Daily WHUFC News - 13th July 2017

Young West Ham pair aim to set up Euro U19 final showdown
WHUFC.com

West Ham United pair Domingos Quina and Nathan Trott will attempt to set up a UEFA European U19 Championship final showdown on Wednesday afternoon.

The two Hammers will be in semi-final action in Tbilisi, with victory for both Quina and Trott seeing the pair go face-to-face in a potentially mouth-watering final in the Georgian capital on Saturday.

Quina will take on the Netherlands at the David Petriashvili Stadium after the Dutch finished second to Trott's England in Group B, before the Young Lions will tackle the Czech Republic at the Mikheil Meshki Stadium.

Attacker Quina has started all three group matches for Portugal, who defeated the host nation 1-0 and Czech Republic 2-1 before drawing 2-2 with Sweden. Should he go all the way, the 17-year-old will add a Euro U19 winner's medal to the U17 title he won last summer (pictured, above).

Goalkeeper Trott, meanwhile, has had to make do with a place on the substitutes' bench for England's group-stage victories over Bulgaria, Netherlands and Germany, with AFC Bournemouth stopper Aaron Ramsdale being preferred between the sticks by head coach Keith Downing.

The two semi-finals will both take place today, with Portugal versus the Netherlands at 2pm BST and England taking on the Czechs kicking-off three hours later. Both ties will be screened live by British Eurosport.

The final will take place on Saturday 15 July.

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West Ham in Austria: Gary Lewin on pre-season
WHUFC.com

New Head of Medical Services Gary Lewin has already established himself as a popular figure at West Ham United since joining the Club at the start of June. The highly-respected Lewin, who enjoyed a long and successful association with both Arsenal and the England national team, is responsible for managing the medical and physical needs of the players, working closely with his team of physiotherapists, fitness coaches and soft tissue therapists. With the squad now out in Austria for their first pre-season training camp, we sat down with Gary for an exclusive chat about his role at the Club, the benefits of our tour to Europe and the players' work in the build-up to the start of the 2017/18 Premier League campaign…

How have you settled in to life at West Ham United Gary?

Very well thank you. I've been here for a month now, so settled in, been made very, very welcome by everybody and really excited to be here.

What was your first priority upon joining the Club?

The priority was to find out what the injury list was like, and do some research on where each player was with their rehabilitation. From there it was getting to know the staff and starting to build relationships. Obviously I came in at the beginning of June, when a lot of the staff were away on holiday, but I got round to seeing them all during the first two or three weeks. My main aim was just to reassure them that nothing was going to change regarding their roles and responsibilities, but it was important for me to get a handle on how we worked, what we did and where we were at that present time. So it's been a busy summer, but although I was involved in a couple of things at the end of last season, I desperately wanted to get back into football and when this opportunity arose I grabbed it with both hands.

Is pre-season now the ideal time for you to really get to know everyone and build those relationships with the players that are so important?

Yes, it goes both ways. For me to get to know all the players and staff and, just as importantly, for them to get to know me, what my character is like and how I like to work. It's a really important time for us all. It's vital to have a good backroom staff, which we have, but more importantly a staff that the players trust, which they do. They all get on very, very well, which again made life a lot easier for me coming in.

How important is it that the entire squad – including injured players – have travelled here to Austria for the training camp?

It helps me individually to get to know everybody, and having everybody here without too much travelling is a big bonus. Obviously there are a couple that are not with us yet – Jose Fonte was in the Confederations Cup with Portugal and Domingos Quina has been away with their Under-19 side – but to have the majority of the squad here – to get to know them and see how they work – was really important. Obviously nowadays teams tend to travel a lot more than they used to in pre-season, but to have us all in one place for a 12-day camp has been really helpful for me. And despite the fact they are not training, it is really important that the injured players are a part of the squad and involved in the day-to-day activities with their team-mates. We had a lot of injuries at the end of last season – I think there were actually ten to check up on when I came in. Fortunately six of those are now back in full training, so we are just left with four. Day to day those guys are working really hard and slowly getting back into the training. Hopefully during the pre-season period we can incorporate all of them back into full training and even playing some part in the pre-season games.

And the theme out in here in Austria definitely seems to be work, work and more work?

Yes, it's basically train, eat, sleep…train, eat, sleep! The players are used to it – it's what they do every pre-season. It helps being in such a lovely environment and I keep emphasising, not too much travelling, so we can really focus on training, resting between sessions and getting ready for the next one.

And what is it about Austria that appeals to so many clubs during pre-season?

It's just the general environment and conditions. It's very clean, very peaceful, and it is somewhere that the players can really focus on getting ready for the new season. They can eat the right foods, be in the right atmosphere, get good rest, and the training facilities are very good, so it just ticks all the boxes for what we need in pre-season.

What are the main targets and objectives from this first training camp?

We are working on many aspects of training. From a medical point of view, we can do assessments, look at previous history and make sure that we are on top of any old injuries. We do a lot of maintenance work to ensure the players are able to be out training every day and, from the coaches' point of view, it means they can start doing the technical work very quickly, improving their fitness levels but doing it progressively over a period of time. And the key for us is that everyone is fit and ready for August 13.

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Hammers go west in Checkatrade Trophy
WHUFC.com

West Ham United U21s have been drawn to face Swindon Town, Bristol Rovers and Wycombe Wanderers in the 2017/18 Checkatrade Trophy.

The Hammers were placed in Group C alongside the two West Country clubs and Buckinghamshire-based Chairboys, meaning Terry Westley's youngsters will travel to the County Ground, Memorial Ground and Adams Park this coming season.

Westley says his squad will enjoy and benefit from the challenge of facing Bristol Rovers, who finished tenth in EFL League One last season, and League Two pair Swindon and Wycombe, as they did when tackling eventual winners Coventry City, Northampton Town and Wycombe last term.

"Our games programme for the coming season is really tough, including these games in the Checkatrade Trophy," said the Academy Director, whose young professionals won promotion to Premier League 2 Division 1 in May.

"We have been promoted to Premier League 2 Division 1, meaning we will play the likes of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, and our top-flight status means we will also be taking part in the Premier League International Cup against sides like Benfica, FC Porto and FC Copenhagen.

"The experience the Checkatrade Trophy gives the players will see them tackle League One and League Two opposition, and that can only help them to reach the level we want them to reach.

"Not only will they benefit from playing in this competition, but there is the added carrot of the final being played at Wembley and, with more clubs entering this season, I don't think we are too far away from a top Academy side reaching the final.

"With such a challenging games programme, we will have to balance the needs of the players and decide who needs to go out on loan, who will benefit from playing in the Checkatrade Trophy and who will be part of our U23 squad."

West Ham are among 16 EPPP Category One Academies taking part, with Chelsea, Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur among the seven others in the Southern Section. Everton, Manchester City and Newcastle United are among the Northern Section participants.

The 16 Category One entrants will join the 48 League One and League Two clubs in the group stage, which has been regionalised to reduce travel times and costs for supporters and clubs alike.

West Ham will play all three Group C fixtures away from home, with clubs being awarded three points for a win and one for a draw. In the event of a draw after 90 minutes, a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.

The top two teams in each group will progress to the knockout stage.

The final will be played at Wembley Stadium in spring 2018.

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Quina and Trott into Euro U19 final
WHUFC.com

Domingos Quina helped Portugal U19s reach the final of the U19 European Championship with a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Georgia on Wednesday.
Seventeen-year-old Hammers starlet Quina played the 90 minutes as the young Portugal team - last year's U17 European Championship winners - maintained their fine form in the tournament. After taking seven points from the group fixtures against Georgia, Portugal and Sweden, Portugal battled past the Netherlands in Wednesday's semi-final, with Benfica's Gedson Fernandes notching a first half winner. With unused substitute Nathan Trott's England beating Czech Republic in the other semi-final later on Wednesday, Quina could be involved in a direct Hammers head-to-head head in the final. Speaking after Wednesday's victory, Quina said: "It was.a good game against the Netherlands, and a great win for us - even if we made it harder for ourselves than we should have done. "We should have scored more goals on the day but that's football. We're into the final and we're ready and focused for it."

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Hammers on tour: Day 3 in Austria
WHUFC.com

Catching up on daily life with Slaven Bilic's squad during their pre-season training camp in Austria…

At the double again

Following Tuesday's double schedule, with circuit training in the morning followed by an evening session of technical ball work and a practise game, it was simply a case of more of the same on Wednesday. This time the sessions were reversed, with football drills and team play in the morning, and endurance running and core strengthening work later in the day. And credit to First Team fitness coach Josh Ewens, who provides the perfect example and ensures total focus by joining the players through every step of their work without a ball.

Claret and Lew…

He may have a long and illustrious association with London rivals Arsenal, but new Head of Medical Services Gary Lewin truly has the Hammers in his heart. The former England Head Physiotherapist grew up in Essex, where he still lives, and is likely to bump into plenty of familiar faces at London Stadium next season. "All my family come from Plaistow and East Ham, and a lot of them are Season Ticket holders, so it's really gone full circle for me," says Gary. "I've been very lucky over the years to be associated with two great set-ups in Arsenal and England, and I feel like I've joined a third one now. Hopefully I can stay here for as long as I was involved with the other two." You can watch the full interview with Gary right here.

Sam's sight for sore…legs!

For Premier League footballers, there is only one thing that helps to soften the gruelling, physical demands of pre-season training – the sight of footballs. While lots of fitness and conditioning work is necessary in the build-up to the new campaign, the players have been working with the ball since the first day of pre-season, a key psychological tool in keeping the mind stimulated.

"It's disguised running to be honest!" says defender Sam Byram, "but there's no doubt it makes it easier when you've got a football to chase around to take your mind off the fact that you are working hard. We've had the balls out since day one, to be fair, so that has definitely helped."

Albert the Hammer!

Greeting the Hammers every morning and afternoon has been 69-year-old Albert Hager, a retired policeman who holds a lifelong association with his local club Bad Waltersdorf, whose stadium the squad are using as a training base. Albert started out as a defender for Waltersdorf in the 60s, and has managed the Club since 1982, welcoming a host of major sides visiting for pre-season during the last 12 years, including Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen and the Polish national team. "I call myself the President," says Albert. "There is no one to argue with me! I am pleased West Ham are here, I remember Bobby Moore and the 1966 World Cup very well."

No hiding places

Hammers fans may have noticed the small black vests worn by the players during their training sessions in Austria. These are used to hold a small GPS unit, which tracks every movement made and measures distance and speed, linked up to the video technology used by the Analysis team to record all sessions, ensuring that there are certainly no hiding places for players during pre-season. For fitness work, the players also wear a heart-rate monitor strap across the chest, which is monitored closely by the medical staff.

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Joe Hart close to sealing loan move to West Ham
Telegraph.co.uk
Chris Bascombe
12 JULY 2017 • 10:30PM

Joe Hart is close to sealing a season's loan at West Ham as he seeks to reignite his career in English football. Slavan Bilic is set to give Hart the chance to return to the Premier League following his 12 month stint in Italy and talks are continuing with Manchester City to finalise a move. Hart is free to find another club having been sidelined by Pep Guardiola. If the move to London proves successful, a deal could become permanent next summer. Although City were initially reluctant to sanction a temporary deal, the situation has progressed over the last 24 hours. The 30-year-old keeper remains England's number one but faces mounting competition from Fraser Forster and Jack Butland at international level. It is essential he has regular football during a World Cup year. City want at least £20 million to make any move permanent for the goalkeeper, who spent last season on loan at Torino. He currently has two years remaining on his City contract but was overlooked last year when Guardiola preferred Willy Caballero and Claudio Bravo. Although neither of those keepers proved convincing replacements, but City have since paid £35 million to Benfica for Ederson Moraes. Hart has been linked with several Premier League clubs since he became surplus to requirements at City. Everton were thought to be interested but instead looked to the future with the £30 million signing of Jordan Pickford. Newcastle are also believed to have found the financial package prohibitive having registered their interest. Speaking last season, Hart said he would keep his options open on his next move. "I love the Premier League, if I wasn't playing I'd still watch the Premier League, but I wouldn't say the Premier League is top of my wish list," he said last March. "At the top of my wish list is to play for a club that wants me to be their goalkeeper."
With Bilic, it now seems he has found a manager working in English football prepared to offer a fresh start.

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A FINANCIAL UPDATE ON WEST HAM UNITED
By Sean Whetstone 12 Jul 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Sorry I haven't written for so long but a WHTID reader put in a special request for me to write an article on my specialist subject about West Ham finances so I was more than happy to oblige. With the talk of a summer transfer war chest of up to £70m and wages for one striker of £140,000 per week I thought I would re-visit the club finances in light of the move to the London Stadium and the new mega TV deal to give you all an update.

If you ask the West Ham board about the state of the finances of the club they will say the club is still over £100m in debt. While this is technically true, closer inspection will show that £60m of this debt is owed to the owners in shareholder loans and £41m owed to other clubs in staged transfer payments which the norm nowadays. A further £30m is a short term loan borrowed against future TV money to help with cash flow which is paid off and then refinanced each season almost like a bank draft.

The latest financial accounts published in March this year showed that the Hammers turnover increased by 17.7% to £142.1m and within that figure ticket sales for the last season at the Boleyn Ground rose to an impressive £26.9m. TV rights income two seasons ago grew to £86.7m for finishing seventh and commercial and sponsorship revenue was up by 31% to £19m while retail and merchandising sales grew by 29% to £9.3m.

The Boleyn Ground land was sold last year to developers for £38m with £15m going to pay off all external bank debts that were mortgaged against it and a further £15m going to stadium owners LLDC to contribute towards the £323m transition costs of the former Olympic Stadium. The remaining £8m was used for the WestHamification of the London Stadium including fitting out the club shop, the seats and the Claret and Blue branding so the Boleyn Ground stadium money has all been spent.

In my estimation, West Ham should publish a record turnover of around £270 million when the financial accounts the year which finished on the 31st May this year are published early next year. The Hammers earned around £122m from the new 8 billion pound TV deal after finishing 11th in the Premier League last season. Each Premier League club received £85m but the Irons received £18m for having 15 games televised and a further £19m for finishing in 11th place.

On top of the TV money, ticket sales and match day activities at the London Stadium are expected to rise by £12m from the record £27m received from the last season at the Boleyn Ground to £39m at the London Stadium. Retail shop and commercial sponsorship income are also expected to increase by around 30% from £29m in 2015/2016 to £36m in 2016/2017 after the club megastore size doubled and more commercial sponsorship opportunities have arisen at the new stadium.

Although not strictly relevant, the sale of the Boleyn Ground Sale for £38m and outbound player sales of James Tomkins to Palace for £10m and Dimitri Payet to Marseille for £25m will also add to 'exceptional' one-off items in the turnover figures for the 2016/2017 season.

So want does the financial future hold for the Hammers?

Probably the most controversial debt on the books are the shareholder loans. These are loans from Sullivan and Gold dating back to 2011 but they continue to attract accrued interest of between 6% and 7%. This debt grew to £61.5m up to May 2016 before the owners cashed out £4.2m. The remainder of the debt is not due to be paid back until 1st January 2020 but with compound interest, the remaining shareholder loans could reach around £71m in just under three years time meaning that around £75m could be paid back for £49m originally loaned to the club by the owners.

Board critics will point to previous statements that the owners said they would never draw a salary from the club and to be fair to them technically they haven't. The owners would probably say themselves that they could earned far more than £26m in 9 years if they had invested their money in property and again they would probably be right about that too. The truth of the matter is, no bank would lend to us so they stepped in as a bank of last resort. Some people will have a problem with this but personally, I don't.

Their next financial challenge for the club to self-finance their cash flow, for many years they have utilised payday loans from companies such as Vibrac, Mousehole and more recently JG Funding and Media Rights and Funding. This season the Premier League agreed to outlaw offshore lending by clubs. Media Rights and Funding is regulated by the FCA so doesn't technically break the new rules even though it borrows the money from an offshore lender. Earlier this year it was reported that the funder of all these companies is West Ham fan, Michael Tabor but the days of this type of lending are probably numbered as loopholes are closed.

Going forward I understand that the club hopes to use to extra revenue from TV and the London Stadium to rid themselves of these short-term loans with expensive interest in the near future to self-finance themselves and create a financially sustainable model of operation without the need of outside help or finance which seems very sensible.

So with an estimated turnover of £270m for last season up from £142m the season before it could look like to casual eye that West Ham have an extra £128m to spend but I am afraid it doesn't work like that. In reality, West Ham will have an extra £12m per year from ticket sales at the London Stadium and certainly have an extra £35m from TV money under the new deal. Retail and sponsorship should also grow by another £7m.

So what will they do with this extra £53m per year of income? Well up to £30m of it could well fund getting rid of the short term loan in just one year, the remaining £24m will most likely disappear quickly in transfer fees and wages is the honest but boring answer.

For example, if we signed Hernandez this summer on £140,000 per week he would take up £7.3m in wages on his own.

Well done if you have made it to the bottom of this article, I am happy to answer any finance related questions.

Sean COYI

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Joe Hart: West Ham interested in Man City & England goalkeeper
By Simon Stone
BBC Sport

West Ham are interested in signing Manchester City's out-of-favour England goalkeeper Joe Hart. There is no deal done yet but it is understood joining the Hammers is a possibility for Hart, who has no future at City under manager Pep Guardiola. Hart was on loan at Torino in Italy last season but has returned to City, where he has a contract until 2019. Conversations have also taken place between the 30-year-old's representatives and Manchester United. While United boss Jose Mourinho is an admirer of Hart, who has 71 international caps, the clear preference at Old Trafford is to keep David de Gea, which they expect to do. The signing of Ederson Moraes for £35m from Benfica underlined Guardiola's view of Hart. City are only thought to be interested in a permanent transfer. They leave for a three-match tour of the United States on 17 July.

Italian football journalist Mina Rzouki speaking to BBC Radio 5 live: He made a lot of mistakes at Torino. I'm not saying he's a bad goalkeeper, sometimes he really pulls it out, and what was great for him at Torino was everyone loved him. He was the one that commanded the headlines. Everyone wanted to read about him, everyone wanted to talk about him because he was the English captain and everyone wanted to look at him like this beacon that came to Torino and chose Serie A over everyone else. But let's be honest, he's not of that calibre. He is a Torino-style goalkeeper rather than Manchester City any more. So, all in all, he is only what I would say is mediocre in Serie A, which is littered with good goalkeepers and good defenders.

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West Ham fail with £20m Marko Arnautovic bid
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 12/07/17 4:28pm
SSN

West Ham have failed with an improved bid of £20m for Marko Arnautovic, according to Sky sources. The offer is £5m more than a first Hammers bid, rejected by Stoke on Monday after Arnautovic handed in a transfer request, and has again been turned down. Stoke are not looking to sell Arnautovic, who has been at the club for four years and signed a new contract last summer. The Austria forward is on City's tour of Switzerland, where he suffered a suspected knee injury during Tuesday's friendly against Neuchatel Xamax.

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West Ham have second bid worth £17m rejected by Stoke for star forward Marko Arnautovic
The Hammers made a fresh offer for the Austrian forward after having an initial bid of £15m turned down
The Mirror
BYDARREN LEWIS
16:36, 12 JUL 2017

West Ham have had a fresh bid worth £17million rejected by Stoke for striker Marko Arnautovic. The 28-year-old joined the Potters from Werder Bremen four seasons ago for just £2 million. But Stoke want as much as £25million for him. West Ham returned with a renewed offer after having an initial bid of £15m turned down. Arnautovic has already handed in an official transfer request as he is keen to move to the London Stadium. Slaven Bilic wants to stick with the 3-4-3 formation and sees Austrian Arnautovic as being perfect for his system. The formation saw West Ham finish last season strongly with just one defeat in seven.
The Irons, ready to listen to offers for injury-prone Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho, are also in talks with £13million Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez.

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Randy bid rejected
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 12th July 2017
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have rejected an approach for reserve goalkeeper Darren Randolph. Recently-relegated Middlesbrough are understood to have made an offer for the West Ham back-up 'keeper, having lost Victor Valdes and Brad Guzan earlier this month However an initial offer from the Championship side was instantly rejected by the Hammers, according to a report in one of today's tabloids. Randolph joined the Hammers on a free transfer via Birmingham City two years ago, since when he had gone on to make 42 first team appearances for the club.

* Staying with goalkeepers and West Ham's pursuit of Joe Hart is said to have received a blow, with at least one club said to have offered to take the former England number one on a permanent basis. The Hammers are understood to be keen to sign the Manchester City stopper on a season-long loan, although Championship club Aston Villa are reported to have made an attempt to sign him on a permanent basis.

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Charlie Adam lifts lid on why Stoke teammate Marko Arnautovic wants to join West Ham
HITC
Damien Lucas

West Ham United are in the running to sign Stoke City star Marko Arnautovic and one of his teammates has been discussing the potential move. The Hammers have had two bids rejected by the Potters and chairman Peter Coates has admitted the player will be sold if their terms are met, as reported by the Evening Standard. Slaven Bilic has made the 28-year-old one of his main targets and his profile fits with the club's current policy to add proven Premier League players to their team. Arnautovic has reportedly handed in a transfer request after becoming disillusioned with life at the Bet365 Stadium, as reported by Sky Sports. Stoke boss Mark Hughes has since confirmed the situation and told Arnautovic to 'appreciate what he has' at his current employers. But now Arnautovic's teammate Charlie Adam has lifted the lid on the main motivation behind the move - as reported by the Evening Standard - and says Stoke will be losing their best player.
"He wants to look after his family," Adam revealed, as reported by the Evening Standard. "Marko's a massive figure at the club, I'm going to say it from the players' point of view. He's a wonderful player and he's done a great job for us but something has changed and he's made a decision. He's our best player."

Some supporters have questioned Arnautovic's quality and consistency, feeling he blows too hot and cold. But Adam plays and trains with the Austrian international day in day out and his analysis that he is Stoke's best player will be music to the ears of Hammers fans, particularly given they have the likes of Xherdan Shaqiri in their squad. West Ham supporters have watched on with frustration as their Premier League rivals strengthen this summer while Pablo Zabaleta is Bilic's solitary signing so far on a free transfer from Manchester City. Hearts were in mouths this week when the infamous West Ham injury curse seemed to have struck again after Arnautovic was seemingly injured and had to be substituted in Stoke's pre-season friendly against Neuchatel Xamax. But he was able to walk to the changing rooms and it is not thought to be serious enough to stop a potential move.

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West Ham weighing up third bid for Marko Arnautovic after Stoke reject £20m offer
JAMES BENGE
Evening Standard

West Ham are considering whether to make a third bid for Marko Arnautovic after seeing a second bid worth £20 million rejected by Stoke City. Arnautovic submitted a transfer request after West Ham's initial bid of £15m but for now Stoke are holding firm, insisting they will not sell one of their best players unless the price is right. West Ham will have to pay a substantial fee if they are to lure Arnautovic away from Stoke, where he has three years remaining on his contract.
The Austrian forward has emerged as Slaven Bilic's first-choice target as he looks to add pace and power in wide areas, with West Ham planning on using Arnautovic in a dynamic three alongside Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio in support of a central striker. That new forward is also to be confirmed with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen's Javier Hernandez, Burnley striker Andre Gray and Arsenal's Olivier Giroud on their wishlist. Co-owner David Gold spoke of a desire to add proven Premier League experience to the Hammers squad but that will not come cheap and with other positions to reinforce West Ham will now consider whether to up their bid for Arnautovic or pursue other targets, including Southampton's Dusan Tadic.

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'There will be uproar!' West Ham fans demand that wonderkid is not sold to Arsenal
The Gunners are among a handful of clubs monitoring the young Hammers star
Football London
BYANDY HAROB GUEST
19:00, 12 JUL 2017

West Ham fans have called for the club to do all they can to keep Domingos Quina after Arsenal were linked with a move for the youngster. Reports suggest that Arsene Wenger's side have monitored the 17-year-old closely and are plotting a move after missing out on his signature a year ago. Quina, who has yet to make a Premier League appearance for the Hammers, has caught the attention after some impressive performances in the European Under-19 Championship for Portugal.
The attacking midfielder could well come into Slaven Bilic's plans next season, especially given he appeared on the substitutes' bench 12 times last campaign.
Bilic knows he has a serious player on his hands and he will be doing all he can to keep hold of Quina. The fans also think the manager needs to keep the player at the club and give him a chance in the first team next season. Here is what the club's supporters had to say following the talk of Quina going to Arsenal.


#BROKEN KB @BKieren89
Replying to @WestHam_Central
Waste of time, he wouldn't get in over their seasoned internationals
2:47 PM - 11 Jul 2017

Rudders @Rudders3082
Replying to @WHUFC_News
We need to start using our young lads in the first team they are the future
5:50 PM - 11 Jul 2017

The East End View ⚒ @TheEastEndView
There is no way we can let Domingos Quina leave us. This would be such a Bilic and @davidgold thing to do. 😂😂😂
2:59 PM - 11 Jul 2017

Alan Berrett @BerrettAlan
Replying to @WHUFC_News
They can carry on watching him! If we let this kid get away,there will be uproar!
2:54 PM - 11 Jul 2017

⚒ hammerboy ⚒ @Oldiron7
So apparently arsenal are monitoring west ham wonderkid domingos quina??
£30million should cover it.👊
3:39 PM - 11 Jul 2017

Laura Nagle @Laura_Emma_Hall
Replying to @IronworkTours
Arsenal can go away!! I am really hoping @davidgold sees the absolute potential in Quina!
2:50 PM - 11 Jul 2017

Mick @geezamick
Replying to @WestHam_Central
Here's a novel idea. Why don't we use him? I mean I thought we weren't a selling club anymore

Follow
Zed @CBK_LG
We need to keep hold of Domingos Quina. The boy can kick a ball
5:28 PM - 11 Jul 2017

⚒D-Hammer ⚒ @lex_e_con
Replying to @Hurrst
our kids will leave unless Slav looks to get to them involved. That might be as subs in league cup but at least its a start
5:19 PM - 11 Jul 2017

Kevin @Kevin10whu
Replying to @WestHam_Central
Well they can just keep on monitoring can't they! Hands off ⚒
2:48 PM - 11 Jul 2017

J Pereira @JPereira441
Replying to @WestHam_Central
If that's true it should motivate Slav to give him a go
6:17 PM - 11 Jul 2017

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HAMMERS TOLD TO RAISE BID TO £12.5M FOR MUNIR
DAN BRIARD @JournoDanB
rEADwESThAM

According to thisisfutbol, the London Stadium side have been told by Spanish giants Barcelona to raise their bid for 21-year-old Munir, to £12.5m. It's been reported that West Ham have offered £9m so far for the youngster who played out on-loan for another Spanish outfit, Valencia, but Barcelona are holding out for more. He made 39 appearances and managed 8 goals, as well as 3 assists. Munir broke into the spotlight for Barcelona three years ago now, but with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar to compete against for a spot in the starting line-up, Munir would be sensible to eye a move elsewhere. However, West Ham aren't the only side after the Spaniards signature, with fellow Premier League sides Southampton and Crystal Palace also wanting to bring the forward to the English league. West Ham are desperate to bag themselves a quality striker this summer and with Munir already proving himself in the Spanish league, the 21-year-old has many years ahead to adapt to the Premier League. He is a versatile player that can play up-front or on either wing and with his pace and trickery, he would be a great player for West Ham to get into their squad as they look to replace Robert Snodgrass, who was only brought in January, and Sofiane Feghouli, who is rumoured to be leaving the Hammers.

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Olivier Giroud admits he could leave Arsenal this summer as Everton and West Ham look to sign French striker
Everton, AC Milan, West Ham and Marseille are keen on Arsenal's Olivier Giroud
Giroud says leaving Arsenal 'is an option' this summer after five years in London
He said: 'We will see about my future, I am still an Arsenal player at the moment'
Alexandre Lacazette arrived in a £52million deal to up competition at Arsenal
By Mike Keegan For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 12:00, 12 July 2017 | UPDATED: 12:00, 12 July 2017

Olivier Giroud has sensationally admitted that he could be set to quit Arsenal. The French striker's future at the Emirates has been put under the spotlight following the club-record arrival of £52million compatriot Alexandre Lacazette. And, speaking on the club's pre-season tour in Sydney, a frank Giroud, who has interest from Everton, AC Milan, West Ham and Marseille, even referred to his Arsenal career in the past tense. 'It (leaving) is an option to be honest with you,' he said. 'I'm here in pre-season, I wanted to travel. Some people asked me if I am going to travel or not and of course, I am Arsenal player and for the moment I am here so I just want to prepare well for the season and we will see later. 'It is true that I really enjoyed my five years with Arsenal,' Giroud added. 'I'm still an Arsenal player for the moment so I try to be professional. No matter what happens, I did my job on the pitch. 'It's been five years that I've been here. It could be my sixth one. I had an amazing welcome from the fans and from the club and it has been five amazing years for me. 'I won't forget it, no matter what happens. We will see about my future but I am still an Arsenal player for the moment.'
Giroud signed a new three-year deal in January and, following the Gunners' arrival Down Under on Tuesday Arsene Wenger suggested his player would not be leaving. And the striker did suggest battling with Lacazette was an option. 'It's always nice for the club to get several strikers with different qualities and it is always nice for competition and it helps you to step up every time,' he said. 'I really enjoyed all my time at the Arsenal and I scored a few nice goals but always like to speak about the team, the team spirit and the team work.' Lacazette, who will make his bow in Australia, has been compared to Ian Wright. And the 25-year-old revealed he was well aware of the link to the Gunners legend. 'I know about Ian Wright very well,' he said. 'I've never seen him play but if I am compared to him that is great. 'If I have a career where fans think of me like they do about Ian Wright then I'll be very happy.' Meanwhile, Laurent Koscielny believes playmaker Alexis Sanchez, strongly linked with a move away from the club, will stay. 'He has a contract with Arsenal,' the defender said. 'I am not the person to take the decision about this. He is an important player for us. I hope and want him to stay with us this season. 'He is an important player for us so we want him to stay here with us for Arsenal. 'It is important for him to recover well after a long season and we will see, the boss and the board know what they want for him. He is an important player for us so we want him to stay here with us for Arsenal.'

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"He can go missing when not motivated" - the Stoke City view on Arnautovic as West Ham edge closer to deal
We spoke to a Stoke City expert who gave us lowdown on the Hammers transfer target
Football London
BYSAM INKERSOLE
12:30, 12 JUL 2017

football.london understands West Ham are very close to sealing a deal to sign Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic for £20m in the coming days as Slaven Bilic bolsters his squad. The 28-year-old is set to become the Hammers second summer signing, following Pablo Zabaleta to the London Stadium as the club finally make another move in the transfer market. With Arnautovic seemingly destined for the London Stadium, we spoke to Martin Spins from our sister title the Stoke Sentinel to give us his expert view as someone who watches the Austrian week in, week out. He explained that the Hammers will be getting someone who is a bit moody but who will be a massive miss for the Potteries.

West Ham need a striker. Is Arnautovic the player that can fill the void or is he more of a winger?

He is definitely a winger by trade but does have the physical power to play up front or behind the main striker, now and then at least. He certainly knows where the goal is on his day.

Mark Hughes has said Arnautovic won't be sold. Do you think they will keep hold of him?

It's definitely late in the day to start looking for a replacement for one of your main men and he hasn't previously given much indication of being restless or unhappy, mind you he always looks miserable so it can be difficult to tell with him.

What are Arnautovic's strengths?

That power mentioned above, along with a fair turn of pace and an ability to time runs inside on the diagonal to pick up a half decent through ball, while his shooting can be explosive on his day.

Also, his weaknesses?

He can switch off defensively and leave his full back outnumbered, while his chin can easily drop in adversity and he can go missing when demotivated.
Motivation at Stoke could be a problem for him going forward, particularly after declaring his hand now, so this is one argument for cashing in now if the offer was good enough and a decent replacement can be lined up.

Would Stoke fans be disappointed to see him go?

Yes. Last summer we were all resigned to losing him and then he signed a long-term contract when no-one came in for him. Losing him then would have been a bigger blow than now because 15/16 was his best season and 16/17 was pretty average by comparison.

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West Ham fear the Premier League will block transfer of Inter Milan starlet Gabriel Barbosa
Brazilian forward nicknamed Gabigol is available on loan but a lack of games may deny him British work permit
The Mirror
BYDARREN LEWIS
22:30, 11 JUL 2017

West Ham are keen to sign Inter Milan wonderkid Gabriel Barbosa... but are worried they will be lose out to red tape. The 20-year-old Brazilian forward — nicknamed Gabigol — is available for loan, just a year after joining Inter from Santos in his homeland in a £26million deal. His lack of game time for the Italians and his country, however, could wreck a potential switch to east London. Barbosa made just one start among 10 appearances in Serie A and the Coppa Italia, scoring once. Although he has played three competitive games for Brazil, none of them have come in the last 12 months. The Hammers want to help him resurrect his career with a temporary spell in the Premier League. But they are concerned he would not meet part of the work-permit criteria for the top flight's Exceptions panel. The Hammers are frustrated at tweaks to the rules which could deny them one of the most promising players in Europe. They also have interest, however, in £8million Barcelona winger Munir El Haddadi, Stoke forward Marko Arnautovic and West Brom's bad-boy wide-man Nacer Chadli . El Haddadi wants to leave Spanish giants Barca after six years playing for their B team and only occasionally for the first team, but has rejected a move to Russian club Zenit St Petersburg.
The 21-year-old has played 45 games for the Barca first-team, scoring ten goals, but was sent on loan to Valencia last season and netted seven times in 36 games in all competitions. Tottenham and Southampton are also watching his situation. Arnautovic has handed in a transfer request at Stoke, but the Potters are demanding £20million from West Ham to do a deal. With Ghana forward Andre Ayew unsettled at the London Stadium less than a year after joining from Swansea as their record signing, the Hammers are ready to offer him as part of a swap deal for Chadli — who the Baggies made their biggest buy when he left Spurs in that same window 12 months ago.

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