Daily WHUFC News - 4th June 2017

Collins - I want to play until I'm 40!
WHUFC.com

James Collins is aiming to emulate his former West Ham United teammate Teddy
Sheringham and play on until he is 40! The Hammers centre-back may be 33,
but he ended 2016/17 in superb form, inspiring Slaven Bilic's side to a run
of one defeat and four clean sheets in their final seven matches. Having
ended the season on 199 appearances in Claret and Blue, the veteran defender
is looking forward to adding to that tally next term. "I got back in the
team towards the end of the season and it went well," he confirmed. "We
picked up some points and managed to get safe and I was pleased with my own
form. "I feel better now than I ever have, to be honest. I'm 33 and feel
like I can play until… who knows? I played with Teddy Sheringham until he
was 40! "I am playing well at the minute, I feel fit, I look after myself
and try and keep up with the young lads as much as I can."

Collins also believes West Ham's strong finish to last season will stand
them in good stead when the Premier League kicks-off again in August. With a
full six-week pre-season to prepare for the new campaign and experienced
Argentina defender Pablo Zabaleta already signed up for next season, the
Wales international believes the Hammers can make their mark in 2017/18.
"I've been in the game a long time now and I know that if you can finish one
season quickly, you normally start the next one well, and we finished with a
win and on a decent little run," the No19 observed. Another positive is
that the Hammers will be fully settled into their London Stadium home,
having played there 25 times in their maiden season on Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park. The players and fans will also be able to draw on the memories
of unforgettable wins over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur last term, with
Collins citing the atmosphere created by the Claret and Blue Army as playing
a major role in both victories. "I was speaking to Nobes [Mark Noble] about
it after the Spurs game and that, as well as the Chelsea night in the EFL
Cup there, it needed a night or two like that to create a bit of history at
the new stadium," Collins observed. "Now people can look back and have some
good memories, and I think they will start things off and you'll see a
different team here next season. "If you look at our home games, the two
best atmospheres were for Chelsea and Tottenham at home and we've beaten
them both, so it just shows you how big a help the fans are and they were
there for us all season. Hopefully the way we finished the season paid them
back a bit."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Everton keen on West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang but would have to pay at
least £15m
AC Milan and Sevilla have also shown an interest in the 25-year-old but it
is Everton who lead the chase
The Mirror
BYTOM HOPKINSON
17:00, 3 JUN 2017

Everton boss Ronald Koeman is keen on West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang. The
Dutchman wants Obiang as a replacement for James McCarthy and to provide
support for Idrissa Gueye. AC Milan and Sevilla have also shown an interest
in the 25-year-old but it is Everton who lead the chase. West Ham would like
to extend Obiang's deal, which has two years left to run. But an offer in
excess of £15million would see them turn a huge profit on a player for whom
they paid Sampdoria £4.3m two years ago. Obiang finished runner-up to
Michail Antonio in this season's Hammer of the Year award and his form did
not go unnoticed on Merseyside or in Italy and Obiang's homeland.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Three Bundesliga clubs want West Ham defender to return to Germany - report
Havard Nordtveit's time at West Ham appears to be up
Football London
BYKEVIN BEIRNE
06:00, 4 JUN 2017

Three top Bundesliga teams are hoping to tempt West Ham defender Havard
Nordtveit back to Germany. Nordtveit joined the Hammers last summer on a
free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach but has failed to tie down a
starting berth during his time at the London Stadium. According to German
publication Kicker, the Norwegian may be given the chance for an immediate
return to Germany as Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are all
tracking his situation and considering bids for the defender. Hoffenheim
are said to be leading the chase as they search for someone to fill the
number six role and are intrigued by Nordtveit's ability to play both in
defence and midfield. Despite his struggles at West Ham, Nordtveit still
enjoys a strong reputation in Germany thanks to his five years at
Monchengladbach.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com