic's side, winning the three games by a combined 12 goals to one. There
is an acceptance at West Ham that despite being poor on the night, they were
beaten by an impressive display from the Blues. But the onus is now on boss
Bilic to to inspire the players to respond with improved performances for
the remainder of the campaign. The Croat's bosses at the London Stadium
will review his position in the summer when he'll have just a year left on
his contract. This season's slump appears to vindicate the Hammers board's
decision not to rush into giving him a new deal during his impressive debut
campaign a year ago. Mancini, 52, who was also at Arsenal's shock defeat to
Watford the previous evening, steered City to their first league title for
44 years back in 2012 and also lifted the FA Cup 12 months previously. He is
currently a free agent after spells at Galatasaray and Inter Milan,
following his dramatic Etihad axing shortly after losing to Wigan in the
2013 FA Cup final. The former Italy international steered Inter to three
Serie A title, has lifted the Coppa Italia four times as a coach with them,
Lazio and Fiorentina and also won the Turkish Cup at Galatasaray.
West Ham's owners David Sullivan and David Gold prefer to back their
managers and point to the patience they showed towards Bilic's predecessor,
Sam Allardyce, despite his inability to bond with the fans and concerns over
his preferred style of play. And there is genuine disappointment that the
club were unable to build on last season's heroics, which saw them challenge
for the top four. Hammers fans are particularly disappointed by the poor
signings made last summer, and the club will look to overhaul the squad once
again at the end of the season with a new goalkeeper, a central midfielder
and another striker wanted. "What an awful chant!" West Ham fans react as
Marseille celebrate Payet's return The decision by Dimitri Payet to down
tools is not seen as an excuse for the team's failings. Injuries to key
players such as record-signing Andre Ayew, however, are considered to be a
factor. Although ex-Southampton defender Jose Fonte endured a nightmare
debut on Wednesday following his £8million move from St Mary's, the club are
confident he will prove an asset, along with £10.2m winger Robert Snodgrass,
who was signed from Hull last month.

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Jose Fonte insists players are to blame for West Ham's slump, not boss
Slaven Bilic
Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is under increasing pressure
The Mirror
BYJOHN CROSS
12:29, 2 FEB 2017UPDATED12:30, 2 FEB 2017

Jose Fonte has insisted the players must take full responsibility for West
Ham 's latest humiliation. Hammers boss Slaven Bilic is under increasing
pressure after another mauling by Manchester City which has seen them
concede 12 goals in three games to Pep Guardiola's men this season. But West
Ham's new £8m signing says the blame must be laid firmly at the players
because they did not follow Bilic's instructions as he also issued an
apology to the fans. Ex-Southampton defender Fonte, 33, said: "We worked on
a game plan during the week and when the game started we did not apply it.
We tried to over play in areas that the manager said not to. "We should have
gone with a game plan that would be to explore the play behind and in the
flanks and we need to improve. "But I am and we are prepared to work and to
get it right. We started bad and when you give a team, like Man City a head
start normally there is no way back. "It is not what I want but I am
prepared to put the work in, prepared to work and improve so we need to
focus and improve.
"The fans are disappointed and we apologise and we want to put it right for
them. They deserve everything and all our sacrifices and that is what we are
going to do."

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Mark Noble: West Ham had to sell Dimitri Payet and now it's time to move on
31 minutes
ES Sport

Mark Noble has urged West Ham to put the Dimitri Payet saga behind them.
Payet completed his £25million move to Marseille on Monday and Noble
believes West Ham had to sell the 29-year-old after he had asked to leave.
The captain says it is now time for the club to move on. "As I have always
said the year Dimi had here was a fantastic season and people are going to
have amazing memories of that," said Noble today. "He made his decision to
want to go and he got that. Let's just put it to bed and move on."

Asked whether West Ham had to let Payet leave after he effectively went on
strike, Noble said: "In my opinion, yes. As the captain of the club I would
not want somewhere here who does not want to play for the club. "Dimi is a
fantastic player, an unbelievable talent but he had his reasons why he
wanted to go home. None of us know them. Only he knows them."

Meanwhile, Jose Fonte has vowed to bounce back from his nightmare debut
against Manchester City last night. Fonte, who joined for £8million from
Southampton, struggled against Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling and Leroy
Sane, and gave away a penalty when he brought down Sterling in the second
half. He said: "It was obviously not the start I would have imagined. "But
there is another day tomorrow and I am prepared to put the work in to get it
right — I am experienced enough."

Fonte goes back to his former club Southampton on Saturday. The defender
added: "It was only the first game and I am looking forward to the next one
because I want to win it."

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Reading FC: West Ham teenager Reece Oxford turned down a host of offers to
become a 'better player' under Royals manager Jaap Stam
29 mins ago / Courtney Friday, Reporter / @cfriday1992

REECE Oxford revealed he turned down several Championship clubs to sign for
Reading FC until the end of the season. The highly-rated teenager arrived
from West Ham on transfer deadline day after boss Slavan Bilic said he was
keen for his rising star to learn under Royals manager Jaap Stam. And
Oxford, 18, wants Stam to "smooth out the edges" and make him a better
player. "I had a few teams after me," declared Oxford, who can play as a
centre-back or defensive midfielder. "But when I heard Reading were
interested I didn't think about other teams. "I just wanted to get into a
team that is fighting for promotion. "At my last Under 23s game I heard
Reading were interested. I knew I had to push for that deal with a top three
club fighting for promotion. "It's a great move for me and hopefully I can
get some senior football now."

Oxford admitted he was too young to remember Stam as a player, but said he
has enjoyed watching clips of the ex-Manchester United and Netherlands
centre-back in a bid to improve his own game. "Stam was a massive influence
in me coming here," admitted Oxford. "He was one of the best in the Premier
League and the world in his time. With him as manager it didn't take much of
a push for me to join this club. Hopefully I can learn from him."

Oxford could make his debut at Ipswich Town this Saturday (3pm), with Tiago
Ilori and Joey van den Berg ruled out through injury, though it is though
Paul McShane could return having missed Tuesday's 1-0 win at Birmingham
City. "Passing the ball is a big part of my game," he continued. "I've
watched a few games. Liam Moore is a good player and hopefully they can all
teach me and help me improve.
"All the boys have welcomed me, I'm ready now to get involved and play."

Stam could face a selection dilemma this weekend as he tries to fit his new
signing into Saturday's starting XI as Royals go hunting for a fourth
straight league victory. Yann Kermorgant is available again after missing
the trip to St Andrew's and could play alongside his former Bournemouth
strike partner, Lewis Grabban, who joined on deadline day for the rest of
the season. Jordon Mutch, another loanee who made a short-term move from
Crystal Palace on Tuesday, is also in contention, as is Romania midfielder
Adrian Popa, signed from Steaua Bucharest for around £500,000 on a
three-and-a-half year contract on Monday. But finding a place for the new
arrivals including Oxford could be tricky given the current form of Garath
McCleary, John Swift, Roy Beerens and Liam Kelly, who are regular starters
under Stam.

Oxford, Mutch and Grabban wasted no time in settling in and took part in
their first Royals training session yesterday before a behind-closed-doors
friendly against Brentford at Hogwood Park. Meanwhile, Dominic Samuel is not
allowed to play against Reading this weekend as a condition of his loan move
to Ipswich for the rest of the season. However, Manchester City and Wales
midfielder Emyr Huws could made his debut for Mick McCarthy's Tractor Boys
after signing a loan deal late in the window. Ipswich are currently 17th in
the table, with Reading third and four points behind Newcastle United who
drew 2-2 with QPR last night.

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West Ham's Premier League record against top six shows how far they have
fallen this season
JAMES OLLEY
Evening Standard

This season was supposed to be one of growth and development under Slaven
Bilic but West Ham's record against the best Premier League teams underlines
how far they have to travel to join them. It has been a tough campaign to
date given the difficulties of relocating to London Stadium and the
destabilising effect of losing the club's star player in a protracted and
reluctant mid-season sale. Injuries have compounded the effects of an
underwhelming summer transfer window and Bilic deserves credit for restoring
a semblance of order in such a tumultuous period to the extent relegation is
no longer a serious consideration. West Ham are in the relative safety of
mid-table despite this thrashing by Manchester City but after finishing
seventh last season — just four points behind last night's opponents in
fourth — there was an ambition to join the group of clubs attempting to
shoehorn themselves into the top four.

To do so, the Hammers would have to replicate their form against the
League's finest teams. The current top six comprises Chelsea, Tottenham,
Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Manchester United. In 12 League matches
against those teams last season, the Hammers won seven, lost just once and
picked up 25 points. They have played the same opposition eight times so far
this season. Their record reads: played eight, won none, drawn two, lost
six, points: two. Perhaps West Ham over-achieved in these games last term
but Bilic insists his team should not divide their season into winnable and
unwinnable matches. "Somebody was saying that these kind of games are like
bonus games for the club of our size but I didn't see that or treat it as a
bonus game," he told Standard Sport. "This was a 'three points' game. I
know that they are a better side — their quality is unbelievable — but I
expected we were going to get something out of this game. Now we have to
make it up on Saturday against Southampton. "It looks like away we are
coping with big teams much better than at home but why? Against City we gave
the ball away in areas that we didn't last year. That's maybe the
explanation. "After 3-0, it is very hard to play against them and stay
compact because you get frustrated and they gain even more confidence and if
you give that to those kind of players… sometimes you can turn the game
around like we did last year against Arsenal [coming from 2-0 down to draw
3-3] but it is more likely to be like this."

The ground was not full at kick-off despite high-profile opposition and,
although such things are always difficult to quantify, it appeared as though
many home supporters did not return after half-time. Their team were already
3-0 down at that stage as Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva and Gabriel Jesus
took it in turns to almost walk the ball into West Ham's net with some
sublime combination play aided by dreadful defending. Yaya Toure's
67th-minute penalty was the cue for thousands more to leave and as Bilic
stood on the touchline shaking two clenched fists at his players urging them
to fight, it felt as though his was a lone voice.

Co-chairman David Gold claimed on television prior to kick-off that Dimitri
Payet's departure had at least improved team morale but that will have taken
a damaging blow after another one-sided defeat. Payet was obviously
influential last season and his underwhelming form since returning from Euro
2016 was another contributing factor in West Ham's slump; wins against
Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough offered a vision of life after Payet but
here was proof that picture is not yet refined.

New signings Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass made their debuts last night —
the latter off the bench — and both should be capable of giving the squad a
much-needed lift in the coming weeks. "It is a very heavy defeat for us,"
said Bilic. "It is not the first this season. But after every one we bounced
back: after the Arsenal defeat, the City defeat in the FA Cup and we have to
do it now.

"The good thing about football is we have an opportunity in three days'
time. We can't say this game doesn't matter but we can't let it affect our
work rate and everything good we have done recently. We have to give them
credit but we helped them. It was kind of a copy and paste game like a few
weeks ago in the FA Cup. "It sounds crazy but we started well again and we
didn't have many problems when they had the ball. "But when we had it, for
the first and the third goals, instead of playing the ball behind them,
getting the pace using the space when they keep a high line, we tried to
play square balls. "And when you give the ball away in those areas,
sometimes you get away with that if you are playing against teams with less
quality than them."

But the best sides punish those mistakes. Bilic knows that only too well.

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Michail Antonio insists West Ham are determined to bounce back after
'painful' Manchester City defeat
SAM LONG
Evening STadnard

Michail Antonio says West Ham are determined to bounce back after last
night's "painful" 4-0 defeat to Manchester City. Slaven Bilic's side were
put to the sword by City, who ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals
from Kevin de Bruyne, David Silva, debutant Gabriel Jesus and Yaya Toure.
West Ham were at fault for all three of City's first-half goals and the
Hammers have now suffered heavy defeats to Pep Guardiola's men twice in
recent weeks, having crashed out of the FA Cup following a 5-0 loss at
London Stadium earlier this month. But Antonio is keen for West Ham to put
their latest poor result behind them and focus on Saturday's trip to
Southampton. "That result is painful and it's really hurting us but we have
another game in three days and we just need to make sure we get things right
against Southampton on Saturday," he told West Ham's official website. "It's
definitely hard to take but you just have to give it to them; they're a
quality team and they showed today that they're lethal on the counter
attack. "Luckily we don't have to play them again this season!"
Bilic has echoed Antonio's sentiments and has urged his players to pick
themselves up after coming out second best against a team battling for a
top-four finish. "It's just one of those things for us today and we need to
pick ourselves up," said the Croatian. "You make mistakes in game like this,
they will punish you."

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David Gold opens up on Payet, why Scott Hogan move fell through and West Ham
summer transfer plans
The Hammers owner was speaking on BT Sport ahead of last night's defeat to
Manchester City
London.Football
BYTOM MARSHALL-BAILEY
07:55, 2 FEB 2017

West Ham owner David Gold gave a candid interview with BT Sport yesterday
ahead of his side's 4-0 home defeat to Manchester City in which he opened up
on Dimitri Payet's move to Marseille. Payet completed a £25m move to his
former side at the tail end of January after refusing to play for the
Hammers ever again in an ugly transfer saga. The Frenchman was eventually
granted his wish as West Ham accepted an offer which Gold deems to be a
cut-price one, given his exploits at Euro 2016.
Gold discussed a range of topics in the interview, including how Payet
impacted on the mood in the dressing room, the reasons behind the aborted
move for Brentford striker Scott Hogan and gave a brief insight into West
Ham's plans for the summer transfer window.

Why West Ham should have got more money for Payet

"Part of the reason the fans are angry as we had to sell him below his
value. "In the Euros you could say he was worth between £40million and £50m
– everyone was talking about him at that value – we got £25m unfairly, as
there was only one bidder as he only wanted to go to Marseille. "But in an
open market, he would have got £35m. The fans are angry as they have lost
their hero and they didn't get a fair price for him."

How Payet affected team morale before his move

"There was a period of time over a couple of months when the morale was
reducing. "We didn't want him to leave, the manager wanted to build the team
around Dimitri - but sometimes it becomes impossible. "You do everything you
can and sometimes we realise it will not work and you have to bite the
bullet - it was like a deteriorating relationship. "He has let the fans
down, the football clubs down and the fans down and I am hugely
disappointed. "The morale at the training ground having lost Dimitri, you
can see without him we have won five out of the last seven. The decision to
let him go has been a good one - if the chemistry collapses, what can you
do?"

Why the deal for Scott Hogan failed to happen

"We were looking at Hogan, but we were looking for senior international
players and seasoned professionals, not someone who is taking a risk. "It is
better to get into the summer to bring in a striker then. You can't rely
totally on Andy so we will do everything we can to bring in another striker
then."

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West Ham failed with last hour deadline day move for £8m Jonathan Cafu, plan
summer return
HITC
Dan Coombs

West Ham considered adding winger. West Ham failed in a last hour move for
winger Jonathan Cafu, according to Tuttomercatoweb.
Cafu made a name for himself this season by starring in the Champions League
for Ludogorets, who gave Arsenal a scare in the group stages and managed a
draw away to Paris Saint-Germain. The Mail reported early in January that
Lyon, Roma and Leicester City were all interested in the defender, who ended
the transfer window remaining a Ludogorets player. Tuttomercatoweb's report
claims West Ham failed with an £8 million approach - but adds crucially that
the Hammers plan to return in the summer to sign the winger. Cafu, 25, could
have had a move complicated by a work permit, making any late deal more
difficult for West Ham to conclude. This season he has scored 11 goals
already for Ludogorets, where he has been since joining from Sao Paolo in
2015. West Ham sold winger Dimitri Payet in January and signed Robert
Snodgrass from Hull City.

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