West Ham claim victory as agent admits striker was theirs all along - Daily
Mail
Last updated at 10:47am on 3rd August 2007
West Ham are convinced they will face no more legal problems after a
£2million agreement with Carlos Tevez's agent that will allow the striker to
join Manchester United. As part of the settlement, the player's agent Kia
Joorabchian agreed to acknowledge that West Ham owned Tevez's registration -
effectively spiking the guns of any remaining legal action from Sheffield
United, who believed the Hammers should have been deducted points over the
affair.
Premier League lawyers were today analysing every detail of the agreement
but were expected to consent to Tevez's protracted move to Old Trafford in
time for the opening league game against Reading on 12 August.
A club spokesman said the agreement was a victory for West Ham: "This
settlement, if agreed by the Premier League, should bring to an end to all
of the legal issues relating to Carlos Tevez. "The arrangements put in place
confirm that the player's contract and registration have remained with West
Ham throughout this saga."
The club are confident the deal puts an end to any further legal action
against them from Joorabchian. They point to the irony that Joorabchian
launched the legal action against the club but he has ended up up paying
them £2m.
Questions will still be asked how the Argentina star's value has plummeted
from an estimated £35m at the end of last season to only £2m on the eve of
the new campaign.
Marlon Harewood, who only scored four goals for the club last season, moved
to Aston Villa for £3m more last month. Joorabchian's High Court case
against the Hammers was set for 22 August in which he was due to argue he
should only pay £100,000 to release his client. West Ham were set to counter
that by suggesting a new third-party agreement drawn up by new chairman
Eggert Magnusson on 1 December last year - that consented to Tevez leaving
for that figure this summer - was not signed by the player until the season
had finished.
Joorabchian, who fronts Media Sports Investments and Just Sports Inc - the
companies which own the economic rights to Tevez - had threatened last month
to produce "explosive" evidence he could help Sheffield United's club's
cause in their fight for compensation. That evidence, if it existed, may now
never come to light as both parties are believed to have signed a secrecy
agreement over the full details of the whole sorry saga. With Joorabchian
acknowledging West Ham did own Tevez it severely dents the possibility of
any successful compensation claim from Blades chairman Kevin McCabe.
Tevez is believed to have pleaded with Joorabchian to agree a higher
settlement figure than he wanted to play in order to allow the striker to
move on and start playing again. Magnusson inherited a problem which was
none of his making and was subsequently forced to pay a fine of £5.5m after
the club were found guilty of breaking Premier League rules regarding
third-party ownership. Meanwhile Joorabchian must have been apprehensive
that Tevez's proposed deal to United could have been in real jeopardy had
the case dragged on even longer.
Tevez's value to United will only become apparent when he lines up in attack
with Wayne Rooney. Sunday's Community Shield against Chelsea will come too
early for him to play, should the deal go through today, as he has been on
holiday. However, the striker has already taken a medical at Old Trafford.
Friday, August 3
Web Digest [ West Ham United ] - 3rd August 2007
West Ham set to agree Tevez deal - BBC
West Ham striker Carlos Tevez will be free to join Manchester United this
weekend, BBC Sport understands. The player's representatives and the Hammers
have agreed to compensation of about £2m and he can move as soon as the
Premier League approves the deal. Tevez will return from his holidays this
weekend to finalise a two-year loan move to Old Trafford on a salary of
£4.5m a year. United then have an option to buy Tevez on a three-year
contract for £30m. With the threat of High Court action on 22 August hanging
over negotiations, talks have been ongoing this week. All sides were keen
for the matter to be settled ahead of that time with the transfer window
closing on 30 August. Tevez's switch to United had stalled over who will be
paid the transfer fee. The Premier League and West Ham said the Hammers
should receive the fee but companies MSI and Just Sports Inc, which belong
to Tevez's representaive Kia Joorabchian, said they owned the striker's
economic rights. BBC Five Live's Nigel Adderley said: "West Ham need to
reach a settlement which proves to the Premier League they are the
significant beneficiaries of any transfer involving Tevez." Tevez,
meanwhile, has said he expects to join United, adding: "To play for a
super-club like Manchester United without any pre-season work behind me is
going to be a real handicap."
West Ham striker Carlos Tevez will be free to join Manchester United this
weekend, BBC Sport understands. The player's representatives and the Hammers
have agreed to compensation of about £2m and he can move as soon as the
Premier League approves the deal. Tevez will return from his holidays this
weekend to finalise a two-year loan move to Old Trafford on a salary of
£4.5m a year. United then have an option to buy Tevez on a three-year
contract for £30m. With the threat of High Court action on 22 August hanging
over negotiations, talks have been ongoing this week. All sides were keen
for the matter to be settled ahead of that time with the transfer window
closing on 30 August. Tevez's switch to United had stalled over who will be
paid the transfer fee. The Premier League and West Ham said the Hammers
should receive the fee but companies MSI and Just Sports Inc, which belong
to Tevez's representaive Kia Joorabchian, said they owned the striker's
economic rights. BBC Five Live's Nigel Adderley said: "West Ham need to
reach a settlement which proves to the Premier League they are the
significant beneficiaries of any transfer involving Tevez." Tevez,
meanwhile, has said he expects to join United, adding: "To play for a
super-club like Manchester United without any pre-season work behind me is
going to be a real handicap."
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Adios! - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 2nd August 2007
By: Gordon Thrower
It appears the long-running Carlos Tevez saga is about to come to an end.
Reports tonight suggest that United have come to an agreement with Kia
Joorabchian and his companies MSI and Just Sports Inc over the Argentinian
international's registration. It is believed that the two companies, who
claim ownership of any economic rights deriving from the transfer, have
agreed to pay 'somewhere between £1-3m' for the club to release Tevez from
his registration to enable his move to Manchester United to take place. The
deal will need to be ratified by both the Premier League and FA sometime
tomorrow (Friday 22nd August) as, in the event that the football authorities
fail to agree to the deal, Joorabchian will need to submit the appropriate
paperwork to the High Court to enable his legal action to take place. As far
as we are aware, Kevin McCabe has yet to comment, but we expect more
falsehoods and hypocrisy out of Yorkshire as soon as Sky can get a
microphone in front of the less than camera-shy property developer.
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Tevez set to seal United move - Sky
Deal for Argentine striker finally agreed
By Peter O'Rourke Last updated: 03rd August 2007
Carlos Tevez is expected to complete his protracted move to Manchester
United this weekend. Widespread reports claim West Ham and Carlos Tevez's
advisers have finally reached an agreement over the Argentine's
registration. All parties have been holding talks this week in a bid to
thrash out a deal with the threat of High Court action hanging over the
transfer. An agreement which will see the Hammers paid around £2million in
compensation is reported to have been agreed on Thursday night. It means the
settlement of the £30million lawsuit brought against West Ham by Tevez's
agent Kia Joorabchian has also been ratified. The Premier League and
Football Association are expected to sign off the deal on Friday allowing
Tevez to put the finishing touches to his move to Old Trafford. A two-year
loan deal is thought to be on the table that would cost United around
£5million a year with United then having the option to sign him permanently
on a three-year contract. The agreement is set to end long-running transfer
saga of the summer and finally see Tevez make the move to Sir Alex
Ferguson's side before the start of the season.
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Eggert eyes Tevez solution - Sky
Hammers chairman wants matter settled
By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 02nd August 2007
Eggert Magnusson believes the Calos Tevez affair could be resolved in the
next 24 hours. The Argentine has been unable to complete a move from West
Ham to Manchester United this summer due to a dispute between the two clubs
and agent Kia Joorabchian. Fifa has refused to arbitrate on Tevez's contract
situation and the matter is due to be settled at the High Court on 22nd
August. However, negotiations are ongoing and Hammers chairman Magnusson
hopes Tevez's future will become clearer before the weekend. He admits it
would not be good for the player to start the season in limbo and would like
to see Tevez back doing what he does best. "He's a player so he should be
playing," Magnusson told Sky Sports News. Asked if the matter would be
resolved in 24 hours, Magnusson replied: "I hope so. I would be delighted of
course. "I just hope the whole thing will be settled soon."
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Hammers 'ready to release Tevez from contract' - Soccernet
West Ham are expected to announce tomorrow that they will release Carlos
Tevez from his contract and registration after they tonight agreed a deal
with his representatives. The end of the dispute will then allow the
Argentina striker to pursue a move to Manchester United. The agreement,
which still needs to be formally ratified by the Premier League and Football
Association, will see the Hammers paid between £1million and £3million in
compensation. The deal will also mean the settlement of the £30million
lawsuit brought against West Ham by Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian. Lengthy
talks today ended with an agreement between both parties and tomorrow the
league and the FA should sign off the deal - Premier League lawyers have
been kept up to date the progress of discussions. Joorabchian will then be
able to try to sew up an agreement with United to allow the striker to join
up before the start of the season.
In the unlikely event of either side having a last-minute change of heart,
the only other avenue would be a lengthy High Court battle and there has
been an acknowledgement that that would be in neither party's interests.
Manchester United have already indicated a desire to take Tevez on the same
sort of loan package that saw Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano move to
Liverpool last season. That deal took some weeks before it was signed off by
the Premier League but with that transfer having already been picked over by
the lawyers, a similar deal for Tevez should go through much quicker. The
agreement with West Ham brings an end to a long-running and painful saga for
the club that began when former chairman Terry Brown signed Tevez and
Mascherano under banned third-party agreements last summer. The club were
fined £5.5million as a result by a disciplinary commission in April and that
led to an unsuccessful legal challenge by Sheffield United, who claimed they
should have been docked points.
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West Ham Utd vs Roma: match preview - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 2nd August 2007
By: Matthew Coker
At long last, the waiting is nearly over. After three months of what has
laughably been called a summer, we are just week away from a return to some
proper football.
I am heartily looking forward to waving a cheery two fingers to all things
that could only exist in the close season, namely Big Brother, non-football
matters taking prominence on the most important page of the daily
newspapers, invasion of the KUMB message board by teeny boppers, the
infernal transfer rumours exaggerating player's pecuniary value and least
missed of all, Saturday afternoons spent in B&Q.
One week prior to the Premiership kick off, we welcome visitors from the
Eternal City, in the form of Associazione Sportiva (AS) Roma for the final
pre season friendly of the season, where we kick off at the Boleyn at 3pm on
Saturday afternoon.
Football wise, the Giallorossa's last campaign was a case of the doing just
about what was expected of them. The background to the last Italian season
was very much the Calciopoli scandal which for the need to keep things short
was a match fixing scandal that saw Juventus relegated to Serie B and points
deductions for Fiorentina, AC Milan and others.
Roma managed to stay out of the way of any accusations and the penalties
doled out to many of the usual title contenders paving the way for them to
compete for Lo Scuddetto as well as upgrading their Euro campaign from the
UEFA Cup to the top tier competition.
Our opponents finished as league runners up, though they were over 20 points
off the top spot and never really came close to the eventual champions,
Inter Milan. Success did come in the Italian Cup where they won the
competition beating Inter 7-4 over two legs, the tie effectively finishing
after they won the first leg by a 6-2 margin.
Their Champions League run came to a spectacular end as they were spanked
7-1 by Manchester United at Old Trafford. This was something of a shock to
most people in the football know, Roma had beaten the much fancied Lyon in
the previous round and had looked the better side in the first leg with
United, where they should have won by a bigger margin than the 2-1 result
that they achieved.
In respect of this pre-season, they have spend the last couple of weeks in
Germany where a pretty much first choice line up was beaten 4-0 by Borussia
Dortmund in their first game and another strong side drew 2-2 with Bayer
Leverkusen last weekend. It should be noted that their domestic season does
not kick off until August 26th and a lack of match sharpness told,
particularly in the first game.
The club coach is the popular figure of Luciano Spalletti, who previously
took minnows Udinese to Champions League qualification before Roma came
calling in time for the 2005/06 season. Stepping into a chaotic background
where four coaches had been in charge of the side in the previous season, he
changed the playing principle to one of all out attack, which helped to
break a Serie A record by notching up 11 consecutive victories.
Spalletti tends to favour a 4-2-3-1 formation with two holding midfielders
and three attacking midfielders, including two wingers, all feeding into the
main frontman, Francesco Totti.
It is impossible to think about Roma without Totti being the first player
that springs to mind. He has attained legendary status with the club's
supporters as a consequence of his world class football ability and his
loyalty that has seen him turn down opportunities to move to more successful
clubs. The first club to try to pry him away was AC Milan, when he was a
mere youth, a deal that was vetoed by his Mama, who was determined to keep
him close to her. Whether it is his devotion to the club's badge or the pull
of the maternal apron, Totti has exclusively played his club football for
Roma throughout his career.
Despite being given lone striker status, Totti is essentially what would be
described as a number 10, a playmaker or what the Italians call a
fantasista. His strengths lie in his ability to create chances and he is a
highly skillful manipulator of the ball and more than capable of taking
opponents on. He also has a lethal strike of a dead ball and is a free kick
specialist, especially from distance (worrying when you look at the number
of long rangers we have given away in pre-season). His prowess in front of
goal was underlined last season where his tally of 26 gave him the European
Golden Boot and this in spite of him missing six penalties.
Having had a quick ogle at the Totti on show, there are a few other players
to watch for at the weekend. Defensively, the team has just sold Christian
Chivu to Inter, splitting up the successful centre back partnership that he
had with Frenchman, Philip Mexes. Chivu's replacement will be Brazilian
centre back, Juan, who has captained his national side on occasion,
including the recent final of the Copa America. Roma also picked up the
highly rated Italian U21 prospect, Marco Andreolli, as part of the Chivu
deal. Christian Panucci is also at the club but missed last weekend's game
as a result of an injury picked up against Dortmund.
24 year old, Daniele Di Rossi should feature as part of the holding midfield
duo of the side. He is a Romanista and a product of the youth team who has
been identified as a long term replacement to Totti as club captain, though
he has also been the subject of Spanish admiration and it seems his loyalty
to the club will be tested in the long term. He is a competitive player, as
shown by his dismissal for elbowing Brian McBride's boat in the World Cup
finals, but he returned to the Azzurri line up and featured in the final
where he scored in the penalty shoot out.
There is much flair in the attacking midfield, not least from Brazilian,
Mancini. He was initially earmarked as a replacement for wingback, Cafu, but
as time has gone on, his role has become more advanced, not least because of
the vital and spectacular goals that he has scored at club level. It is one
of modern football's mysteries as to why he has never featured for his
national side, but so far even Dunga, who has selected more European based
players than a Brazilian coach normally would, has overlooked Mancini. He
also missed last week's game through injury so is not certain to feature
against us.
The club has recently added Frenchman, Ludovic Giuly, to the staff and he
made his debut last weekend. He joined from Barcelona in a £2m deal and will
bring further flair and pace to the side. In the middle of the three will be
Simone Perrotta who has been with the club since 2004. It was much mentioned
by commentators during the last World Cup, that Perrotta was born in
Ashton-under-Lyme and it was therefore possible that he could play for
England. However, given the choice of playing for the country that you had
lived in since you were six years old and that has a realistic chance of
World Cup glory every time or having the job of trying to cover up for the
inadequacies of Frank Lampard, which would you do?
"Only one player had ever run up to the Roma end and given their fans a
one-fingered salute …. I just ran and ran, straight towards the Curva Sud,
where the Roma fans were sitting. The roar at my back, from Lazio's Curva
Nord, was spurring me on. I ran right under the fans, finger raised, face
contorted in a mixture of ecstasy, relief and fury."
Paolo describes the low key celebration of his first Derby del Cupolone
goal. Paolo di Canio – The Autobiography.
I will make an attempt to predict the outcome of this one, but the result is
clearly not most important factor of the afternoon. This final pre-season
friendly will be the one that gives us the greatest clues about what Curbs
intends to do by way of a line up on the opening day. The most interesting
choices are to be made at centre back, where I am guessing that Anton being
the quickest will be one of the starters alongside our £6 million number
six, Matty Upson.
The other Matty is the subject of the other main question, Etherington or
Boa Morte on the left as both have made positive contributions in the other
pre-seasons. There are also decisions to be made over who will keep Scott
Parker's place warm in the middle, Noble should start but who partners him
is open to discussion.
No doubt, match fitness will still be being sought in all areas and as many
opportunities to integrate newbies Freddie Ljungberg and Craig Bellamy with
the rest of the squad will be welcomed.
One point to mention regarding Ljungberg is that I've not seen my missus as
enthusiastic about a West Ham player since Di Canio's soap advert a few
years back. The combination of Totti on one side and Ljungberg on the other
has meant that she has already had the digital camera charged up last
weekend ahead of this game. I personally long for the days when players
looked like players as the Iain Dowies and Tony Adams of this world never
gave me cause to get down the gym, let alone moisturise.
Score-wise, these games often end in a draw, followed by a fairly pointless
penalty shoot out. I'll go for 2-2, with us coming second on penalties and
I'll put forward Anton to miss the decisive one.
Enjoy the game.
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Craig Bellamy in more fighting talk - Telegraph
By Marc Isaacs
Last Updated: 1:36am BST 03/08/2007
Craig Bellamy is prepared to have a major altercation in the West Ham
dressing room this season if he feels it gives the club a boost in their
push for Uefa Cup qualification. Question marks were raised when Alan
Curbishley made the bold decision to spend £7.5 million to secure Bellamy's
signature from Liverpool during the summer, not least because of his
reputation as one of football's most controversial characters. The Wales
captain has certainly shown he can be one of the best strikers in the
English game, but has also attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons. He
was alleged to have attacked his Liverpool team-mate John Arne Riise with a
golf club on a training camp in Portugal ahead of last season's Champions
League first knockout round clash against Barcelona at the Nou Camp -
although Bellamy and Riise then scored in a 2-1 win. And before that Bellamy
was charged by police but found innocent of assaulting a 19-year-old woman
in a Cardiff nightclub.
So he could be forgiven for choosing to keep his head down and let his
football do the talking - but that is far from the case and he is intent on
causing more mayhem in the West Ham dressing room this season. He said:
"What happens when you step over the line [in the dressing room]? Is that
wrong? One of the best dressing rooms I have been in was at Celtic. "There
were fights and arguments every week. They won everything and got to the
Uefa Cup final. "They were all close friends but they demanded things from
each other. Are you out of order if you demand too much from your fellow
workmate? I don't know."
Bellamy says he has got a lot to prove to the West Ham supporters this
season and wants to have the same impact that Carlos Tevez had at the club
last year. Tevez became a hero at Upton Park last season with his
performances in the final part of the campaign and Bellamy is hopeful he can
have a similar love affair with the fans. Bellamy said: "I can only do that
by playing well and obviously [Tevez] did that, so, if I perform, hopefully
I can get the respect. But that can only happen by playing well. "You are
always looking to prove things when you go to a new club. You are looking to
win the fans over. I am definitely looking to prove something but I have
nothing to prove to Liverpool. I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to
play at that great club. "I have signed a five-year contract. I want to
cement my name here. When people talk about me, it will be about West Ham
and that is my motivation and drive."
Despite the club narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League last
season, Bellamy is confident that West Ham have enough quality in their
squad to push for a European spot this time. He said: "Every season is
different. The season before last I was at Blackburn and we talked about
getting into Europe and we achieved it so hopefully it will be the same here
with the same result. "It is very easy to talk things down and live in the
comfort zone and create no expectations because anything else would be a
bonus then. You see a lot of managers and players do the same. I learnt it
off Mark Hughes - why not expect and demand things of yourself? And that is
what I am trying to do here. "The players here have done it before. The
season before last they finished ninth and got into Europe via the FA Cup,
so hopefully we can go down the same route and hopefully it will be the same
result this time."
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West Ham agree £2m Carlos Tevez deal - Telegraph
By David Bond
Last Updated: 1:36am BST 03/08/2007
Carlos Tevez looks set to finally complete his move to Manchester United
after West Ham and the player's agent Kia Joorabchian agreed a £2 million
deal yesterday to release him from his contract at Upton Park.
Although the agreement still needs the approval of the Premier League and
the Football Association, there was growing confidence from all sides last
night that the tortuous saga was close to a conclusion.
A statement outlining the peace deal could be made today, provided there are
no last-minute hitches.
Under the terms of the agreement, MSI and Just Sports Inc, the two companies
who own Tevez's economic rights, will pay West Ham £2 million to effectively
buy him out of the remainder of his contract.
Although Joorabchian, the frontman for MSI and Just Sports, initially tried
to resist paying West Ham any money, the Premier League insisted the club
receive a fee in recognition of their decision to terminate the third-party
deals which landed them in trouble with the League in April.
As part of the settlement, Joorabchian has agreed to acknowledge that West
Ham did in fact own the player's registration and had a three-year contract
with the 23-year-old striker.
At the same time, he has agreed to halt his £30 million High Court action
against the club for ripping up the third-party agreements with MSI and Just
Sports to enable Tevez to play in the climax to last season's Premiership
campaign.
Tevez will now be free to sign for United and is likely to join his new
team-mates in time for Sunday's Community Shield against Chelsea at Wembley.
Obtaining official clearance for him to play is expected to take a little
longer, however. Having spent the last four months dealing with the fallout
from the player's arrival in English football last August, the Premier
League are unlikely to rush his move to Old Trafford.
Craig Bellamy in more fighting talk
However, news of the out-of-court settlement between West Ham and
Joorabchian may not be the end of the affair for the League.
The revelation on Tuesday that West Ham drew up a new third-party deal for
the player on Dec 1, following Eggert Magnusson's takeover at Upton Park,
has raised new questions over the League's handling of the case against the
club, which resulted in a £5.5 million fine rather than a points deduction.
Kevin McCabe, the chairman of relegated Sheffield United, said he was
considering legal action following the emergence of the new document, even
though West Ham claim it was never activated because Joorabchian and Tevez
failed to sign it until June.
"One of the reasons why West Ham were fined and not docked points by the
independent commission in April was that it was all done by the old regime
and that the new regime under Eggert Magnusson had clean hands," McCabe
said. "This document shows that was not the case. The whole thing is a
shambles and a disgrace to the national game, and we are weighing up our
options."
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Red Tevil - The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
August 03, 2007
CARLOS TEVEZ will move to Manchester United next week after a personal plea
to Kia Joorabchian. West Ham will pick up £2million and tycoon Joorabchian —
who owns the player's economic rights — pockets £10m. The Argentine striker
yesterday agreed a two-year loan deal at Old Trafford, with a further
three-year option, that will net him £22m in wages. Tevez persuaded
Joorabchian to accept the compromise offer, thrashed out by West Ham, that
satisfied the Premier League's demands over third-party ownership.
Joorabchian had insisted he would only pay West Ham £100,000 for releasing
Tevez's registration or go to the High Court seeking £40m damages from the
Hammers. As Tevez headed to United, England ace Alan Smith was all set to
quit for Newcastle in a £6m deal. Premier League chiefs had insisted Tevez,
23, was worth around £6m and after two days of talks aimed at stopping an
escalating legal battle, that valuation was dropped by £4m. A friend of
Tevez revealed: "Carlos has been talking at length to Kia because he wanted
the mess sorted out to everyone's benefit. "He loved playing for West Ham
and will never forget the way the fans treated him. Carlos has persuaded Kia
to pay them £2m to release him. "He feared the court case could drag on and
damage his career while he waited for the legal wrangles to be sorted out.
"On top of that, Carlos has not been getting any wages and his fitness
levels dropped while he was out of the game. "Kia put the player before
business considerations even though it has cost him a substantial sum of
money. "He wants to see Tevez get on with his career and put all of this
behind him."
Tevez flies in next week to sign and hopes to be fit enough for the start of
United's title defence. It is understood he has already completed his
medical despite West Ham originally withdrawing their permission. His move
will bring an end to the long-running ownership saga with West Ham fined a
record £5.5m by the Premier League for infringing contract rules. Relegated
Sheffield United tried to get West Ham deducted points, that would have sent
them down instead. But the Blades were unsuccessful at a Premier League
arbitration panel.
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Hammers settle for £2m pay-off to release Tevez - This Is London
02.08.07
Carlos Tevez will finally sign for Manchester United after his 'owner' Kia
Joorabchian and West Ham reached an out-of-court agreement last night.
Joorabchian's company, MSI, have agreed to pay West Ham £2million to release
Tevez's registration and clear the way for him to complete his move to
United. The Premier League are expected to rubber-stamp the details of the
deal today, an action which will also end a very uncomfortable period for
chief executive Richard Scudamore. Tevez, 23, has long since agreed personal
terms with United and the Argentina forward will fly into the country this
weekend to tie up the details of his move.
***** He has already passed a medical at Old Trafford — before West Ham
withdrew permission for his move — so another will be a mere formality. ****
United will pay Joorabchian £10m to acquire Tevez on what is effectively a
two-year loan deal — worth £4.5m in wages a year to the player — and then
have the option to make the transfer permanent for another three years for a
further £25m. Last night's negotiations ended a long running and often
bitter dispute between West Ham and Joorabchian, who owned Tevez's economic
rights. Joorabchian, who masterminded the deal to bring Tevez and Javier
Mascherano to Upton Park from Brazilian club Corinthians last year, took
West Ham to the High Court to claim breach of contract. He believed an
agreement had been signed for Tevez to leave for £100,000 this summer but
the matter had become confused when the Premier League fined the London club
£5.5m in April for striking a deal which gave a third party influence over
the player. Joorabchian eventually decided that Tevez needed to return to
training and complete the move, without the prospect of a long drawn-out
court battle. After weeks of arguments, the parties clashed in court on
Tuesday with West Ham's lawyers querying the authenticity of a Tevez
signature on a contract amendment, dated December 1, 2006. Joorabchian had
hoped to secure the release of Tevez's registration for a lesser fee but was
concerned by the fact that the striker, after competing in the Copa America,
was still in South America, training alone as the Community Shield looms.
Tevez was desperate to take part in the Wembley showpiece against Chelsea on
Sunday but will not now feature. Instead, he will join up with his new
team-mates next week to start his preparation for the Premiership season.
For United, it marks a successful conclusion to another transfer hunt. They
have already added Owen Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson to their
championshipwinning squad for a combined fee of more than £50m. Manager Sir
Alex Ferguson and his chief executive, David Gill, have always maintained
their belief that Tevez would be in their squad before the transfer deadline
on August 31 and they have been proved right.
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Hammers boss gambles on brawl boys as Dyer joins forces with old foe - This
Is London
02.08.07
Having set about dismantling a dressing room infamous for gambling,
drinking, fall-outs with fans and nightclub brawls, many will question Alan
Curbishley's decision to turn West Ham into his very own version of the
movie Fight Club. Gracing Upton Park this season will be Craig Bellamy —
think golf club and former Liverpool team-mate John Arne Riise's legs — and
then there's Freddie Ljungberg, who famously clashed with Swedish
international teammate Olaf Mellberg while on World Cup duty. With the
expected signing of Kieron Dyer, 28 , f o r £5million — he had a medical
yesterday prior to agreeing a three-year deal — there is a reunion with his
old mate Lee Bowyer, the pair having disgracefully come to blows on the St
James' Park turf while playing for Newcastle.
Anton Ferdinand, meanwhile, goes on trial for assault and violent disorder
in November — he vigorously denies the charges — over an incident outside an
Ilford nightclub. So it is safe to assume life at West Ham this season will
be anything but dull. What makes it perplexing is that Curbishley generally
avoided bringing in players euphemistically described as 'big personalities'
while managing Charlton. One notable expectation was the signing of
largerthan- life Italian striker Paolo Di Canio, ironically from West Ham,
which Curbishley admitted was a personal test of his man-management skills.
'I never asked anyone about him before he signed for us and the main reason
for that was because I didn't want to be turned off the idea,' he said in
his autobiography.
So how will Curbishley fare now?
Dave Bassett, who knows a thing or two about handling a lively dressing room
from his time with Wimbledon's Crazy Gang, said: 'You would describe the
moves as a calculated risk. But even if three out of four signings are
successful he has still pulled it off. Where it would be a disaster is if
all of them flop.
'Curbs has been around long enough. Perhaps the question mark is that in the
past he's never been in the market to go and buy these type of players. He
will realise that if he moves into the higher echelons of the so-called top
players, you've got to be able to deal with it.' Bassett is sure Curbishley
will have sought advice from others in the game before taking the plunge on
the likes of Bellamy and Dyer. He said: 'Dyer has had his problems but he is
at a good age. It might suit Dyer to be in London rather than in Newcastle.
He will not be such a big cheese in London as he was on Tyneside. 'Bellamy
is a talented boy. He is always going to have plenty to say but as long as
Curbs lays down what he wants, he'll have no problems.' Bellamy admits he
sees nothing wrong with giving his new team-mates a gee-up in his own
inimitable style. 'Is that wrong?' he asked. 'One of the best dressingrooms
I have been in was at Celtic. There were fights and argu-ments every week.
They won everything and got to the UEFA Cup Final. 'They were all close
friends but demanded things from each other. Are you out of order if you
demand too much from you fellow workmate? I don't know.'
Bassett sees no problem in players voicing their opinions and says there is
no need for them to be the best of friends, as long as they work together on
the pitch. He said: 'Every player doesn't have to like each another but
everyone has got to have respect for one another and the manager. When the
player puts on the shirt, the fact that you might not like him or you might
not necessarily have him round for dinner doesn't matter. 'Doing the job and
winning is what matters. It is not a leisure centre where you want everyone
to get on and have a chit-chat. You're there because winning matches is a
serious business.
'Players will have opinions and you have got be able to deal with that.'
Hammers fans worried that their side may make more headlines off the pitch
than on it can take comfort from the fact that Curbishley missed out on Joey
Barton. Shaping a group containing Bellamy, Dyer, Bowyer, Ljungberg and a
brawling Barton into a winning unit may have proved simply too risky — even
for Curbishley.
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Hammers up for Fight - the Mirror
By James Nursey And Martin Lipton 03/08/2007
Bad boy Craig Bellamy wants to see the West Ham dressing room become the
Premiership's unofficial Fight Club. With infamous brawlers Lee Bowyer and
Kieron Dyer set to be re-united in the East End, Alan Curbishley's training
ground could resemble a sparring gym more than a football club. Yet Bellamy,
whose Liverpool exit was confirmed after the golf club incident which left
John Arne Riise cowering in terror last season, believes bruising clashes
off the pitch can provide the impetus for the Hammers getting it right on
the field. Bellamy, forced out of Newcastle after his fierce clashes with
former manager Graeme Souness, insisted that the best way of forging a
winning spirit in any team is for a manager to encourage the tensions within
the dressing room to boil over. He said: "One of the best dressing rooms I
have been in was at Celtic where there were fights and arguments every week.
"They were all close friends but they demanded things from each other and
Celtic won everything domestically during that time and got to the 2003 UEFA
Cup final. "It is very easy to talk things down and live in the comfort zone
and create no expectations because anything else would then be a bonus. "You
see a lot of managers and players do that but I learnt off Mark Hughes at
Blackburn to expect and demand things of yourself and others and that is
what I am trying to do here. "I don't think you are out of order to demand
too much from a team-mate" It seems that Bellamy has taken upon himself the
role of winder-up-in-chief at his new club, where Curbishley had to battle
to assert his own authority last season. Yet the Hammers boss is clearly not
afraid of collecting players who come with a reputation as trouble-makers.
And Bellamy, branded "the nutter with the putter" after the flare-up with
Riise, will find no shortage of team-mates who have shown a willingness to
mix it with their colleagues in the past. While Dyer's St James' Park spat
with Bowyer was the most memorable, the pair have a longer track record of
excess, both on the pitch and in their off-field lives. Australian defender
and new Hammers skipper Lucas Neill is hardly a shrinking violet and
£3million recruit Freddie Ljungberg has twice gone head-to-head - and
fist-to-fist - with Swedish team-mate Olof Mellberg. Whether Curbishley
would take such a positive view of regular outbreaks of aggression by his
new signings is less likely, given that he sacked defender Andy Todd at
Charlton after a dust-up that left goalkeeper Dean Kiely with bruises and a
black eye. While players do not have to get on personally to work well
together - witnessed by Teddy Sheringham's non-relationship with Andy Cole
at Manchester United and the animosity directed at Emlyn Hughes by members
of the all-conquering Liverpool side under Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley -
punch-ups would normally lead to forced exits.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy sealed his Manchester United fate with Sir Alex Ferguson
when he fell out with new talisman Cristiano Ronaldo. Manchester City
decided that Joey Barton's clash with Ousmane Dabo last season was the straw
that broke the camel's back, while Edgar Davids lasted just a couple of
months at Tottenham after a flare-up with Robbie Keane. And of course, West
Ham's Chadwell Heath training ground was the venue for one of the most
shocking cases of player-rage ever witnessed, when John Hartson kicked
Israeli midfielder Eyal Berkovic in the head during a row in 1998.
Slugfest!
Kieron DYER
"The Suffolk Punch"
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 8in
Style: Bling in every sense, with a reputation to match. Ruck with Bowyer
came out of the blue. Injury-prone. Previous form: Cautioned by Newcastle
for urinating in public, wrote off Ferrari after crashing into a bridge
stanchion, Bowyer row.
Lee BOWYER
"The Cockney Urchin"
Age: 30 Height: 5ft 9in
Style: Attack dog of a midfielder, with a hairtrigger temper and a
preference for handing it out without much notice Previous form: Running
spat with David Beckham, incident in an East London McDonalds, acquittal
over Leeds nightclub accusations, on-field punch-up with Dyer
Freddie LJUNGBERG
"The Flying Swede"
Age: 30 Height: 5ft 9in
Style: Punk rock fan and Calvin Klein model with a rebellious streak and
happy to kick Arsenal in the guts after his move to the Hammers. Previous
form: Two major punch-ups with Olof Mellberg at the 2002 and 2006 World
Cups. Sparked the first by mocking the defender's "Matalan" dress sense.
Craig BELLAMY
"The Cardiff Cruncher"
Age: 28 Height: 5ft 6in
Style: Abrasive counter-puncher, never short of an opinion. Happy to mix it
with team-mates, managers or opponents. Previous form: Stand-up rows with
Graeme Souness, text message war with Alan Shearer, throwing a chair at
Newcastle coach John Carver, golf club assault on John Arne Riise
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Tevez: It's over at last - The Mirror
£2M deal will let Carlos join United today
By Martin Lipton Chief Football Writer 03/08/2007
Carlos TEVEZ can join Manchester United today after a deal was reached
between West Ham and Kia Joorabchian's MSI over the Argentina striker's
registration. Weeks of increasingly fractious negotiations ended with MSI
agreeing to pay the Hammers around £2million for Tevez's registration and
contract.
That figure - far more than the £100,000 MSI were initially prepared to pay
- will bring the matter to a close without the need for a messy High Court
case in which the Hammers stood to be accused of illegally tearing up their
contract with Tevez's third party owners. Once the deal is formally ratified
by the Premier League and the FA today, it will allow United to complete
their agreement with Joorabchian over the Argentine and apply for the
striker - now officially a free agent - to be registered as an Old Trafford
player. But the Premier League and West Ham could still find themselves on
the receiving end of a huge compensation claim from Sheffield United who
maintain Tevez should not have been allowed to score the goals that
effectively relegated them last term.
Last night there was a sense of relief at Upton Park at the end of a long
and bitter spat which has benefited nobody. Talks went on throughout
yesterday to find an agreement after the two sides faced the prospect of a
messy and potentially embarrassing court case. But a breakthrough finally
came as MSI's lawyers stepped back from all-out conflict to find a
resolution acceptable to both sides, even if it has seen the investment
company pay far more than they wanted to free Tevez from his entanglement
with the Hammers.
West Ham insist the payment is not a transfer fee for the player, but a
settlement which recognised that Tevez was under contract with the club, and
that a compensation payment was required. There is still the possibility
that the Premier League, which will go through the terms of the deal with a
fine toothcomb, may not give its approval. United will sign Tevez on an
initial two-year deal, paying £10million up front, with an option to
complete his £30million signing at the end of that period.
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Neill's Champions dream - The Mirror
03/08/2007
West Ham Lucas Neill has revealed a burning desire to play in the Champions
League - but doubts he can achieve it with the Hammers. The Australian
international, 29, admits Alan Curbishley's side might not be big enough to
fulfill his ambitions and would love to play for one of the Big Four and
play in Europe. Neill said: "I have surpassed all my dreams. I always wanted
to be a professional soccer player and I always wanted to play for
Australia, so to do both at 17 and then 18 was something. "I wanted to play
Premier League and I did that at 21. I was hopeful of captaining Australia
and did that at 28 and 29. I hoped to help take Australia to a World Cup and
I've done that. I still want to play for one of the Big Four in the
Champions League. "I want Australia to qualify for the World Cup and I want
us to win the Asian Cup, but my goal now is to help other Aussies set and
achieve their goals. I can do that now I am where I am." Neill, who moved to
this country on his own to play for Millwall when he was only 17, says any
young Australians who go to England must stand on their own two feet. "I
left home for the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra when I was 15 so
I was quite mature when I went to England at 17 in as far as I could wash my
clothes and I knew the basics of cooking," he says. "The club wanted to give
me a maid but I said no. I grew old before my time." But Neill admits there
were growing pains. Neill said: "I got sucked into being the young and
single lad living in London and all it has to offer. "Every now and then I
showed a little bit of unprofessionalism." He dismisses with a wave of his
hand the notion he was being a normal young Aussie bloke on an overseas
adventure. "Just a normal guy?" he asks. "Well, I'm not a normal guy. I
can't have the life other people have and I had to realise that. "I was
quick to correct myself because if you don't you'll get found out.
"Australians only get one chance in England, so you give it everything
you've got. We're different from the English guys because we don't take it
for granted. We can't."
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Hammers set to earn £3m from deal on Tevez - The Independent
By Sam Wallace
Published: 03 August 2007
The Carlos Tevez saga approached its endgame last night with both sides
preparing to settle on a deal that would allow the player to be released
from his current contract with West Ham for a fee that would earn the club
up to £3m. Sources close to the negotiations said they hoped to make an
announcement today.
At the heart of the issue is West Ham releasing the Argentine from the new
contract that he signed with the club in April after the ruling that the
previous agreement he had with them was illegal.
Tevez's four-year deal with West Ham will potentially, under the terms of
the settlement currently being negotiated, be dissolved which will allow him
to move to Manchester United for a fee that will be paid directly to the
companies that own his "economic rights". Last night it appeared both sides
had acted to ward off the possibility of the case going to the High Court on
22 August by coming to an agreement that would earn West Ham up to £3m for
giving up the registration.
It is important that they earn some money from the transfer because
otherwise it would appear to the authorities that nothing has changed from
the original illegal third-party contract.
Eggert Magnusson and his legal team will sanction the deal only if it is
carried out with Premier League approval. They would hold Tevez's
registration until he was transferred but the money generated by that move
would effectively go to Kia Joorabchian's companies Media Sports Investments
(MSI) and Just Sports Inc (JSI) companies, who own Tevez's rights.
They could benefit by up to £20m depending on the kind of deal they can
agree with United. However, that deal will only take place once the current
settlement under negotiation is agreed with West Ham.
While it is has been suggested that United already have a loan deal in place
for Tevez, Joorabchian will want to maximise his returns on the player's
registration if he is forced to pay out a multi-million pound settlement to
release him from West Ham.
The saga began when West Ham signed Tevez and Javier Mascherano under banned
third-party deals. The club were fined £5.5m by a disciplinary commission.
That led to a failed legal challenge by Sheffiield United, who claimed the
Hammers should have been docked points.
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West Ham pave way for Tevez move with £2m deal for release
Andy Martin
Friday August 3, 2007
The Guardian
West Ham are expected to announce today that they will release Carlos Tevez
from his contract and registration after they last night agreed a deal with
his representatives. The end of the dispute will allow the Argentina striker
to pursue his move to Manchester United.
Tevez's representatives, Media Sports Investments, have agreed to pay West
Ham £2m to release the player. The agreement still needs to be formally
ratified by the Premier League and Football Association but they are
expected to sign off the deal today.
The deal will also mean the settlement of the £30m lawsuit brought against
West Ham by Tevez's agent, Kia Joorabchian. The Hammers had demanded £5m for
Tevez, with Joorabchian willing to pay only £10,000 and the matter was
heading for the high court until yesterday's breakthrough.
The Premier League had insisted that West Ham must receive around £6m for
Tevez, who was instrumental in keeping the Hammers in the Premiership last
season, but the league appears to have shifted its stance.
Tevez will move to Old Trafford for two seasons on loan, with Media Sports
Investments, the company fronted by Joorabchian, and Just Sports Inc, which
owns the player's economic rights, receiving £10m. United have the option of
making the deal permanent for a further £20m. The player will earn around
£3.5m a season and could make his debut against Reading at Old Trafford on
Sunday week. There were reports that the 23-year-old had already completed a
medical even though Upton Park had refused permission.
The agreement brings an end to a saga for the club that began when the
former chairman, Terry Brown, signed Tevez and Javier Mascherano, now at
Liverpool, under banned third-party agreements last summer. The club were
fined £5.5m as a result by a disciplinary commission in April and that led
to an unsuccessful legal challenge by Sheffield United, who claimed West Ham
should have been docked points. Tevez's arrival at Old Trafford has allowed
Sir Alex Ferguson to take stock of his striking options and, with an
embarrassment of riches in attack - new signings Nani and Anderson will also
compete to partner Wayne Rooney - the United manager yesterday allowed Alan
Smith to move to Newcastle United for £6m.
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Spector backs West Ham's USL agreement
tribalfooball.com - August 02, 2007
West Ham United's USA international defender Jonathan Spector is delighted
with the club's ground-breaking partnership agreement with United Soccer
Leagues (USL). He told whufc.com: "This is a great move to share the West
Ham United Academy system with clubs throughout the USA through the USL. I
look forward to welcoming American teams, coaches and players to Upton Park
and the training ground."
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West Ham chairman keen to see Tevez move on
tribalfooball.com - August 02, 2007
West Ham United chairman Eggert Magnusson is prepared to see Carlos Tevez
complete his move to Manchester United. "He's a player so he should be
playing," Magnusson told Sky Sports News. Asked if the matter would be
resolved in 24 hours, Magnusson replied: "I hope so. I would be delighted of
course. "I just hope the whole thing will be settled soon."
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West Ham offer bumper contract to Reading's Shorey
tribalfooball.com - August 02, 2007
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley is still keen on signing Reading defender
Nicky Shorey. The 26-year-old has not signed a new deal with the Royals,
despite talks, and the Hammers are willing to pay him around
£40,000-per-week, says the Daily Mail.
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Thursday, August 2
Web Digest [ West Ham United ] - II 2nd August 2007
Homeless World Cup kicks off in style - WHUFC
02/08/2007 09:09
02/08/2007 09:09
More than 500 players from 48 nations have united in Copenhagen for the fifth Homeless World Cup this week, with former Premier League legend Eric Cantona and HRH the Crown Prince of Denmark both in attendance.
The Homeless World Cup brings the true grit spirit and glory of the beautiful game to the City Hall Square, as players who are currently homeless take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives.
As a spectator at this international football tournament, Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark applauds the proud achievements of the players and supports the Homeless World Cup's commitment to use football as a trigger to enable people who are currently homeless to improve their own lives right the way around the world. He will open the final, kicking off at 5.00pm on Saturday, 4th August, and present the two finalist nations with their player medals.
Mel Young, President of the Homeless World Cup said: "We are delighted the HRH Crown Prince of Denmark will be able to attend the final of the 5th Homeless World Cup. Copenhagen 2007 will be the first royal final, marking a very special occasion for the players' who are proud ambassadors for their countries, with some truly remarkable achievements among them. Sport has the power to change lives."
Meanwhile, former Manchester United star Eric Cantona hosted a special training clinic on Tuesday 31 July 2007, as the Homeless World Cup competitiors benefited from the Frenchman's club and international experience.
Cantona, a true artisan of the beautiful game, is inspired by the Homeless World Cup's mission to use football as a trigger to encourage people who are currently homeless to change their own lives for the better. He said: "Football unites; it inspires and it energises individuals communities and the world. Football and the Homeless World Cup has the power to fire up a person to excel as a human being, to change their lives for the better. It is fantastic that football brings this opportunity to their lives."
77% of players change their lives for the better after participating in the Homeless World Cup, coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into homes, jobs, training, education, repairing relationships with families, and even becoming coaches and players for semi and pro football clubs. An estimated 25,000 players have been trying out for a place on this year's national team.
The Homeless World Cup is inviting fans around the world join the fan club to support the power of football for social change, the power of football for all:
www.homelessworldcup.org/fanclub
About the Homeless World Cup
The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are currently homeless and excluded from around the world to change their lives for the better. It also supports and inspires grass roots football projects around the world working with homeless and excluded people throughout the year.
The Homeless World Cup was co-founded by world leading social entrepreneur Mel Young and Harald Schmied and is supported by Nike and UEFA. The Ministry of Social Affairs, City of Copenhagen and Ombold are the hosts the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup, with RealMæglerne, GB and Politiken as national sponsors.
Log on to www.homelessworldcup.org for more information.
Nations participating at the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup:
Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Krgyzstan, Liberia, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, Ukraine, USA, Wales, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
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Ticket Office information - WHUFC
02/08/2007 14:42
The Ticket Office can confirm that all priority point applications received from season ticket holders for our first Barclays Premier League away fixture of the new season, against Birmingham City on August 18, will have been successful.
Applications will be processed and tickets posted shortly.
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Tevez talks reach crucial stage - BBC
West Ham and Carlos Tevez's advisers are to continue talks to resolve the dispute over the player's registration. If the matter is not resolved on Thursday, it is almost certain to go to the High Court on 22 August. The 23-year-old striker's advisers have to lodge their court papers after Thursday, a move which would make an out-of-court settlement unlikely. Tevez wants to move to Manchester United but his representatives and West Ham are at odds over his ownership.
The Argentine is desperate for the issue to be resolved. "To play for a super-club like Manchester United without any pre-season work behind me is going to be a real handicap," he said. If the matter goes to the High Court, the hearing is scheduled to take up to three days meaning if Tevez is allowed to join United, he would be able to do so before the transfer window shuts on 31 August. However, BBC Five Live sports news correspondent Nigel Adderley believes the dispute could be resolved on Thursday. "It could be done on Thursday. I understand there is cautious optimism from some of those involved," he said.
Tevez's switch to United stalled over who will be paid the transfer fee. The Premier League and West Ham say the Hammers should receive the fee but Kia Joorabchian's companies MSI and Just Sports Inc claim they own the striker's economic rights. Adderley explained: "West Ham need to reach a settlement which proves to the Premier League they are the significant beneficiaries of any transfer involving Tevez. "I think if they were to receive £2-3m from MSI, I think they'd release his registration." Any deal agreed would then have to be ratified by the Premier League.
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Tevez fears for career - Sky
Argentine worried about lack of pre-season preparation
By James Pearson Last updated: 02nd August 2007
Carlos Tevez fears his first season with Manchester United could be severely handicapped due to lack of pre-season preparation. The Argentina international had been expected to join The Red Devils earlier this month, but a dispute over pay between West Ham and Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian has held up the move. Tevez had been in peak condition after helping his country to the final of this summer's Copa America, but is now kicking his heels ahead of his Old Trafford switch. The all-action striker is mentally prepared for linking up with Sir Alex Ferguson's side but fears he is missing out on much needed pre-season work with his new colleagues. "We need a solution quickly so that I can get on with my career," Tevez told the Daily Mail. "To play for a super club like Manchester United without any pre-season work behind me is going to be a real handicap. "I am a fighter and am prepared for any challenge. But this is going to be very difficult. "I desire a swift solution and demand now that all parties arrive at an agreement because I just want to play. "Mentally I am prepared to play for United at any moment, but physically it may be more difficult the longer it goes on."
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Controversial England star to sign for West Ham in £5m deal
Last updated at 15:56pm on 2nd August 2007
Alan Curbishley is set to add Newcastle's Kieron Dyer to his West Ham squad today for £5million. The Hammers boss will hand the Newcastle midfielder an £80,000-aweek four-year contract despite a string of injury and personal problems during his eight years on Tyneside. Dyer received a warning from the club's management after he was filmed urinating in public and he once memorably crashed his Ferrari into the famous swing bridge in the middle of Newcastle. He also refused to play on the right side of midfield for Sir Bobby Robson in a match at Middlesbrough in 2004. A year later, the 28-year-old famously came to blows with Lee Bowyer, a potential new West Ham team-mate, during a match against Aston Villa at St James' Park. With the fractious Craig Bellamy and Freddie Ljungberg already in the melting pot at Upton Park, Curbishley may have his hands full this season but this latest signing could prove a masterstroke. Dyer has undoubted talent but has been plagued by all manner of ailments including shin splints, hamstring, calf and thigh problems, so extra care will be taken with his medical today. He won his way back into the England squad for the friendly against Brazil in May, thanks largely to former West Ham physiotherapist John Green who has worked with the player over the last year. Should Dyer complete the signing it would reinforce club chairman Eggert Magnusson's determination to continue to sign Premiership-based players. Curbishley began the trend last January when he added Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson, Luis Boa Morte and Calum Davenport to his squad.
This summer Scott Parker was added to the mix along with Bellamy, Ljungberg and Dyer with the only arrivals from foreign clubs being Spaniard Kepa Blanco, who joined on loan last season, and French midfielder Julien Faubert, who is ruled out until Christmas through injury. West Ham are hoping to further add to their squad with the signing of another striker, with Eidur Gudjohnsen being tipped to return to the Premiership from Barcelona. There was also still hope today that a solution to the Carlos Tevez affair would be found without the need to go to the High Court as the striker pleaded with the club to let him go to Manchester United. A three-day hearing is scheduled to begin on 22 August but there were signs today that significant progress had been made between the lawyers of West Ham and Kia Joorabchian. Tevez told Sportsmail: "We need a solution quickly so that I can get on with my career. "To play for a super club like Manchester United without any pre-season work behind me is going to be a real handicap. "My hope was I'd be involved in the Community Shield against Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday. That I am not is very painful."
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Spurs and West Ham hot on Barnes - Sportigo
Thu, Aug 2, 07 12:03Mark Apostolou
Derby County boss Billy Davies reportedly wants £5m for West Ham and Spurs target Giles Barnes (various). The highly-rated midfielder has been the subject of heated speculation for weeks now. it seems the Rams are resigned to losing 18-year-old Barnes and Davies said: "There has been interest in him. But it's so far away from any valuation we have that we've kicked it into touch."
When you hear statements that do not rule out a move entirely, they are generally a sign that once the right valuation is met then the player will be on his way. To be honest, £5m seems a little cheap. I know that at such a young age many would regard any such figure as a huge gamble, but Barnes has two seasons under his belt, and impressive ones at that. If I were either Spurs of West Ham, I would get the cheque books out pretty sharpish before someone else joins the race.
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Tevez hopes rise after talks begin
Matt Scott
Thursday August 2, 2007
The Guardian
Hopes were rising yesterday of a negotiated settlement to the Carlos Tevez affair as West Ham executives met representatives from Media Sports Investment and Just Sports Inc. The talks are thought to be the first held in person between executives of the two sides since a writ was served on the club by MSI-JSI last week.
Talks broke up last night without agreement and although the outlook is positive a court confrontation would seem inevitable if a deal is not secured today. After that MSI-JSI will have to lodge all their papers with the high court, making it much less likely a settlement will be reached.
Eggert Magnusson, West Ham's chairman, was not involved in the talks because he is expected to be called as a witness if the case reaches the high court for a three-day hearing from August 22.
Legal proceedings were initiated by MSI-JSI in an effort to force the forward's release and move to Manchester United before the end of the transfer window on August 31. The offshore companies are alleging that a contract drawn up by Magnusson, which required that Tevez move on July 1, had been breached.
The Hammers have questioned the validity of that contract, since it was not countersigned by the player, but MSI-JSI insist they possess an exchange of emails supporting their position. It is hoped that a settlement can be reached but West Ham are demanding a multimillion-pound fee to permit the player's release.
Tevez wants a swift resolution. "To play for a super-club like Manchester United without any pre-season work behind me is going to be a real handicap," he said.
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Iceman cometh? - Newham Recorder
01 August 2007
WEST HAM'S Icelandic connection could grow one link stronger with the news that Eidur Gudjohnsen would not be averse to a switch to Upton Park, writes LUKE WILSON. The former Chelsea and Bolton striker has seen his chances considerably limited since signing for present club Barcelona and after the summer capture of Thierry Henry, Gudjohnsen has moved a further rung down the ladder at Camp Nou. With this in mind, the 28-year-old is seemingly considering his alternatives and as his father and agent, Arnor, pointed out this week, a return to the Premier League could be a viable option and the Boleyn Ground a possible destination. "I have heard about the interest from West Ham, but there have been no talks as yet," said Arnor. "It would be something Eidur would consider as there are some Icelanders there with the owners and all. "Barcelona have always told him it is up to him what he wants to do and they will not stand in his way if he wants to go and they will be happy for him if he wants to stay. "Eidur will not rush a decision on his future and we will evaluate every option we have."
Hammers boss Alan Curbishley admits his squad is 'a bit skinny in certain areas' and that he will look for further reinforcements as the club aim to put last season's dalliance with relegation behind them. Gudjohnsen would add invaluable experience as well as no little amount of talent to the club, as his record of 78 goals in 177 starts for Chelsea illustrates. As part of the Premier League nouveau riche, West Ham have understandably been linked with a multitude of different players this off-season and that continued to be the case this week as it was suggested that Kieron Dyer and Alan Smith were also being targeted.
Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce has given Dyer the go-ahead to leave St James' Park and the England international would apparently prefer a move to London, with Spurs being the Hammers' main rivals for his signature. Smith, meanwhile, looks to have fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and his robust, no holds barred style would certainly add another dimension to the Hammers strike force.
THE dispute over the future of Carlos Tevez is scheduled for the High Court on August 22, although West Ham are still hopeful of settling before then. The player's representative Kia Joorabchian issued a writ to West Ham in an attempt to secure his proposed £30m move to Manchester United. Joorabchian's company claim they own the economic rights to the 23-year-old. The court date could mean Tevez's future may be decided before the transfer window closes on August 31.
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Curbs quick to set the critics straight - Newham Recorder
01 August 2007
ALAN CURBISHLEY has defended West Ham's multi million pound summer spending spree while also confirming that he will be more than willing to splash the cash again before the close of the transfer window, writes LUKE WILSON. The Hammers boss has been bankrolled to the tune of £23m by chairman Eggert Magnusson, money that he has used to capture record signing Craig Bellamy, along with Scott Parker, Julien Faubert and Freddie Ljungberg. However, Curbishley pointed to the fact that the club has recouped the majority of its outlay following the sales of Nigel Reo-Coker, Yossi Benayoun, Marlon Harewood and Paul Konchesky and hit back at suggestions that the club have been imprudent with their off-season dealings. "If you care to analyse it - Bellamy at £7.5million, I don't think's a bad deal, Parker at £7million is not a bad deal, Faubert at £6 million, although unfortunately he's got an injury - I don't think we've done too bad," he declared. "I think we've spent £23million but we've taken £21million in. "When you look at the clubs who have spent the money, there are five or six clubs who've spent more than us, Portsmouth and Fulham are two of them, but they've not taken money in as well. "Obviously we get the headlines, but if you care to look at it, I think we've done good business at the right prices and so some of the criticism that's been levelled at us, I don't quite understand."
The investment of the Icelandic backers has given the club an embarrassment of riches and the opportunity to compete with the more salubrious clubs in the country, something that West Ham have previously been unable to do. Despite the clutch of new faces who have come to Upton Park since May, Curbishley believes that his squad remains a little light in certain departments, a problem that he is looking to resolve in the coming weeks, especially given that most of his signings have been made on a one in, one out basis. "We still think we need a couple of players," he revealed. "We're a little bit skinny in a couple of areas and if we take a knock in certain areas, we'll be a bit stretched and so we're looking at that scenario at the moment. "If you look at what I've done, I've probably replaced people that have left. "Bellamy's come in if Tevez goes, Parker's come in for Reo-Coker, Faubert's come in for Yossi and Freddie's come in for him because he was going to be out for four or five months. "I've probably just replaced more than added to the squad and I think I'd like to add to it before the window closes.
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Captain fantastic - Newham Recorder
01 August 2007
LUCAS NEILL has expressed his immense pride at being handed the West Ham captaincy and promised to instil some die hard Aussie spirit into the club, writes LUKE WILSON. Alan Curbishley's decision to give the onus to the full back (pictured above) came as little surprise to those within the club after Neill had stepped into the breech to successfully cover for the suspended and now departed Nigel Reo-Coker. The Australian international has a fair amount of experience in the role having skippered his former club as well as his national team but having just returned from a disappointing Asia Cup, Neill admitted he was somewhat surprised by the announcement. "To be told on my first day back in training was a little overwhelming, it took me back a little," he said.
"It's a great honour and a job that I'm hoping to do to the best of my ability and ask others around, especially those who know the history of the club, and find out what standards should be set and met and just try and add a little Aussie influence as well. "We've all got that attitude in Australia - never give up, never say die type hunger to do well and I hope that bleeds into the team."
The 29-year-old was an integral part of the Hammers side that miraculously averted relegation last season and it is clear that his boss has every confidence in his ability to lead the side to better things this time around. Neill meanwhile stated that although he will be seen as the Hammers' figurehead, he will welcome the input of his colleagues and will not let complacency slip into his game, despite him now logically being the first name on the team sheet. "I might be the captain but leadership will come in different forms and I'm sure there'll be a few boys here who'll be quick to give their opinion if things are going well which is always a good thing and which means I won't get comfortable, especially if he (Curbishley) keeps bringing in competition for places," said the Aussie. "Me being named captain today is another major reason for coming here. "It wasn't the reason why I signed but I was told I was going to be a very important part of this squad and with the new additions and some of the older guys, lead by example, set the benchmark high and keep achieving the levels we should be."
However when asked about his sentiments on becoming the latest in a long line of illustrious players to have led the Hammers out at Upton Park and how it would affect his tenure as captain Neill concluded: "To have your name on that list is remarkable but I've got a long way to go to achieve what Bobby Moore's achieved. "It's a massive club with a great history and now I find myself wearing the armband and representing it, so I'm truly honoured.
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Deano silences the boo-boys - Newham Recorder
01 August 2007
Norwich City 1 West Ham Utd 2
A TENACIOUS performance ensured West Ham defeated Championship side Norwich City at Carrow Road on Tuesday night in their pre-season encounter.
Goals from Jonathan Spector and Dean Ashton - against his former club - gave Alan Curbishley's men a second win in three days, with Chris Brown's second half strike proving only a consolation for the Canaries, managed by former Hammers number two Peter Grant. The visitors made a bright start, enjoying the majority of possession and had it not been for the excellence of Norwich goalkeeper David Marshall, the Premier League side might have been 3-0 up inside the opening 10 minutes. First Luis Boa Morte's sixth-minute corner was met by Zamora, whose powerful header was palmed away on the line, then Bowyer met a Zamora cross with a firm shot that was somehow kept out by Marshall, before he again denied Zamora from close range. West Ham took the lead on 27 minutes when Zamora spun away from his marker and played in Boa Morte, who in turn found Spector to score his first goal for the club. Two minutes before half time Ashton (pictured) silenced the jeers of his former supporters, slamming the ball home from 12 yards after Boa Morte's shot had been parried by Marshall.
West Ham United: Green; Neill (McCartney 45), Collins (Davenport 45), Upson, Spector; Bowyer, Mullins, Noble (Etherington 70), Boa Morte; Ashton (Cole 79), Zamora (Bellamy 66).
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Freddie's relishing the new challenge - Newham Recorder
01 August 2007
FREDDIE LJUNGBERG'S first week as a West Ham man reached its crowning glory as he starred in the club's friendly win over Southend, scoring once and setting up another for Bobby Zamora. The Swedish star looked as if he had shaken off his pre-season cobwebs, as he produced an eye-catching display on his favoured right wing and seems to be already gaining an intuitive understanding with his new team mates. Ljungberg netted the Hammers' third goal after Zamora had returned the favour, providing him with the ammunition for the opener and the 30-year-old was delighted to have got off the mark. "It was nice to score my first goal and get the win," he said. "I was disappointed that we lost at MK Dons in my first game, but I thought we put in a good performance against Southend and it is starting to come together for the team."
West Ham's £3 million signing admitted though that it had been difficult for him to go from hardly kicking a ball for Arsene Wenger's men this summer to having two run outs in almost as many days. However, Ljungberg did admit that once his fitness is at its optimum level, Hammers fans will witness the quality with which he has graced the Premier League over the previous nine seasons with the Gunners. "I had only played 20 minutes with Arsenal in pre-season before I came here, so it has been tough to play two games in four days and train as well, but I felt good and was happy with my fitness today," he revealed.
"I am getting stronger each day and there is more to come from me. We have two weeks until the start of the new season, and it is all about working hard towards the game against Manchester City. "My first week has gone very well. We have some very good players here and they are a great bunch of lads, so I'm really happy and looking forward to the new season.
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Hammers enjoy a Southend beano - Newham Recorder
01 August 2007
Southend Utd 1
West Ham Utd 3
CRAIG BELLAMY and Freddie Ljungberg both opened their goalscoring accounts as West Ham highlighted a massive gulf in class between themselves and their League One hosts, writes LUKE WILSON. Over 2,000 of the Hammers faithful made the seaside jaunt on Saturday and were treated to a performance that certainly bodes well for the forthcoming Premier League campaign, with the two new boys giving the perfect illustration that their transitions into Alan Curbishley's side should be swift and painless. Bellamy was his usual hard-running, industrious self and his pace, which has been the undoing of many a top flight defender in the past, was a constant cause of concern for the Shrimpers, while Ljungberg's injury woes appear to have been resolved as he showed flashes of his inherent ability. It was evident from the early stages that last season's top scorer Bobby Zamora would be used as a foil for the Welsh international, playing the target man role, while Bellamy looked to dart down the channels to feed on through balls and flick-ons. In truth, it took Curbishley's men a while to get going but once they did so, they began to dominate proceedings. Zamora had their first effort of note but Southend stopper Darryl Flahavan was more than equal to his header, athletically palming the ball away to safety. The former Tottenham man was delighting in his partnership with Bellamy and it was the Welsh skipper's pacy run and cross that laid it on a plate for Zamora, but he somehow conspired to head against the bar from no more than two yards. Southend threatened briefly to break the deadlock as left back Steven Hammell forced Green into a smart stop at his near post but that was as good as it got for the hosts as the Hammers began to flex their muscles. After Bellamy spurned a good opportunity from a Ljungberg pass, the Swedish winger showed his class as he by-passed the Shrimpers defence with a sublime 40-yard cross-field ball and as the ball bounced in the box, Zamora cleverly looped a header over Flahavan and in off a post to put the Hammers ahead. West Ham were good value for their lead and only a sliding block from Peter Clarke prevented Noble doubling their advantage. The stay of execution was short-lived though as five minutes before the break an Etherington free-kick was volleyed against the woodwork by Bowyer but Bellamy was on hand to nod home as the Hammers led 2-0 at the interval. The game was ended as a contest soon after the restart as Hammell played a perilously weak back pass to his keeper which Zamora latched on to and having rounded Flahavan, he was the epitome of calm as he waited for Ljungberg to bound into the box and prod home the striker's cross. At 3-0, Southend looked more than a little disheartened but after they managed to pull one back when skipper Kevin Maher's long-range curler was deftly deflected by Clarke, Steve Tilson's men tried, ultimately in vain, to stage a come back, with Mark Gower and Billy Paynter coming close to further reduce the arrears. Bellamy had the best chance to add to the Hammers goal tally when sub Hayden Mullins' defence-splitting pass put him clean through but the experienced Flahavan produced the save of the match with his legs to deny the record signing his second of the afternoon. All in all, it was a well deserved win that provided Curbishley with another chance to run the rule over his charges as pre-season enters its closing stages, with Zamora and the newly-appointed skipper Lucas Neill making their first friendly appearances of the summer and Ljungberg and Bellamy seemingly getting better acquainted with their new team-mates. "I think it was a really decent game," said the Hammers boss. "I think when we scored the third it died a little but then Southend came back into it and kept going until the 90 minutes. It was a decent work out. We've all got through it and there's nobody with any knocks so we're happy. I think Freddie's got stronger as he's gone on. In his first training session on Tuesday he eased his way through. I think he eased his way through at MK Dons on Wednesday, trained well yesterday (Friday) and looked a lot better today. "He's a bit behind I think but we've still got couple of weeks. He's a naturally fit boy so we've got no problems with him I don't think."
West Ham: Green, Neill, McCartney, Noble, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Ljungberg (Reid 73),Bowyer (Mullins 65), Zamora (Cole 59), Bellamy, Etherington (Pantsil 79). Subs: Wright, Spector, Upson, Collins, Davenport.
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Eagles step closer to Hogan swoop
By Sami Mokbel
Crystal Palace target Hogan Ephraim has moved a step closer to a Selhurst Park switch after admitting his future lies away from West Ham. Eagles boss Taylor revealed he is interested in acquiring the 19-year-old forward's services earlier this week and it now seems his chances of swooping for the Upton Park starlet have increased after Ephraim admitted he is likely to leave the Premiership big-spenders. Ephraim has fallen down the pecking order at the Boleyn Ground after Alan Curbishley's summer acquisitions Craig Bellamy, Julien Faubert and Freddie Ljungberg - and it now seems the youngster has decided to cut his losses in search of first-team football.However, Taylor will face stiff competition for his signature from fellow Championship rivals Colchester United where Ephraim made 21 appearances as part of a loan deal last year. Ephraim said: "It doesn't look like I'll be in West Ham's first team now so I'm hoping for a loan move so that I can get regular football." "There has been a few clubs interested but only one has made firm contact with West Ham." He added: "I've asked the manager whether I can choose the club that is right for me to go on loan to but he may have a different preference and I would respect that."
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This murky Carlos Tevez transfer travesty is just a circus - Sportigo
Thu, Aug 2, 07 08:17Graham Smith
The saga of the Argentinian star's proposed move from West Ham to Manchester United has become a big bore. The High Court has to get it sorted out.
'There is no doubt United buying Tevez is a big story, and does deserve column inches, but I think it has had enough. There have been so many twists, turns and allegations'
On August 22, just over a week before the end of the transfer window, the long-running saga that is the Carlos Tevez affair finally goes to the High Court in London for resolution. I for one cannot wait for that to happen.
Every summer there is one transfer deal that drags out across the off-season, filling endless column inches with gossip, rumour and speculation. The past couple of seasons it has been Thierry Henry's protracted flirting with Barcelona, but with that deal finally complete, this year Tevez has taken the headlines as he tries to secure a dream move to Manchester United.
There are several reasons I would like to see this transfer resolved; firstly, and most trivially, it's getting boring. Secondly, this affair just reinforces the murkiness and bad reputation English football has been acquiring of late. And finally, it needs to be resolved because this issue will occur again - though for the sake of football, this circus cannot be repeated.
There is no doubt the brilliant Argentinian will be a great signing for Manchester United, so no blame must be attached to them for pursuing it. But please just get the deal done sooner rather than later!
There is no doubt United buying Tevez is a big story, and does deserve column inches, but I think it has had enough. There have been so many twists, turns and allegations that there has been something nearly every day since the end of the season.
Now rumours are fun, and speculation about transfers is entertaining. But this saga has become ridiculous and tiresome as all parties involved, especially West Ham and Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian, have engaged in claim and counter claim through the media. It is bordering on bringing the game into disrepute as allegations of lying and manipulation run riot. It just needs to come to an end. We have had enough.
This saga just reinforces the impression that the world of football transfers is a murky and unpleasant one, often flirting with severe bending and breaking of the rules. In the light of the BBC Panorama programme on bungs, and the general speculation surrounding football, this protracted deal cannot be healthy.
It was hoped Lord Steven's Quest enquiry would begin to draw a line under the unpleasant workings of the transfer market and see the beginnings of some transparency and honesty. Sadly, the massive publicity surrounding this transfer (and Sheffield United's relegation) undermines much of the work done to improve the situation.
It also brings into question the Javier Mascherano transfer to Liverpool - how could that have gone through so easily when he was brought to Upton Park under the same conditions as Tevez, owned by Joorabchian? I'm not suggesting Liverpool have done anything wrong. I would just like to know why the discrepancy?
Finally, the fact none of the football authorities were willing to rule on the issue (including FIFA) is also problematic as we are left wondering who has authority to control transfers in the English game. Companies and agents owning players is common place in the South American leagues, and it has been detrimental for both the clubs, who lose money, and many young players who are shipped abroad too early in order to turn a quick profit.
With more players being brought over and at a younger and younger age, this situation will only repeat itself and the unwillingness of the football authorities to take a stand is concerning. Hopefully the High Court ruling will provide something on which the gutless hierarchy of football can build upon and take forwards to avoid having to deal with the same mess in the future.
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Dyer nearing Hammers switchAug 2 2007
by Paul Gilder, The Journal
KIERON Dyer will spend the majority of this morning in a London hospital, with a successful medical the last remaining obstacle to the troubled midfielder's £6m move to West Ham.
The 28-year-old was last night given permission to talk personal terms with Upton Park officials after manager Sam Allardyce accepted an improved bid for the unsettled England star.
With the big-spending Hammers willing to match his lucrative United contract, a player desperate to quit the club was quick to reach an agreement and the transfer is expected to be completed this morning.
Should the deal progress without problems, it will bring to an end a colourful eight-year career at St James's Park. It should also increase Allardyce's recruitment budget, with last night's penultimate pre-season fixture at Hull highlighting the worrying weaknesses in a small first-team squad.
An inexperienced United team lost 1-0 to Hull to consign Allardyce to his first defeat as Magpies manager. But the 52-year-old insisted he is confident he will have made a breakthrough in the transfer market before this weekend's home encounter with Sampdoria.
A replacement for Dyer has been identified, with the United boss hinting that despite having rejected suggestions that he is interested in Alan Smith earlier this week, the in-demand Manchester United man is indeed in his sights. Asked whether Dyer's departure might prompt an approach for Smith, Allardyce admitted: "There might be an interest in him now."
Asked whether a move had been made, the former Bolton boss was elusive with his answer. "Has there been a bid made for Alan Smith from Newcastle? There have been many bids made," he said. Allardyce is determined to replace Dyer as soon as possible and all parties will hope a player whose considerable fitness problems have been well-documented in recent years will pass a medical this morning.
"There was a need to do it as soon as we could," said Glenn Roeder's successor – who has been resigned to losing the England international ever since being told that Dyer was desperate to move south to be closer to his two young children two weeks ago. "We've agreed a deal with West Ham and he is talking to them.
"He will finish up where he needs to finish up to solve his family problems. From our point of view it's a satisfactory result, we've finally resolved the situation."
Although the club's longest-serving outfield player, Dyer's relationship with Newcastle's supporters has been a strained one for some time. Following last weekend's win against Juventus – a game that appears to have been his last in a black-and-white shirt – Ruud Gullit's £6.5m signing suffered verbal abuse as he departed St James's Park. He later complained that his car had been surrounded and eggs thrown at his North-East home.
Although he made 190 league appearances in Newcastle colours and featured in the club's thrilling Champions League campaign, the midfielder's United career will be remembered for the countless injuries he suffered, the problems he demonstrated with discipline and the on-field fight he had with Lee Bowyer in 2005. Having himself moved from St James's Park to Upton Park last summer, Bowyer will again be a team-mate.
Allardyce is hoping Dyer's replacement will be signed before the weekend and a manager determined to add defensive strength is closing in on several targets having admitted he was unable to select the side he would have liked last night. "I have to replace Kieron and that shouldn't take too long," he said. "We're close, (it could be done before) the end of the week. But Kieron leaving and someone coming in is one for one, that's not improving the squad. There are three or four places to be filled on top of that, so we will do that and move on to other positions."
FC Copenhagen's Brede Hangeland and Sevilla's Ivica Dragutinovic are among the defenders Allardyce is aiming to acquire, although his problems are not restricted to a depleted back-line. The United boss last night conceded Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi are not expected to be fit enough to feature at Bolton on August 11.
The pair have managed just 45 minutes each during pre-season and are both struggling to regain their fitness. But Mark Viduka has joined the Newcastle squad and is expected to make his debut during Sunday's game against Sampdoria at St James's Park, a situation Hull boss Phil Brown is hoping will aid his efforts to strike a loan deal for Andy Carroll, who again caught his eye last night.
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TEVEZ MAY GO FOR FREE - Daily Express
Thursday August 2,2007
By Harry Harris
The Premier League are to drop their insistence on a meaningful transfer fee being paid to West Ham for Carlos Tevez if the club loses their High Court battle with the player's owners. And last night, a senior League source admitted the Hammers were "lucky to be in the‑Premier League" as‑new‑doubts were expressed about the club's disclosure of their contracts with Tevez to‑the original Premier League commission. The Premier League will nod through the transfer to Manchester United immediately if West Ham are served with an injunction preventing them blocking his transfer to‑Old Trafford. The League's compromised position will add weight to the rush for an out-of-court settlement before the injunction is heard on August 22. And it could mean West Ham get no‑fee whatsoever from‑United, and just a‑£100,000 facility fee from‑Kia Joorabchian and the owners Media Sports Investment and Just Sport Inc. Any move in this direction will fan Sheffield United's fury after their relegation. The Premier League commission ended with the‑Hammers found guilty of‑breaking the rules on third-party influence in team affairs, and not acting in good faith. But they were fined £5.5million rather than docked points, a decision that proved crucial to avoiding relegation. Last night, Daily Express sources close to the Tevez camp insisted that not all the documents relating to Tevez's contract were handed over to the tribunal. That could prove crucial as the commission's reasoning in not docking points was based partly on the assumption that it would have been unfair on the new owners.
But revelations in the High‑Court relating to a revised December 1 contract – many weeks after the new regime took control – have potentially blown apart that argument. While it is true that the initial December 1 documents were registered with the Premier League, the fully signed contracts were not. As the Daily Express source said: "We are 99.9 per cent certain that those contracts, signed and countersigned, were not submitted to the Premier League."
My understanding is that Joorabchian's camp were not contacted by the Premier League and that the December 1 amendments to the third-party agreements were countersigned, first 12 days later and then completed three and a half weeks later and were‑signed immediately by Tevez‑himself. This will be their answer to claims by West Ham sources that Tevez only recently signed this December 1 amendment. The Express source says: "If that injunction is upheld then there will be zero fee to West‑Ham."
West Ham believe that the‑December 1 contract can be contested, and insist that‑they complied with full disclosure to the Premier League tribunal on all relevant documents.
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Tevez deal hits another snag - metro.co.uk
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Today is D-Day for Carlos Tevez - with the warring parties under pressure to strike a deal and avoid a lengthy court battle. Talks between the Argentina striker's representatives and West Ham broke up last night without an agreement reached. After today, Tevez's agent Kia Joorabchian and his company Media Sports Investment (MSI) will have to lodge all their papers with the High Court. Once that move takes place, the dispute will move into another phase and it will become much more unlikely that a settlement can be reached. West Ham are asking for a fee of several million pounds to release Tevez from his contract and registration and allow his move to Manchester United to proceed before the start of the season. MSI are claiming they own the player and have lodged a £30million High Court lawsuit against the Hammers. They claim West Ham should only be paid £100,000, as agreed in a controversial third-party agreement that the club ripped up in April. The key to achieving a settlement is for the parties to agree a sum that is not only acceptable to both, but also to the Premier League who are keeping a close watch to ensure West Ham do not act as though they are governed by those agreements. A High Court case is likely to centre on a contract proposed by West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson in December under which Tevez would cease to be a Hammers player this summer. West Ham will claim that although they sent MSI this new contract, Tevez and Joorabchian never signed it and returned it to them - and that the club passed this document to the Premier League in February. MSI will insist they did sign the contract and will provide a copy of a signed document to the court. West Ham will argue that if that agreement had existed then they would have been cleared of having illegal third-party agreements instead of being fined £5.5million by an independent disciplinary commission in April.
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