Daily WHUFC News - 31st January 2018

Noble's 50th West Ham goal earns Crystal Palace draw
WHUFC.com

A 50th West Ham United goal for Captain Mark Noble secured the Irons a share of the points in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace. The midfielder confidently put away from the penalty spot just moments before half-time to draw David Moyes's side level, reaching the impressive milestone of 50 goals for the Club. Striker Christian Benteke had headed home the first finish of the match, when a cross by Andros Townsend was met by the Belgian on 24 minutes. But Noble's spot-kick ensured West Ham's unbeaten start to 2018 in the league continued, with the side now without a loss in six league contests. It was almost a dream home debut for Joao Mario, making his first start for the Irons, when he latched onto a Chicharito header on three minutes, only for his volleyed effort to skew wide. The Mexican himself almost had a glorious chance to open the scoring but as Chicharito teed up a shot from close range, the striker was well-tackled by former West Ham defender James Tomkins. Despite the Hammers having the better chances, it was Palace that took the lead, as Benteke rose highest to head home from Townsend's lofted cross. But the game was once again level two minutes before half-time when Tomkins was ruled to have fouled Chicharito in the penalty box. Up stepped Captain Noble, who reliably tucked away the spot-kick and his 50th West Ham goal.
Five minutes into the second period and the Irons could have taken the lead. Chicharito was excellently found with a cross and the striker's header would have almost certainly found the net had he placed it anywhere else, but unfortunately the effort was straight at Wayne Hennessey. Youngster Declan Rice decided to try his luck from distance with a shot after a decent move from the home side, but the 19-year-old's rocketed effort went over the crossbar. The home supporters showed their appreciation for Mario's efforts on an impressive first start, and the 25-year-old's free-kick almost led to West Ham's second, but it just evaded each of the attacking Hammers. And, despite both sides threatening with half-chances, the contest remained 1-1 and ended as a draw.

West Ham United: Adrian; Byram, Collins, Rice, Ogbonna, Zabaleta, Cresswell, Noble (c), Kouyate (Oxford 86'), Joao Mario, Chicharito
Subs not used: Hart, Fonte, Cullen, Haksabanovic, Quina, Martinez
Goals: Noble 43' (p),

Crystal Palace: Hennessey; van Aanholt, Milivojevic (c), Tomkins, Townsend, Zaha, Benteke, McArthur, Fosu-Mensah, Sako (Cabaye 41'), Kelly
Subs not used: Speroni, Ward, Sakho, Lee, Souare, Riedewald
Goals: Benteke 24',

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Ayew close to Swans return
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 30th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

Andre Ayew is on the verge of completing a return to Swansea City - just 36 hours ahead of the transfer deadline. The Ghanaian forward is unsettled at West Ham due to a lack of playing time and is poised to complete a return to his former club. West Ham paid in the region of £20million to sign Ayew - United's joint leading goalscorer this season with six goals - in the summer of 2016, but reports suggest that the two clubs are close to agreeing a deal worth around £18million. Meanwhile there are still few signs of any impending arrivals. Fedor Smolov, the Russian striker who West Ham were hoping to lure from Krasnodar is said to be having second thoughts about moving to England despite the two clubs having agreed terms.
And rather closer to home, West Ham's interest in Morgan Schneiderlin appears to have cooled after the Merseyside club - who are seeking to recoup some of the £20million they paid Manchester United last summer - ruled out a loan deal.

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West Ham try to hijack Crystal Palace's deal to sign Ibrahim Amadou
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 30/01/18 6:30pm
SSN


West Ham have made an enquiry to Lille for their captain Ibrahim Amadou, Sky Sports News understands. Crystal Palace have made two bids for the 24-year-old, the most recent of which was a loan offer with the option to buy, but they are still some way off the £17.6m valuation placed on him by the French club. West Ham have 14 players currently unavailable through injury and David Moyes has targeted midfielders and defenders in this window. Amadou can play as a holding midfielder or a centre-back and has made 21 appearances for the Ligue 1 side this season. The Cameroon international joined Lille in 2015, and has scored two goals from 74 league appearances. Lille must raise €25m (£22m) to avoid potential relegation to Ligue 2 for breaking French financial fair play rules. West Ham meet Crystal Palace in the Premier League at the London Stadium on Tuesday.

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Morgan Schneiderlin not for sale, Everton tell West Ham
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 30/01/18 12:08pm
SSN

Everton have told West Ham that midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin is not for sale, according to Sky sources. West Ham wanted to sign Schneiderlin and were ready to pay £20m for the former Manchester United player, and Sky Sports News reported contact had been made between the two clubs on Monday. But Sam Allardyce, who previously managed West Ham, has no intention of selling the midfielder. The Everton boss does not want to reduce his midfield options further after losing James McCarthy for the rest of the season with a broken leg. Schneiderlin has started eight of Everton's last nine games in all competitions. West Ham are without 14 first-team players and are working hard to sign a midfielder and a striker before Wednesday's deadline.

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REECE OXFORD TO RETURN TO BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH
MICHAEL OLIVER @MichaelOIiver
ReadWestHam

West Ham could allow a number of players to leave the club before tomorrow's transfer deadline and Reece Oxford is a likely candidate to do so. After spending the first half of the season on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, Oxford was recalled by West Ham at the start of the month to come and help aid their injury crisis in the midst of the notoriously tough winter period. Oxford sustained an ankle injury soon after returning but did feature in the FA Cup third round replay win over Shrewsbury and the fourth round defeat to Wigan and wasn't particularly impressive in either game.
Having appeared for the Hammers as well as Monchengladbach this season, Oxford could only return to Monchengladbach this month if he was to leave on loan again and the Daily Mirror claim that he will return to the Bundesliga club before tomorrow's deadline. Monchengladbach failed with a permanent offer for Oxford earlier this month but have remained keen on resigning him on a temporary basis and it appears as if that will happen. After making just four appearances in his first loan spell, West Ham will hope that Oxford will make more of an impact at Monchengladbach when he returns.

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West Ham 1 Crystal Palace 1: Mark Noble penalty ensures London derby draw after Christian Benteke goal
JACK ROSSER at London Stadium
ES Sport

It was billed as a relegation six-pointer, but West Ham and Crystal Palace had to settle for just a point at London Stadium. Christian Benteke scored his second goal of the season, only to see it cancelled out by a Mark Noble penalty as a depleted Hammers side took perhaps more than they had expected and moved into the top half of the Premier League. West Ham started the quieter of the two, with their visitors from south London seeing most of the ball. However, the Hammers were first to get a sight of goal when Javier Hernandez nodded down into the path of debutant Joao Mario, his attempted bobbled wide though. Minutes later and Hernandez was in himself when Timothy Fosu-Mensah nudged the ball into the Mexican's path, only for former West Ham man James Tomkins to slide in and take the ball from under his nose at the last minute. With David Moyes' threadbare side looking surprisingly threatening, it didn't take too long for things to unravel. With six defenders in their starting XI, it would be fair to assume that cheap goals would be hard to come by for Roy Hodgson's side. However, perhaps to the amazement of the winger himself, when Andros Townsend picked the ball up just inside West Ham territory he was allowed to run all the way to the byline before crossing to the awaiting Benteke, who headed home just his second goal of the season. The Hammers retaliated with a couple of half-chances, but looked far from threatening as a clear lack of pace hampered and isolated Hernandez. An injury to Bakary Sako, though, gave the hosts a way back in. The in form forward took his time to go off before being replaced by Yohan Cabaye. However, with a direct threat replaced with a midfielder far from full fitness, there was hope for Moyes. Things got even better just minutes later when, after some neat play between Mario and Hernandez, the latter was adjudged to have been tripped by an incessant Tomkins in the box.
Replays raised questions over whether or not the striker had dived, though they were far from conclusive and of course did nothing to cancel out Mark Noble's cool finish from 12 yards. A feisty end to the first half gave hope for an exciting second, however, it took far longer than expected to materialise. Aside from a Hernanez header early on after the restart, saved well by Wayne Hennessey, the two sides cancelled each other out as the rain began to fall in east London. With little to call upon from the bench in terms of forward players, West Ham's hopes of a winner lay solely in the hands of Hernandez and Mario. The pair, who both featured in the FA Cup defeat at Wigan, could do little to break the Eagles' back line late on. While moving into the top half, before Everton face Leicester on Wednesday, is a significant milestone and something few would have expected from Moyes back in November, Swansea's win over Arsenal means the battle against the drop is just as tight.

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