Daily WHUFC News -

Johnson signs first pro deal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce that highly-rated defender Ben
Johnson has put pen to paper on his first professional contract which will
keep at the Club until 2020. The full-back, who turned 18-years-old on
Wednesday, has enjoyed a superb campaign so far this season, breaking into
and becoming a regular for the Hammers' U23 side. The youngster also got his
first taste of senior team action at the end of last year when he travelled
and was named on the substitutes' bench for the fixture at Manchester City
in December. Johnson has already trained with David Moyes' first team squad
on a number of occasions and, having secured his long-term future with the
Club, is looking forward for more opportunities in the coming years. He
said: "I'm very delighted to sign. It's been a long time coming, but I've
worked hard and I feel it's fully deserved. I'm feeling good. "I've always
dreamt of being a footballer. I think I just wanted to put my head down and
enjoy my football – take it season by season, which I am doing, and I think
I've reaped the rewards this season especially. "Towards the end of last
season, I had an injury and I was out for quite a long time. I felt I just
needed to come back with a bang and I just did – came back, worked hard, put
my head down fully focused and just had a good season. I need to kick on
now."

Johnson – who spent much of his youth playing as an attacking midfielder or
winger – has been coverted to full-back over the last 12 months, something
he thinks has helped him kick-on when making the step up to the U23s. And
the youngster, who has now been at the Club for ten years, also believes the
right-back spot has given him the opportunity to impress the first team
manager. "I play at right back at the moment and I think I get up and down
and get crosses in," he explained. "I think I need to improve my defending
but I think overall I'm reliable on the pitch and that's what you need in
the team. Last season I spoke to [Alvaro] Arbeloa who's gone now, and this
year I've spoken to [Pablo] Zabaleta and Sam [Byram] as well. They're all
nice, great people and I think they will help me and if I'm good enough I
will be in the team. "Hopefully so it's good experience learning from
someone who's won multiple titles and someone who's come through and played
at the different levels – that's what I want to aspire to be. "I have to
credit Mark [Phillips] and Steve [Potts, the U18s coaches] for sticking me
at right-back, and I've kicked-on there. It's helped me get to where I am
right now."

There were many fans wondering 'Johnson who?' when his name was announced on
the bench for the Manchester City match, and the defender admitted it was as
much of a shock to him as anyone. "I think it all went so quick!" he
laughed. "I was just training with them on the Saturday and then they just
told me to wait a bit and then I'm travelling. "So I didn't have much time –
I had all my stuff just in case – but it hadn't really sunk in. I think it's
only just sunk in a few days ago that I was on the bench and I could go and
play for West Ham one day hopefully. "It was nerve-wracking but when I got
there I thought, it's my job, so I just need to focus and this is where I
want to be so be it really. Just keep improving myself to get to that point
and hopefully get more minutes and get on the pitch."

Johnson has been out with an injury of late, but is set to make his return
within the next fortnight as the Hammers' U23s look to secure a top half
finish in their first season at Premier League 2 Division 1 level.

Terry Westley's men face Swansea City on Monday night before hosting
Sunderland a week later.

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Hammers skipper Noble takes inspiration from brave Isla
WHUFC.com

West Ham United captain Mark Noble took inspiration from brave young Hammers
fan Isla Caton at Saturday's 1-1 draw with AFC Bournemouth. Three-year-old
Isla, who is battling Neuroblastoma, was the Club's very special guest at
the game and led the team out as mascot before the action got underway. She
is currently undergoing an intense 15-month course of chemotherapy and
radiotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital to fight the disease – the same
one which tragically took the life of young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery
last year. Her family are attempting to raise £190,000 for Isla to undergo
specialist treatment in the United States and, as Noble explained, the
Hammers were only too happy to help out. "We're in a fortunate position
where we can try to help people," he explained. "In cases like Isla's where
we can pull together and get the little girl some treatment – it would be
wrong if we didn't try to do that. "I'm really happy that the people of West
Ham came together on Saturday, made it a special day for the little girl and
also helped out the family."

Isla, with her parents Nicola Caton and Michael Hook, enjoyed Saturday's
match alongside Bradley Lowery's mother Gemma and the whole family were
overwhelmed by the support they received. Nicola explained: "Isla became
unwell last January. She was rolling around crying, rubbing her legs, she
was in so much pain. We went for an ultrasound and it was discovered she had
Neuroblastoma. "There's a vaccine in America, it's only a phase one vaccine
so it's not available here, but we've spoken to a few families who have had
it and, please God, their children seem to be doing really well. "Football
fans throughout the country have done so much for us and we are so grateful
to each and every person. That's why Isla had 'cancer has no colours' on her
shirt. We are grateful to everyone and West Ham are like our family so we
want to say thank you so much."

Isla's father Michael Hook added: "We contacted the Bradley Lowery family
pretty much from the start. They agreed to take Isla on board, and we are so
happy we went with them. The fit was perfect, they are so nice, so down to
earth and they are a football family as well, so there was a connection
there. "We have stood there with Isla and the only thing we know how to do
is fight. And we will fight all the way. We will fight every step of the way
to get her the money and I'm determined to get her to America. "People have
been amazing. You get people, strangers, contacting you every week offering
to do something for Isla. It makes you have faith in humanity. Isla's
fundraising campaign has been backed by the Bradley Lowery Foundation, the
charity which was set up in memory of the gallant six-year-old who died last
year after forging a close bond with Bournemouth's former Sunderland and
West Ham striker Jermain Defoe, to fund treatment for youngsters suffering
from the same disease which took his life, as part of their
#CancerHasNoColours awareness-raising initiative. You can make a donation to
#TEAMISLA via a bucket collection outside the Stadium Store at London
Stadium, texting the dedicated SMS donation service ISLA14 £1 (or another
amount) to 70070, or online at
www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/thebradleyloweryfoundation/islacaton

For more information about Isla's fight, and those of other courageous
youngsters battling Neuroblastoma, visit bradleyloweryfoundation.com

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Pearce urges Hammers youngsters to take FA Cup chance
WHUFC.com

Stuart Pearce has urged West Ham United players to take their chance to
impress in Saturday's Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at Wigan Athletic.
Injuries to first-team regulars mean a number of fringe players and
promising youngsters will likely be handed opportunities to start at the DW
Stadium. And Pearce, who scored in Nottingham Forest's 1991 final defeat by
Tottenham Hotspur with a trademark free-kick, says featuring in the world's
most-famous knockout competition and staking a claim for regular Premier
League football should serve as huge incentives to do well. "I've never been
one of those coaches or managers who worries about having certain players
out through injury, and make no mistake we have got a few injuries at the
moment," said the manager's assistant, who also started the 1998 final for
Newcastle United. "I always see it as a great opportunity for players to
come in and stake a claim, especially young players. "Going back to the
start of my career in non-league football [at Wealdstone], I only ever got a
game, not because I was that good and put a senior player out of the team,
but because they couldn't get time off work. "However you get in the team,
once you get in there, you've got to make sure you stay in it."

With Crystal Palace visiting London Stadium on Tuesday evening and another
important Premier League fixture at Brighton & Hove Albion to follow on
Saturday week, David Moyes may opt to rest one or two senior players at
Wigan. But, whoever the manager selects, Pearce says the coaching staff will
have full faith in their ability to defeat the EFL League One leaders and
earn West Ham place in the fifth round. However, the 55-year-old knows the
Latics will present an equally, if not stiffer test than that posed by the
club one position behind them in the table, Shrewsbury Town, who the Hammers
finally overcame in a hard-fought replay.

"It's a game this Club wants to win, of course. You tell me of a football
club which goes into a game not wanting to win it, and that is a club where
there is something inherently wrong. "I thought the draw to go to Shrewsbury
away was an absolute stinker, bearing in mind I know League One because I
worked at Portsmouth leading into working here at West Ham, and I know how
strong Shrewsbury and Wigan are. "The Shrewsbury games turned out exactly
how I expected them to be, home and away, and Wigan will be no different.
They will be a team looking to take a Premier League scalp and we're going
to have to be fully at it to get a result, there is no doubt about that. "If
we can win, all of a sudden, as you start ticking rounds off in the FA Cup,
it can galvanise a football club.
"There might be a dismissive mentality in the early rounds, but as the
rounds tick on, you've only got to look at the line-ups clubs field in the
semi-finals and finals to see how seriously the FA Cup is taken at the
business end."

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Team news: Senior stars ruled out, Portugal midfielder having medical
WHUFC.com

David Moyes says injury absences means he will need to think long and hard
about his team selection for Saturday's Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at
Wigan Athletic.

West Ham United travel to the EFL League One leaders without the likes of
Manuel Lanzini, Marko Arnautovic, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, Michail
Antonio, Edimilson Fernandes, Winston Reid and Jose Fonte, restricting
Moyes' options when it comes to resting his other senior players. With
important Premier League fixtures against Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove
Albion to follow next week, the Hammers manager will consider his options
carefully before deciding the final 18 to travel to the DW Stadium. "I'd
like to say it was an opportunity this weekend to rest a few tired legs, but
I want to get through in the FA Cup if I can," he said. "But I think I've
always said our priority is the Premier League and we have to ensure we're a
Premier League club. "There is nothing more I'd love to give the West Ham
supporters a day out at Wembley in a final if I could. Ask any club and
they'd all say the same thing, that they'd Iike to win a trophy, but there
is also a bigger picture which has to be looked at as well, which is trying
to make sure that we're in this league next season. "The finances to it are
far greater than we'd get by winning the FA Cup. I do think I'd like to win
it, I've been to finals so I know what it feels like to be there, so if it
can happen again, great, but again I have to reiterate the priority has to
be to remain a Premier League club."

While they will not be available to face the Latics, Moyes confirmed that
two of his senior players are edging ever closer to first-team returns after
recovering from calf and ankle injuries respectively. "There are a few
getting closer to coming back. Michail Antonio is doing a bit of training,
Jose Fonte is doing a little bit of training, so we're getting a few more
back as go along, but every club is the same. "We've all had really
difficult schedules over Christmas and the New Year and the games are taking
their toll. With us now having Premier League midweek fixtures in January,
it is not easy, especially after FA Cup ties. "I don't think Antonio, Fonte
or Winston Reid will be available for the Wigan match."

On a more positive note, Moyes confirmed that Portugal international
midfielder Joao Mario was having a medical with a view to completing a loan
move to West Ham on Thursday afternoon. "Your sources would be correct," he
told a Sky Sports reporter, when asked to confirm reports. "I'm not going to
tell you any more until he has done his medical. Once we have got the
medical out of the way, I think we'll be able to tell you what he will bring
to the side, so hopefully we'll be able to give you some more news at the
right time. It would be a loan move."

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FA Cup hero Burke hoping for happy Wigan return
WHUFC.com

Reece Burke wants to be West Ham United's Emirates FA Cup hero again when he
returns to Wigan Athletic on Saturday. The young defender, who spent last
season on loan with the Latics, scored the Hammers' extra-time winner in
their 1-0 third-round replay victory over Shrewsbury Town at London Stadium.
And the 21-year-old is hoping manager David Moyes hands him another
opportunity to shine at the DW Stadium this weekend. "Hopefully I'll get
some more minutes under my belt. I don't know what the manager will do with
the team, but we have got a few injuries and obviously, having played in the
two other FA Cup games against Shrewsbury, I hope to get another
opportunity," said Burke. "I played at right-back in the first game, then
centre-half in the replay, and we kept two clean sheets which I was really
happy with. To also score the winner in extra-time was obviously a good
moment for me too. "It's always good to nick a goal as a centre-half, but
obviously that won't be the first thing that comes to mind if I play on
Saturday, as that will be defending and trying to stop them. We'll try and
get a clean sheet first and, if I get another chance to score, I'll try to
take it!"

Along with fellow Academy graduate Josh Cullen, who also impressed in the
two ties with Shrewsbury, Burke was recalled from a loan spell at
Championship club Bolton Wanderers earlier this month. The Newham-born
defender admits it took time to get back up to the speed of Premier League
training, but is relishing the opportunity to show Moyes and his staff what
he can do at Rush Green on a daily basis. "It's a bit different here than
at Bolton, I'd say. It's a slightly different game and it took me a little
while to get used to it again, but the more you train and hang around with
the lads, the more you learn about how they train. "I feel I am up to speed
now and am feeling quite sharp. I don't know if it's my time yet to play
week-in, week-out in the Premier League, but, if not, loan football is where
I need to be to playing regularly and developing and trying to reach that."

Burke's loan spell with Wigan last season was a challenging time, as a
series of injuries restricted him to just ten appearances as the Greater
Manchester club were relegated from the Championship. He is hoping to forge
a better memory of the DW Stadium this weekend. "It was a very difficult
season for me, probably the worst of my career so far, but you can't pick
and choose when you get injuries and unfortunately I managed to pick up a
lot in one season. "I had to have a hernia operation, then came back from
that and got myself injured again, so it wasn't a season I was happy with.
"I've learnt from it, got myself back right and this season I have not
picked up any injuries yet, touch wood, so hopefully I can carry on and stay
fit."

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Moyes: Transfers, injuries, the FA Cup and Wigan's fine form
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager David Moyes sat down to meet the media ahead of
Saturday's Emirates FA Cup fourth-round tie at Wigan Athletic. The manager
was quizzed about his plans for the final week of the January transfer
window, both in and out, the importance of the FA Cup as opposed to Premier
League survival, and the Latics outstanding form in EFL League One.

Here is what the boss had to say...
Transfers, injuries and scouting trips

The injuries we have suffered to first-team players in recent weeks didn't
necessarily mean I felt we needed to bring in more attacking options, but it
made me think I need to get some players in. That's not as easy as it
sounds. It's easy to say to everybody that it might happen, but it's not so
easy to do because the market is now allowing it. There are lots of clubs
who might want our players as well and then we're not in a position to sell,
either, so from that point of view, you're not expecting other clubs to do
business either so it's quite difficult to get anything done. We'll have to
see, but I have to say we have lost players, and a few key players as well.
We have never, at any time, said we want anybody to go. If that's what
happens and something comes up, then we'll need to look at it but, at the
minute, nothing has come up and, as far as I'm concerned, we're as we are. I
think we've had an offer for Andre Ayew but it won't be accepted at this
present time because of our situation, so we wouldn't be in a hurry to do
it. We'll have to keep our players but we'll see if that changes at all. I
have seen reports saying myself and Stuart Pearce have been out on scouting
missions in recent weeks and that, to me, isn't strange. Managers go out and
watch games and whether we go to different countries or stay in England, we
want to be as up to date as we possibly can be. We got to a lot of games but
reports that I went to Spain to watch a certain player were incorrect.

We want to win the FA Cup, but the Premier League remains our priority

Next week is a massive week for us in the Premier League, with a home game
against Crystal Palace, followed by a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion. The
bottom half is as tight as I can remember and there is certainly nobody
being cut away at the moment, so we have got to try and keep ourselves away
from the bottom.
We're in a healthier situation at the moment, but we know that can easily be
changed. But our focus at the moment is the game in the FA Cup. We want to
try and get a positive result. We're in a good place, we've had some good
results and put in a good performance against Bournemouth at times in the
game, so we want to try and build on that. The players have shown exactly
what they can do. We've demanded more of them and I have to say some of them
have really done well and others have improved throughout the squad, so from
that point of view, we've all got to work together, but we're nowhere near
the finishing line yet. We've got to keep the blinkers on and stay focused
on getting enough points to, first of all, be a Premier League club next
season. You've got to go into every competition to try and win it and I'll
definitely attempt to try and win it, but there is a little bit of a caveat
in the back of that, which is that we have got a Premier League game on
Tuesday, whether that's right or not, and another one on Saturday. With the
injuries we've got, it's starting to take its toll on us, but I'm positive.
The team has got a bit of momentum going at the moment and I want to win
again. I want to ensure the players know it is an 'all the time' thing we've
got going and not just something they can do now and again and hopefully we
can do that."

I'll do my homework on table-topping Wigan

I have watched a few Wigan Athletic games and will watch some more between
now and Saturday afternoon as well. I hope everyone realises that Wigan are
a good side and they're playing good football as well. The strange thing is
that it is only five seasons since they won the FA Cup and were relegated
the same year from the Premier League. If you look back and ask the Wigan
people what they would rather have happened, I think they'd say they'd
rather still be in the Premier League. They knocked my Everton team out in
the sixth round that season and I've played and managed against Wigan a lot
over the years. I don't think we've got a score to settle but I certainly
think it will be a tough game for us. Paul Cook has done a really good job,
but they've obviously got to focus on getting back into the Championship and
maybe the Premier League in the future as well.

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Joao Mario: Inter Milan midfielder completes loan move to West Ham
By Simon Stone
BBC Sport

Inter Milan and Portugal midfielder Joao Mario has completed his loan move
to West Ham. Manager David Moyes has been keen to add more creativity to his
squad, especially after injuries to Manuel Lanzini and Marko Arnautovic.
Mario, 25, signed for Inter from Sporting Lisbon for £35m in August 2016.
But he failed to make the expected impact as he struggled to adjust to the
tactical nature of Serie A. He has not been helped by the Serie A side's
chaotic managerial situation, having sacked two managers last season and
replacing a third in the summer, when Luciano Spaletti took over from
Stefano Vecchi.

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Joao Mario: West Ham close to signing Inter Milan midfielder
By Simon Stone
BBC Sport

West Ham are close to completing a loan deal for Inter Milan and Portugal
midfielder Joao Mario. An agreement is in place for Mario, 25, to join the
Hammers before the transfer deadline on 31 January, although paperwork is
still to be completed. Manager David Moyes has been keen to add more
creativity to his squad, especially after injuries to Manuel Lanzini and
Marko Arnautovic. Mario signed for Inter from Sporting Lisbon for £35m in
August 2016. But he failed to make the expected impact as he struggled to
adjust to the tactical nature of Serie A. He has not been helped by the
Serie A side's chaotic managerial situation, having sacked two managers last
season and replacing a third in the summer, when Luciano Spaletti took over
from Stefano Vecchi.

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Two year deal for young prospect
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 25th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

Ben Johnson has been awarded his first professional contract by West Ham
United. The 18-year-old full back, who first joined the Hammers as an
eight-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal that ties ties him to
the club until 2020, at the earliest. Having established himself in the
club's Under 23 side in the opening half of the current campaign, Johnson
also made the first team bench for the first time at Manchester City last
month - and says that's where he aims to be again before too long. "It's a
good feeling to stay here," he told West Ham's website. "I just want to get
my head down, enjoy my football and take it season by season which I've been
doing. "I have to credit Mark [Phillips] and Steve [Potts] for sticking me
at right-back, and I've kicked-on from there. It's helped me get to where I
am now. "Last season I spoke to Arbeloa and I've since spoken to Sam [Byram]
and Zabaleta as well. They're all nice people and they have helped me. It's
good experience learning from someone who's won multiple titles - that's
what I aspire to do."

Johnson, who is currently sidelined through injury now hopes to emulate his
namesake Glenn Johnson, who made 16 appearances for West Ham's first team
before being sold to Chelsea in a £6million deal following West Ham's
relegation from the Premiership in 2003.

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We're in it to win it, insist Pearce
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 25th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

David Moyes is set to field a second string at the DW Stadium this weekend
when West Ham tackle League One Wigan Athletic in the 4th round of the FA
Cup.
Already hamstrung by a lengthy list of injuries, Moyes saw Manu Lanzini and
Marko Arnautovic join the out-of-action following last weekend's 1-1 draw
against Bournemouth - who, coincidentally, were beaten by Wigan in the
previous round after a replay. All of which means probably starts for the
likes of Toni Martinez, Josh Cullen and Domingos Quina when the Hammers
travel north tomorrow -a "great opportunity" to impress, according to first
team coach Stuart Pearce. "I've never been one of those coaches who worries
about having certain players out through injury," Pearce told whufc.com.
"And make no mistake, we have got a few injuries at the moment. "I always
see it as a great opportunity for players to come in and stake a claim,
especially young players."

Pearce - who made his name at Nottingham Forest, where Sam Allardyce
controversially fielded a team of inexperienced youngsters in the same
competition four years ago - also dismissed suggestions that the club were
preparing to 'throw' the tie in order to concentrate on retaining their
Premier League status. "It's a game this club wants to win, of course," he
insisted. "You tell me of a football club which goes into a game not wanting
to win it - that is a club where there is something inherently wrong. "I
thought the 3rd round draw (Shrewsbury away) was an absolute stinker, I know
how strong Shrewsbury and Wigan are. The Shrewsbury games turned out exactly
how I expected them to be, home and away, and Wigan will be no different.
"They will be a team looking to take a Premier League scalp and we're going
to have to be fully at it to get a result, there is no doubt about that. "If
we can win, ticking rounds off in the FA Cup can galvanise a football club.
There might be a dismissive mentality in the early rounds, but as the rounds
tick on, you've only got to look at the semi final and final line-ups see
how seriously the FA Cup is taken at the business end."

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Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario to seal West Ham loan
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 25/01/18 11:49am
SSN

Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario is due in London on Thursday to complete
his loan move to West Ham, according to Sky sources. Sky sources understand
the 25-year-old could sign in time to make his debut against Crystal Palace
in the Premier League on Tuesday. West Ham also have the option to make the
deal for the Portugal international permanent in the summer for £26m. The
Transfer Talk panel discuss whether Arsenal can clinch a deal to sign
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Manager David Moyes is keen to sign at least two players before the close of
the transfer window having previously insisted he inherited an "imbalanced
squad".
He has since lost attacking trio Andy Carroll, Manuel Lanzini and Marko
Arnautovic to injury. Mario has featured intermittently for Inter following
the arrival of Luciano Spalletti as manager and has failed to score in 15
matches this season. He joined the Italian side for £35m from Sporting
Lisbon in 2016 after helping his country to victory at Euro 2016.

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SHOULD WE SHELL OUT FOR SHELVEY?
By Blind Hammer 25 Jan 2018 at 08:00
WTID

Blind Hammer looks at the case for meeting Shelvey's wage demands.

West Ham are down to the bare bones in our creative midfield. This crisis
has arisen at a critical season defining period. The familiar injury blight
which routinely afflicts our squad has returned with a vengeance. The
offensive threat of Manu Lanzini and Marko Arnautovi? are reportedly missing
for at least a month and possibly longer. Past Hammer of the Year Antonio
has been a shadow of his former self. The risk is that he will be rush back
for the Palace game and will in turn break down again. The plan B of the
long ball to Andy Carroll, bypassing the need for midfield development is in
turn precluded by his potentially seasoning ending injury. Sakho also has
the injury blight and no interest in playing. Hernandez shows no evidence he
can function in a team which relies on direct play. He, more than any,
requires creativity to feed him. Ayew is constantly linked with moves away;
suggesting Moyes does not see him as a long term option.

Moyes has all Window insisted he will hold his nerve with what he has got
but these pressures are likely to force even his cautious approach to crack.
With the ridiculously compressed lower half of the table West Ham, like half
the league, are only 2 bad results away from plunging back into the
relegation mire.

We have far too little squad depth in the number 10 role. The lack of this
cover and the extensive minutes that Lanzini was forced to play in both cup
and League meant that injury was pretty much inevitable. It also meant that
for some time now Lanzini has had no pressure for his place in the team.

Additional midfield creativity is needed then not just for cover but for
competition in the squad. In this role various names have arisen. Wilshire's
recovery of form at Arsenal seems to have cemented his future there, rather
than at the London Stadium. Samir Nasri ticks all the boxes of experience as
a proven previous Premier League performer. Yet there is no evidence that he
is currently pulling up any trees for Antalyaspor. Rather, although only 30,
he seems a player drifting to the end of his career, a player with his best
days very much behind him. We need a faded star whose legs have gone,
remember Álvaro Arbeloa, like we need a hole in the head.

So that inevitably brings us to a consideration of Newcastle United's
midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. Shelvey has been consistently linked with a move
to West Ham throughout the Window. On the face of it there is much to
recommend such a move. Newcastle apparently needs to sell to fund further
recruitment. Shelvey is in the right age bracket, 5 years younger than Nasri
at 25 with his best years ahead of him. On the other hand, since he joined
Newcastle two years ago, he has been an inconsistent performer, despite
impressing on his debut against West Ham. The main question mark hangs over
his disciplinary record. He has picked up two red cards this season. On the
other hand he has earned praise for his long-range shooting and his ability
to pick out passes. These prize and rare attributes gained Shelvey England
recognition. Why then would Newcastle release such a talent? The fact is
that for whatever reason Shelvey is not delivering. He has yet to register a
goal or an assist this season.

Despite these drawbacks my instinct is that Shelvey could be a good fit for
West Ham. We are unlikely to attract a world class number 10 even if we
could afford the staggering transfer fee which would accompany such a move.
Shelvey would most fit the profile of affordability, potential talent and
proven experience. As a bonus as a childhood Hammer supporter Shelvey is
allegedly also keen on the move.

There is undoubtedly some attitudinal and disciplinary baggage. With our
current management setup, this does not over concern me. Moyes has already
shown that he can manage big and allegedly difficult personalities like
Arnautovic. No matter how big a personality Shelvey may consider himself, I
doubt that he will over awe characters like Moyes or Pearce.

So why have we not sealed a deal? According to reports West Ham, whilst
keen, are balking at Shelvey's £90,000-a-week wages. It is not clear as to
whether these are demands or simply match what he is currently on.

If Shelvey was recruited on these wages he would immediately catapult into
the highest wage bracket at the club. Most damagingly he would almost
certainly exceed the wages currently paid to Lanzini.

I can understand Sullivan's reluctance to disturb wage structures. Already
West Ham appear willing to pay over the odds. Any potential move away from
West Ham for Ayew is likely to flounder because clubs cannot, apparently,
afford his wages. Even defenders like Fonte are reportedly on wages of
£65,000 a week, making moves away unlikely. This is no small issue. One of
the structural problems which eventually led to Aston Villa's relegation was
the ridiculous and unwieldy wage burden which eventually crippled the club.

However west ham also require some realism in their wage structure. If
Shelvey's wages do indeed dwarf Lanzini's this will need to be rectified
anyway. If not then Lanzini will feel the need to move on. The fact is that
West Ham are paying 2 of their highest wages to Hernandez, and Hart, over
£100,000 a week, both of whom can best be described as average performers.
It is likely that at least hart, and probably Hernandez will be released
from the wage bill in the summer. The alleged £85,000 that the perennially
unfit Carroll is supposed to pull in a week, places the £90,000 for a fit
young developing creative midfielder of international pedigree in context.

Shelvey could provide an important element to the club. He would provide not
just competition but support to Lanzini. If either is struggling to master
play then either could be relieved from the bench. In the event we are
having to chase a game then both could be thrown on to a do or die effort to
break down a defence. With these options it would be much harder for teams
to simply target Arnautovi? for rough treatment to eliminate the West Ham
threat. My view is that the Board should make this happen, even if the
result is a renegotiation for Lanzini.

COYI
David Griffith

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Joao Mario closes in on West Ham loan move as David Moyes confirms medical
JACK ROSSER
ES Sport

West Ham are closing in on their first January signing after David Moyes
confirmed that Inter Milan midfielder Joao Mario is in London undergoing a
medical.
The Portuguese, who played alongside Hammers defender Jose Fonte on their
way to winning Euro 2016, is set to move to London Stadium on loan as Moyes
looks to bolster his ranks. The former Manchester United has been looking to
add numbers this month, making it clear just how short he feels he is in
terms of squad numbers. That need has only been heightened in recent days,
after it was confirmed that star pair Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini
would be out for the best part of a month, while Andy Carroll is sidelined
for three months. When pressed on whether reports of Mario flying to London
were correct, Moyes revealed: "Your sources are correct. "It is a loan, we
I'll be able to tell you more once it's done."

Considering just how short Moyes' squad is, the Scotsman has been at pains
to make it clear he did not want to sell anyone this month. He did, though,
admit that the club had snubbed an offer for Andre Ayew, a target for former
club Swansea City, but that it would not be accepted 'as it is'. "I never
said we want anyone to go. If someone comes up we will look at it but as far
as I am concerned, no-one is going," Moyes told reporters. "I think there
has been an offer [for Ayew] but we wouldn't accept the current bid as it
is."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham launch £12million bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 25th January 2018
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have launched a bid to sign exciting Norwich midfielder
James Maddison. According to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg, the Hammers
have opened with a £12million offer for a player valued at roughly double
that by the Championship club. The 21-year-old - who has made 31 appearances
in all competitions for the Canaries this season - has been the topic of
much speculation in recent weeks, with several clubs having expressed an
interest. Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool and Leicester City have all
been cited as possible destinations for the England Under 21 international,
who began his pro career at Coventry before joining Norwich in February
2016. Maddison is contracted to the Championship club until the summer of
2019. He was watched by West Ham manager David Moyes at the weekend.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 25th January 2018

Martinez: Partnering Chicharito would be a dream come true
WHUFC.com

Toni Martinez says his dream will come true if he partners his 'idol'
Chicharito in attack at Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Injuries mean the young
Spaniard and Mexican are both likely to be involved in the Emirates FA Cup
fourth-round clash with the EFL League One leaders at the DW Stadium. And
the 20-year-old is excited by the prospect of playing alongside the striker
he watched playing for Manchester United and Real Madrid as a schoolboy. "I
wish I could play alongside Chicharito because he is one of my idols. It
would be a dream come true for me to play with him and, if I do, I'm going
to try to do my best and I am sure the goals will come," said Martinez.
"It's unbelievable when I think about players like Chicharito, who I can
remember watching at home on television when I was 12-years-old, and it was
my dream to play like him, and now I could play alongside him. Now, if I get
the opportunity to play with him, it would make that dream come true."

Martinez himself impressed in West Ham's third-round replay win over another
League One promotion-chaser, Shrewsbury Town, leading the line and assisting
Reece Burke's extra-time winner. With Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll ruled
out, the prolific youngster featured in both third-round ties against
Shrewsbury and was named on the substitutes' bench for Saturday's 1-1
Premier League draw with AFC Bournemouth. While he has sympathy for his
injured teammates, Martinez knows one player's misfortune is another's gain.
"I feel sorry for the other players, as injuries are no good for us and I
wish all the best for their recoveries, but their injuries bring me an
opportunity to show what I can do and I'm going to try to do my best and
impress the manager if I can. "Injuries are part of the game and, of course,
they are no good for anybody and I hope the boys are going to be back soon."

Martinez scored against Newcastle United and Middlesbrough while on loan at
Oxford United last season, and the forward is looking forward to featuring
in the world's most-famous knockout competition again. "I can't wait for the
next Cup game. The FA Cup is very important to West Ham, so we have to win
the game and get through. "I like the FA Cup and I'm going to do something
important again in the next game. I got two goals last season and an assist
against Shrewsbury, so we will see what happens in this one."

Having played in League One himself last season, Martinez knows an in-form
Wigan will be a tough nut to crack. The Latics have a strong squad and are
unbeaten in 14 matches dating back to 18 November. "I am not surprised with
the level of the League One clubs like Shrewsbury, as I played in that
division with Oxford last season, so I know they can play. "One hundred per
cent, the game on Saturday will not be easy. Wigan are top of the league and
they will try to play a bit more even than Shrewsbury, but hopefully we can
do better and get the win first time around this time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Noble: Hitting Premier League landmark feels phenomenal
WHUFC.com

When Mark Noble stepped onto the pitch a month ago at Stoke City, it was an
incredibly proud moment for the Newham-born West Ham United skipper. A
little over 12 years after making his debut in the competition, the Hammers'
3-0 victory at Stoke marked Noble's 300th Premier League appearance in
Claret & Blue.
Not only is Noble the first player in the club's Premier League history to
reach the milestone in their colours, but he has also spent his entire
career in east London after coming through the Academy ranks. Reaching the
landmark was a feeling Noble could never have envisaged a decade ago, but
one which makes him want to experience yet more highs with the club. He
said: "To reach 300 Premier League games not only with the club you support,
but the one you're born half-a-mile away from, where you used to kick the
ball up against the gates and try to sneak in without a ticket, is
incredible. "I made my debut in this league when I was 18. We had just been
promoted and I was named as a substitute against Blackburn. I came on for
Hayden Mullins and I remember going home afterwards and sitting on the end
of my mum and dad's bed a mile down the road from the ground. So to now
captain this great football club is special. "The two best games were both
against Manchester United – the one where Carlos Tevez scored for us to stay
in the Premier League and the last ever game at the Boleyn, which was just
such an emotional occasion. "I'm always going to be associated with West Ham
and playing so many games for the club you support in the Premier League is
phenomenal."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
New date for Manchester United clash
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's March fixture changes have been confirmed, with the visit
of Manchester United to London Stadium having been selected for live
broadcast.
The meeting with the Red Devils will now be played on Sunday 18 March, with
a 1.30pm kick-off. Please note that this fixture round coincides with the
date of the Emirates FA Cup sixth round. Should either the Hammers or
Manchester United progress to that stage of the competition, the fixture
will have to be rescheduled for later in the season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham 1-1 Bournemouth (And Other Ramblings)
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 24th January 2018
By: HeadHammerShark


"Why everything's turned inside out, instilling so much doubt
It makes me so tired, I feel so uninspired"
- Bic Runga, "Sway"


Thirty eight days.

Eleven games.

One replay.

120 minutes.

Ten injuries.

Zero new signings.

The sixth highest average attendance in Europe.

The thirteenth highest wage bill in Europe.

The tenth highest supporter spend in Europe.

The seventeenth highest revenues in Europe.

Still, Shrewsbury were well organised.

I don't think it should be too much of a surprise to anyone that we ran out
of steam today. This was a team that was not so much running on empty, as
crawling on their bloody hands and injured knees toward a far off oasis in
the desert. Since playing Arsenal on December 13th we have been averaging
two games a week and as a result our dressing room has a distinct ER vibe to
it.

5.55pm. The West Ham dressing room. Gary Lewin - what a signing!


This week Manuel Lanzini and Aaron Cresswell hobbled off to join Jose Fonte,
Winston Reid, Edmilson Fernandes, Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho, {pauses - my
fingers are cramping} Michail Antonio, Andre Ayew and Reece Oxford in the
corridors of Whipps Cross Hospital, and as a result our bench was like a
boyband audition. It is rarely promising when your substitutes are warming
up while singing "Backstreet's Back".

Worse still was the news this morning that Marko Arnautovic will also miss
significant time, with another hamstring related injury that we can't say we
weren't warned about by Arsenal fans, after they had years of them under
Gary Lewin.

But our failure to beat Bournemouth wasn't for a lack of effort, or indeed
of quality, but more a lack of fit bodies able to summon up the necessary
energy levels needed to influence games at this level. We dominated the
opening exchanges of each half, but couldn't find the breach in the wall
that would have allowed us to pour through. Bournemouth probably deserve
some credit for that, as they defended stoutly, rode their luck and engaged
in some typically world class shithousery.

But for all we might feel that we were the dominant force in the game, it is
worth pointing out that we were dead on our feet for the last period. After
Lanzini went off with the first hamstring injury heard all around the world,
we retreated deeper and deeper and resorted to smashing the ball long in the
vain hope that Javier Hernandez had transmogrified himself into Andy
Carroll.

What all of this did was highlight the folly of this squad composition.
Watching us put out a team at the moment is to be reminded of a Guy Ritchie
thriller, in so much as the twists are inevitable and when it happens it's
not actually thrilling. This is a disaster that has been months in the
making and if you'll excuse me repeatedly beating this dead horse I see here
in front of me, it is unbelievable that nobody at the club apparently saw
this coming.

We regularly top the Premier League injury tables, sold off more players
than we brought in, and overloaded ourselves in areas where we didn't need
to by buying players wholly unsuited to our playing style. If this January
goes the way we all think it will, then it would be the fifth consecutive
transfer window where the recruitment team at West Ham has failed. That is
some fucking record for people still in a job.

So while Joe Hart sits on our bench picking up a six figure weekly salary
for being inferior to our current keeper, we are forced to turn to members
of Blazin' Squad just to patch up our midfield with minutes to go in a
crucial game against relegation rivals. I say again - it defies belief that
apart from Bilic, those same people are still making the decisions about the
composition of our playing staff.

So, as frustrating as this game was, I think this was a fair enough result
given the circumstances. I couldn't fault the efforts of our exhausted
players, and on another day with some better luck we might have been ahead
at half time and given ourselves the opportunity to hit the visitors on the
break. As it is, perhaps everyone at the club can resolve to never again
approach a transfer window using the motto "Fortune Favours The Old".

***

"Lord, I tried enough, kept on hoping
Kept my fingers crossed, I tried everything I know"
- The Boothill Foot-Tappers, "Get Your Feet Out Of My Shoes"


After the game I was keen to see this Caley Graphics shot map as I was
interested to see how many truly good chances we created. We had so much of
the ball and pressed so well that it felt dominant, but I couldn't recall
too many clear cut opportunities. For instance, Pablo Zabaleta picked out
Marko Arnautovic with a fizzing first half cross and Asmir Begovic pulled
off a great save to deny the Austrian, but in reality I'm not sure he could
have done much more than he did, given that the ball arrived at such pace
and through a crowd of defenders. It was straight at Begovic and he did well
to tip it over.

As it turned out our best chance was probably when James Collins flicked a
header across goal for the stretching Lanzini to miss by inches at the back
post. I'm not sure it's a failure of xG as such, but chances like that don't
get captured on the map above.

But what was most encouraging in this game doesn't really show up there
either. Our football in the first half was as good as I've seen since Payet
left, and perhaps better than anything we've produced since we played
Chelsea off the park at Stamford Bridge in 2016. A game we drew, by the way.
See if you can guess who refereed that day and awarded Chelsea a last minute
penalty when Ruben Loftus Cheek fell over his own feet outside the box (*).

Arnautovic and Lanzini continued to show that quick thinking footballers
able to carry the ball at pace will inevitably always pose a threat. Behind
them our defensive pressing was outstanding, which meant that the visitors
simply couldn't get out of their own half. Having Cresswell back helped as
he snapped at the heels of attackers, and made sure that the distribution
had a bit less of a "smacking golf balls into the sea" feel than it did when
Collins and Ogbonna were having a go in his absence.

But as Begovic stood firm, we faded gradually because pressing with that
intensity requires a team with an average age of lower than 54. Not long
before half time I thought Bournemouth had scored when a well worked corner
kick flashed narrowly wide, but in general it felt that we'd let them off
the hook by not capitalising on that early pressure.

The second half, however, saw an upturn in fortunes as we pressed well once
again and began creating lots of promising situations going forward. There
was still frustration as we seemed to always be a slightly misplaced pass
away from being in, but we still had enough ascendancy to feel like the late
winner would be ours. Somewhat typically then, we conceded with twenty
minutes to go as Ryan Fraser slipped into the right side centre half's
channel and ran on to a lovely Junior Stanislas pass to drive home the
opener.

I thought Adrian got himself into a bit of a mess with his positioning and
ended up in the middle of nowhere and pointless, like a footballing
Creamfields if you will, but it was still a good finish. Sadly, this was
another goal conceded between our golden oldies of Collins and Zabaleta and
perhaps a salutary reminder that when half your back four qualifies for a
free bus pass, it's probably not wise to leave them one on one with fast,
nippy wingers.

Mercifully, Bournemouth then unveiled a flawless homage to Huddersfield as
they allowed us to equalise directly from kick off, when an Ogbonna punt was
flicked on by both Kouyate and Hernandez to Arnautovic. His shot was blocked
by Ake but bounced up nicely for Hernandez who poked home from ten yards. If
you haven't seen the goal, it is pretty much exactly what we signed him for,
and an enduring reminder of the value of a goal poacher. Rather than being
the springboard to a full blooded finale, however, it felt rather more like
the culmination of a month's worth of Herculean effort. We faded badly, and
were indebted to a couple of Adrian saves and some diffident finishing to
hold out for a point. For all that the visitors looked dangerous and so, so
pace on the break, in fairness, a defeat would have been wildly unjust.

(*) Bobby Madley. But you knew that. Even if you didn't.

***

"And I suppose that's the price you pay
Well, oh, it isn't what it was"
- Arctic Monkeys, "Leave Before the Lights Come On"


And now, at last, a break of sorts as we go to Wigan in the Cup. But for
Lanzini that break will last for at least a month and for Arnautovic three
weeks, and will rule them out of the vital home games with Crystal Palace
and Brighton. With them goes all of our attacking drive, leaving us at the
mercy of playing Hernandez or Ayew and all the evidence so far suggests that
the lack of artistry will be painful, and that this will work out about as
well as the time that Glen Roeder decided we didn't need any cover up front
as we had Ian Pearce in case things got a bit hairy.

Shit


All of this seems to me to be an inevitable corollary of having to play such
a ludicrous schedule, and using so few players in doing so. I know that some
fans think it was worth risking or even sacrificing our Premier League
status for a tilt at the FA Cup, and while I don't agree, I realise there
are many that do.

But this is the cost.

Lanzini played the full 120 minutes in the midweek game against Shrewsbury,
and Arnautovic came on as a substitute and when the body is pushed to those
sorts of limits then you see muscle injuries occur. In any other year, with
a better constructed squad and more cover and with the league not being so
tightly contested I would be the first to demand a cup challenge, but none
of that is the case right now. It is to the eternal shame of the club, but
we simply don't have the playing resources to compete on two fronts at the
moment.

I think, therefore, that this has been the first misstep that Moyes has
made, and by overplaying the likes of Lanzini, Arnautovic, Ogbonna, Masuaku,
Kouyate and Obiang he opened us up to an unnecessary and potentially fatal
risk of being without them in games that really matter. It is my fervent
hope that when that team is announced at Wigan on Saturday that the most
common response from most us will be "who?"

What is particularly painful about losing Lanzini and Arnautovic is that
their nascent partnership was just starting to take shape. I'm not sure I
really believe that there is anything much more to it than just the simple
fact that they are both classy players who understand the way in which the
other is trying to work. Those movements into space that each of them can
read before the other does it - to me that's just what good players do, and
they do it better than any of our other strikers.

Presumably we will now see Hernandez return, at which point I suspect we
will see the canny interplay disappear, as we will simply have to try and
figure out ways of getting the ball into the box at the earliest opportunity
for the Mexican to try and latch on to. My worry about that is that it
places too much burden on uncreative players to do the creating, but also
that we've been so ineffective when Hernandez has been on the pitch. This is
primarily because he likes to play high, and off the last defender and he's
not really into the idea of mazy dribbles and quick one twos that pull
defences open. At present our most inventive attacking threat is probably
Arthur Masuaku. Let's all take a moment shall we.

With our yeoman midfield behind providing stability but not much attacking
threat, we really, really, really need the medics to patch up Michail
Antonio and then find Jack's YouTube password because when the entire bottom
half of the table is separated by two wins, you cannot take survival for
granted. Plenty will disagree, I know, and it pains me to say it because I
have frequently said that if we aren't trying to entertain and win trophies
then we're merely taking up space, but that was also said in the context of
us having a squad that could beat Shrewsbury without needing 210 minutes to
do it. It's also true that the league doesn't have any obviously cut adrift
teams at this point - God, I miss Sunderland - meaning that a couple of
losses can drop a team like a stone.

Where have you gone, Jozy Altidore, our nation turns it lonely eyes to you


I would even go so far as to suggest that this might be the most important
eight days of Sullivan's tenure so far. Inertia now could see us relegated.
A typical overspend could see us unable to sign anyone in the summer. Ho
hum, Sully, you haven't even told us how hard you're working yet. Is
everything ok?

I'm not saying that I don't understand those who would prioritise a Cup run
over league position, but I think it does need to be pointed out that the
league position we might end up forfeiting could be 17th. That seems far too
high a price to pay for the inevitable Fifth Round away trip to Old
Trafford.

***

"I'm crazy
Crazy for feeling so blue"
- Willie Nelson, "Crazy"

Here is something I observed on Saturday which I have decided to call The
Three Stages of Pablo Zabaleta.

Picks up the ball on the edge of his box

I am abandoning my post and going on a wonderful adventure!

Passes the halfway line

Blimey, I'm certainly not playing for Manchester City anymore am I! Where
the fuck is everyone?


Loses the ball high up the pitch

Oh my God. There are people trying to kill me, everything is on fire and
their winger is in behind me again! I think Big Andy's gone down again!

I think Pablo needs a rest.

***

"Oh I really want to know
So tell me, where does all the money go?"
- The Libertines, "What a Waster"


I wonder, then, about our transfer activity. Things have changed a lot in
the last eighteen months, as the fan backlash finally seems to have
convinced the club to keep more of their activity in house and limit
official announcements made via the Twitter account of the owners' teenage
son. (I wonder how many times Real Madrid bloggers have ever had to write a
sentence like that).

But what also seems to be evident is that something is off. We shipped out
more players than we brought in this summer, and some even requiring our CFO
to look up the term "profit" for the first time. But even with that, and
even with the alleged increased revenues from the move, we still seem to be
wanting to let someone go before we can bring anyone in.

If that is true, it suggests that the next company accounts will be
fascinating reading. We've seen the Mayor's report so we know that West Ham
contributed very little to the stadium conversion, meaning that the bulk of
our costs are therefore out on the pitch. I don't know the details of our
wage structure, but Hart and Hernandez are perhaps the two best paid in the
squad. Along with Carroll and Reid they occupy a huge slab of our overheads
and yet are so rarely on the pitch.

So. Much. Money.


The folly of not treating good health as a skill on a par with finishing or
passing is once more haunting us, as we suffer our annual injury crisis and
are again forced to convert Rush Green into a field hospital. It still
boggles my mind that anyone would want us to sign Jack Wilshere given that
this crisis is literally a yearly occurrence. Karren should really replace
the crossed Hammers with crutches if she wants total brand synergy.

I've written in the past about the stupidity of our January transfer
activity, and we shouldn't ignore the fact that when you do dumb things like
pay £10m for Robert Snodgrass, the repercussions of that are felt for a
while. It's entirely possible that we wasted some of the summer budget last
January, and the domino effect has trickled all the way to here. If I'm
honest, I can't actually see how that could be the case given that we got
£25m for Dimitri Payet, but I'm clutching at straws, because the alternative
is that they spent it all on wages or are choosing not to spend money at
all, and either of those would be too depressing a reality for a January
evening.

As it is, I don't want the club to waste yet more money on desperation
signings, but doing nothing is no longer an option. A deeper midfielder is
vital to cover Noble and Obiang, and a player with the ability to create
chances is equally important, be they a striker or a wide player. I have no
idea where Moyes goes from here tactically, but we'll probably have to
accept a reversion to the cautious defensive pragmatism of his early days as
we try and inch our way clear of the quagmire. It is at times like this that
I am grateful to have him - the thought of Bilic trying to get something out
of this team is terrifying.

And so it is that we might look back on these cold, soaking wet, slate grey
January games and be eternally grateful for the points we eked out when we
were at our lowest ebb. This might feel like a disappointing result, but
context remains our friend and with our sights now set so low they might as
well be underground, this scrambled equaliser could be priceless.

And so on we limp, the walking wounded who now finding walking a bit of a
struggle. Context might be important, but on another day, at a later date,
with safety secured, we're really going to have to have a chat about what we
all think is an acceptable return for all of those big numbers at the top of
this article. I don't know about you, but I sure as hell don't feel like
this is it.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the
author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be
attributed to, KUMB.com.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham close to signing Joao Mario on loan from Inter Milan
Last Updated: 24/01/18 8:27pm
SSN

West Ham are close to a deal to loan Joao Mario from Inter Milan after the
midfielder had a change of heart about the move, according to Sky sources.
The 25-year-old was initially reluctant to move to West Ham but is now
believed to be open to making the switch to London. The deal between the two
clubs will see Mario move to West Ham on loan with an option to make the
deal permanent for £26m in the summer. Mario has featured intermittently
this season for Inter following the arrival of Luciano Spalletti as manager.
The Portugal international may have fallen further down the pecking order at
the San Siro following the arrival of Rafinha from Barcelona on Tuesday.
Mario joined the Italian side for £35m from Sporting Lisbon in 2016 after
helping his country to victory at Euro 2016.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham home in on Joao Mario
Jason Burt, chief football correspondent
24 JANUARY 2018 • 9:43PM
Telegraph.co.uk

West Ham United are close to agreeing a deal to sign midfielder Joao Mario
from Inter Milan. Talks have continued between the two clubs over the size
of the loan fee but it is understood that Mario has already agreed on the
move which is expected to include an option to buy him at the end of the
season.

Inter had asked for a loan fee of £1mn for the 25-year-old Portuguese
international who was also wanted by Watford – before the sacking of head
coach Marco Silva - and a number of other clubs around Europe. West Ham, who
will cover his wages, do not want to pay that much but talks are continuing.

West Ham manager David Moyes has made strengthening his midfield a priority
during this transfer window and has been considering a number of options.
Mario has more than 30 caps for Portugal and cost Inter £36m when he moved
from Sporting Lisbon in 2016.

Moyes has also run the rule over Real Betis midfielder Fabián Ruiz and
watched him play in the 5-0 defeat by Barcelona where he also watched
Barça's Andre Gomes who is out of West Ham's reach.

While Moyes was in Spain, West Ham's assistant manager Stuart Pearce watched
Anderlecht's Leander Dendoncker but the trip proved to be wasted as he
played in defence. Dendoncker had been identified by director of player
recruitment Tony Henry, but the fact he has been playing at the back has
pushed the 22-year-old down West Ham's list of midfield targets.

West Ham are dealing with a raft of injuries with Andy Carroll out for three
months after undergoing an operation on a hairline fracture to his foot.
Manuel Lanzini is also out for two to four weeks with a hamstring injury
while there is also concern over Marko Arnautovic. Arnautovic has been in
impressive form recently, scoring six times in his last 10 appearances but
also has a possible hamstring problem.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Marko Arnautovic delivers message to West Ham fans after sustaining
hamstring injury
The forward could miss three weeks of action with a hamstring injury
Football London
ByTashan Deniran-Alleyne
20:00, 24 JAN 2018

West Ham United forward Marko Arnautovic has taken to social media and vowed
to come back stronger from his injury setback. Ahead of the FA Cup
fourth-round clash against Wigan Athletic this weekend, the Hammers were
dealt a double injury blow with the news that the Austrian as well as
influential playmaker Manuel Lanzini both suffered hamstring problems during
the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth last time out. It's been reported since that
one is more serious than the other but both players are set for an extended
spell on the sidelines - at a time where David Moyes can't afford to be
without two key players. Unfortunately, Lanzini's injury is deemed more
serious. He was substituted just past the hour mark at the London Stadium
last weekend and following a scan on Monday and it is feared he will be out
for at least six weeks with his problem. Meanwhile, Arnautovic felt his
hamstring in the early stages of the clash against the Cherries but
completed the entire 90 minutes and the early indication is that he will
miss three weeks of action - although it could be more.
In a bid to raise spirits amongst supporters, the 28-year-old has posted a
message via his official Instagram account which read: "Come Back Stronger"
with the 'COYI' hashtag accompanying it. Since Moyes replaced Slaven Bilic
as manager in early November, Arnautovic has been one of many players to
respond in some style. His first Premier League goal earned a shock 1-0 win
over Chelsea last month and his form has continued to rise. He's got five
goals and three assists in his last six league outings, but along with
Lanzini looks set to miss games against upcoming games in the top flight of
English football against Crystal Palace, Watford, Brighton, Liverpool and
Brighton & Hove Albion.

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