Lusitans land in London
WHUFC.com
FC Lusitans aim to make the most of their opportunity of playing in front of
a sell-out Boleyn Ground crowd on Thursday night. The Andorrans are more
used to playing in front of audiences running into the hundreds rather than
thousands, but Thursday's UEFA Europa League qualifier offers them a bigger
showcase for their abilities.~ The Primera Divisao runners-up are West Ham's
first European opponents in nine years and manager Xavi Roura is determined
to show they are not just in London to make up the numbers. "We are very
excited," Roura said. "It is a very important moment for the club and the
country. We are very excited to be playing in the Europa League against such
a prestigious opponent. "We've been working hard on our preparations for
three weeks now. There were many big clubs in the draw, but we were drawn
against West Ham and that's great. We know what we're up against, we know
where we are as a team and the draw was big news for us. "It's going to be a
fantastic experience for the team – not just in terms of football but it has
so much value aside from the game. It's a scenario that will motivate us a
huge amount. "No two matches are the same, so it's difficult to compare.
They could be some similarities with the way we play compared with the
national team, but we know where are weaknesses lie and the weapons we need
to use in the team to make up for them."
One player who has performed in front of a large London crowd is the
experienced Oscar Sonejee, for whom four of his 101 Andorra caps have come
against England. He was involved as his country lost 6-0 in front of close
to 60,000 at Wembley in June 2009 and says this game represents a big
opportunity for his team. He explained: "Having that experience always
helps, and I've played in two matches here in England and two in Barcelona.
"Those matches were a great experience, and [the atmosphere will not only
help the players enjoy the match, but it should also make us more
competitive" Those thoughts were echoed by skipper Leonel Maciel, who says
he will not need to give his teammates any added motivation. "Just the fact
we're playing here is sufficient motivation in itself," he said, "As captain
I always have an encouraging word with everyone, but on this occasion I
don't think there's any need to add extra motivation."
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Skipper Tonks ready for early start
WHUFC.com
On the eve of West Ham United's return to European football, Basildon-born
James Tomkins spoke of his excitement at getting the season under way. The
26-year-old Academy graduate will captain the team as they kick off their
Europa League campaign when they face Andorran outfit FC Lusitans on
Thursday evening. Speaking ahead of the Hammers first game of the new
2015/16 season, just 39 days since they last played, Tomkins welcomed the
early return to action. "Ordinarily I would be on holiday at this time of
year, getting prepared for the new season, but I'd much rather be back
playing. "I want game time because it's important for my fitness. To play a
competitive game so early is great for me. Obviously I didn't play much at
the end of last season through injury, so to be back out there is great."
Due to the quick turnaround, the matchday squad named by Academy Terry
Westley represents a mixture of experienced first team and Development Squad
players. Lewis Page and Reece Oxford are in line to make their senior
debuts while further Dev Squad members could feature from the bench.
Tomkins, a fellow Academy graduate himself, stated his pride at being chosen
as captain: "It's a massive honour to captain the side, let alone captain
the side in Europe. I'm delighted, obviously I'm one of the more experienced
players in this squad. "I'm only 26 but I'm still one of the older lads.
Lads like Reece are just 16 years old so I'm ten years older and I've got
that experience. It's a good role for me to take on in this stage of my
career. I'm looking forward to communicating with the younger lads on the
pitch and helping them through it."
The experienced central defender, who had been in superb form for the
Hammers before injury limited his game time, is relishing the prospect of
playing in front of a sell-out crowd at the Boleyn Ground. Speaking at the
pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Tomkins seemed genuinely
bowled over by the West Ham fans passion for European football. "The
atmosphere is going to be electric tomorrow. There's been a lot of talk
about how important the Europa League is to this Club. "As this is the last
season at the Boleyn Ground, it's going to be emotional but brilliant. We
want to leave this stadium in the best way we can and the Europa league is a
good way of doing that. "We're entering a new era and it's a great
opportunity for everyone to impress the new manager. We haven't had too much
time to work with him but in the time we have had, he has impressed me.
"We've had a few meetings and he seems really friendly. He's done all he can
in a short time to get us ready for the new season and he'll be about in the
dressing room tomorrow. A popular figure among fans and teammates alike,
Tomkins finished by saying that due to the phenomenal demand for tickets,
some players had even missed out. "As captain I've made sure I've got some
tickets for my family and friends but I think some of the other lads have
struggled. "I don't think anyone was expecting a sell-out but we're all
delighted that it is. We're all delighted and it's particularly good for the
younger ones making their debut, it's fantastic."
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Slaven set for Europa team talk
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Academy manager Terry Westley confirmed that new manager
Slaven Bilic will take the Hammers pre-match team talk ahead of the Europa
League tie with FC Lusitans on Thursday evening. Westley has been working
closely with the matchday squad which comprises a mixture of first team
regulars and Development Squad Academy graduates such as Lewis Page and
Reece Oxford. In Wednesday's pre-match press conference, Westley
explained: "The team is all set up. We did all our work in Cork with the
manager. With Diafra Sakho and Mauro Zarate up front and Morgan Amalfitano
and Matt Jarvis on the wings, we pretty much have four forwards. It gives
some indication to our attacking intent. "We don't need a huge team talk
before the game because the work has been done. The players are ready. We'll
have to get here a bit earlier due to the huge number of people that are
coming. We'll have a pre-match meeting with the manager then the players
will do the job."
Westley continued to highlight the importance of Bilic's previous experience
of European football with Turkish outfit Besiktas. While the former West
Ham United defender may have only just taken the reigns, Westley has been
impressed by the Croatians' managerial abilities. "We've spoken about the
shape of the team and the way we'd like to play. We're both happy with how
preparations have gone in Ireland and since we've been back. "Slaven knows
European football inside out. He is a very, very talented manager. He gets
to know the players he works with at previous clubs very well too."
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Page excited by Boleyn debut
WHUFC.com
Lewis Page will fulfil a life-long ambition when he walks out to make his
West Ham United debut against FC Lusitans tonight. Academy Manager Terry
Westley, who will be in the dugout for the UEFA Europa League first
qualifying round first leg tie, confirmed in his pre-match press conference
that the 19-year-old left back will be in his starting XI. Page has been
with the Hammers since the age of ten and aims to make the most of the
opportunity that awaits. "It means everything to know I'll be making my
first team debut," he explains. "It's everything I dreamed of when I was
younger and to get an appearance for West Ham will be unbelievable. "When we
knew we were in Europe starting this early, all the lads were texting each
other over the summer thinking we might get a chance. "We kept ourselves fit
and we want to take the opportunity with both hands. With 35,000 fans there
it will be a great feeling – it'll be different to Rush Green, but hopefully
we will love the atmosphere and just play our football. "It's a big game for
the Club and hopefully we can get the result we want. "
Page formed part of a group of experienced and youthful players who prepared
for Thursday's sell-out game with a training camp in Ireland – training
which he says has set them up for action perfectly. He explained: "It was a
good week of preparation in Ireland. There's been a good intensity to
training, everybody looks pretty sharp and we're all looking forward to the
game. "The first team players in the group have helped us through it.
They've always been there to talk to and answer any questions we've got –
they're just a good bunch of lads.
"The new manager was watching last week and he'll be at the game tonight so
we're all trying to impress. That's the important thing, if we're all
fighting for places we'll get the best out of each other."
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Get with the Programme!
WHUFC.com
West Ham United kick-off the historic Farewell Boleyn season with an 84-page
issue for the UEFA League first qualifying round first leg visit of FC
Lusitans. The 2 July clash with the Andorran Primera Divisio runners-up is
marked with a special retro cover - a feature that will remain a constant
throughout the 2015/16 campaign. The first cover sees new manager Slaven
Bilic pictured in a design that recreates that used for the November 1934
visit of Swedish club AIK Stockholm - one of the first European clubs to
visit the Boleyn Ground. Bilic pens his first manager's column inside, while
Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold, captain James Tomkins and
Academy Manager Terry Westley also write exclusively for the programme. Also
inside, fans can read interviews with the Hammers' summer signings Dimitri
Payet, Pedro Obiang, Darren Randolph and Martin Samuelsen. There is the
complete lowdown on Thursday's visitors from Andorra, plus everything you
need to know about West Ham's upcoming move to the new Stadium in Stratford
and how to go about securing your seat in the Club's new 54,000-capacity
home.
A new Farewell Boleyn section features emotional interviews with former
Hammers, fans and staff, classic images and more. As for the contributors,
Ian 'Moose' Abrahams recalls a surreal European night with David Cross,
while Ken Dyer, Matty Lawless and David Croft also pen their thoughts ahead
of what promises to be an unforgettable eleven months. The first issue of
the 2015/16 programme is available for just £3.50 in and around the Boleyn
Ground this evening, or you can order online here. To make sure you don't
miss a single issue of the Farewell Boleyn campaign, order a subscription
for just £90 here.
Alternatively, the Digital Official Programme will be available to download
to your iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and Android devices alongside PC and Mac
from 9am on matchday.
The Digital Programme comes with all the content you would expect from the
print edition, as well as exclusive video footage, meaning fans from all
over the globe can get ahead of the action and read their Programme and
enjoy exclusive video interviews and highlights.
If you live overseas, that means you can download your Digital Programme
before kick-off, with the game being televised live in a large number of
countries across the world. The print edition will be available to buy in
and around the Boleyn Ground on matchday as usual, packed with all the usual
exclusive content.
The Digital Programme offers supporters a number of great additional
features, including:
Easy to use page-turning technology
Simple content navigation and skip-to-page features
Interactive content including exclusive video footage
Our programmes remember the last page you were viewing
Fans can order back-dated issues
Apple users will have all their issues hosted in one place on Newsstand for
easy access
Hammers supporters can subscribe for the whole season from just £24.99 (fans
receive all back issues) or buy individual issues for only £1.99.
The Digital Programme is available on Apple iPad and iPhone, as well as
Android and via the Pocketmags app on kindle fire and Blackberry Playbook.
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From the Terraces
WHUFC.com
Graeme Howlett, of KUMB.com, looks ahead to Thursday's game against FC
Lusitans...
That West Ham United have been able to completely sell out the Boleyn Ground
for Thursday evening's Europa League tie against Andorran minnows FC
Lusitans is a clear indication of the fans' desire to make the most of the
limited time remaining at our famous old ground. Well, that and the
opportunity to see our new manager Slaven Bilic for the first time since he
was appointed, of course!
Slav will be at the ground, we understand, although he has delegated
management duties to Academy chief Terry Westley - who has been working with
the squad at their Irish training camp - for the night.
In some ways the club have been extraordinarily lucky that a wild-card entry
into European competition has coincided with the Irons' final season in
Upton Park. Nonetheless, the Board should be congratulated for delivering a
sensible pricing structure which ensures not only that the ground is full,
but that entry is genuinely affordable for all.
Although a number of first team players only returned to training this week,
the Hammers will still be fielding a reasonably strong side; certainly one
that should be of sufficient quality to see off the challenge of a team who
have been routinely thumped in the first qualifying round in each of their
previous four Europa League campaigns.
Should West Ham manage to overcome the challenge of Lusitans as expected
(although as Hammers we know NEVER to take anything for granted!) there will
be little chance for Bilic's boys to rest on their laurels, as the second
round commences just seven days after the first round, second leg in
Andorra.
We already know that either Birkirkara of Malta or Armenia's Ulisses await,
but continued progress in the competition will ensure games come thick and
fast once the Premier League campaign - which kicks off the weekend of 8/9
August - begins.
Should West Ham make safe passage through the second qualifying round, they
will play the second leg of the third qualifying round just 72 hours before
the Premier League season-opener at Arsenal. And the final Europa League
play-off round is scheduled for 20 and 27 August - each three days ahead of
two very important early-season top-flight clashes with Bournemouth (home)
and Liverpool (away).
That means August alone could result in the Hammers playing no less than
SEVEN fixtures in 24 days - so it's no surprise that David Sullivan and his
recruitment team are looking to tie up as many deals as early as possible
this summer, with view to a potentially lengthy and arduous European
campaign to follow.
The early qualifying rounds of the competition have unfortunately arrived
too soon for one or two of the club's most recent arrivals to be eligible.
One who the Hammers could certainly do with is Slaven Bilic's latest
acquisition, Dimitri Payet from Marseille.
At 28, the 15-times capped French winger should be at his peak and whilst
some eyebrows were raised at the (undisclosed) eight-figure transfer fee
(except that bit), West Ham should be acquiring a player who will prove to
be worth every penny.
Payet's recent record is quite exceptional; it's already well-documented
that he created 135 goalscoring opportunities last season, more apparently
than any other player in the top European leagues. That should be music to
the ears of Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia, who were often
bereft of service during the last campaign (when not being asked to provide
it themselves).
Those 135 chances converted into 17 actual assists in Ligue 1 in 2014/15,
which were complemented by seven goals - a decent return for a player
charged with creating, rather than completing goalscoring opportunities.
Payet followed goalkeeper Darren Randolph, midfielder Pedro Obiang and
full-back Stephen Hendrie into the club already this summer. And according
to whufc.com's Boleyn Insider, two further new signings are set to arrive
imminently. It's going to be a busier summer than usual at the Boleyn...
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'This is why we will sell-out the new Stadium'
WHUFC.com
Diego Poyet says a sold-out UEFA UEFA Europa League first qualifying round
tie against Andorran side FC Lusitans illustrates the sheer size of West Ham
United. Despite the visitors being virtual unknowns until the draw was made
and bringing just a handful of fans themselves, the Claret and Blue Army
have snapped up nearly 35,000 tickets for the game. Midfielder Poyet, who
has been named in Terry Westley's starting XI for the match, believes the
loyalty and commitment shown by West Ham fans ensures they will sell-out the
Club's new 54,000-seater stadium in Stratford a year from now. "It says a
lot about the type of fans we have at the Club," he told West Ham TV, who
will be screening Thursday's tie exclusive, live and FREE coverage on
whufc.com. "I have watched a lot of Europa League games last season in the
main competition and they weren't even sold out, and we've got our first
qualifier and it's already sold out. Massive thanks to all the fans for
coming to support us. "It shows that the new Stadium is going to be sold out
every week. Some people were saying 'maybe it will, maybe it won't' but 100
per cent it will sell-out. It's 2 July and we are filling up the stadium and
it's already been sold-out for a couple of days. "It's great support for
everyone and makes the game ten times more exciting for all the players and
for everyone involved and it's a great game to be part of."
For Poyet himself, the game represents an opportunity to impress those
35,000 fans inside the Boleyn Ground and thousands more watching on
whufc.com around the world, while new manager Slaven Bilic will be observing
from the stands. After impressing for Uruguay at the recent FIFA U-20 World
Cup finals in New Zealand, the 20-year-old holding midfielder is keen to
kick-on again for the Hammers. "I'm really excited for the game," he
confirmed. "I obviously had a really short break on holiday because of the
Under-20 World Cup, but I feel good. "We're already prepared for the game
and we know as much as we can know about the opposition and we're ready."
So, what does Diego and his teammates know about FC Lusitans, who finished
second in Andorra's Primera Divisio last season. "I think they will be
really organised and try to keep it as tight as possible," he explained,
revealing that the squad has watched footage of their opponents in action.
"They are good from set-pieces, so that's something we will have to watch
out for when we play them. "They are not going to be intimidated by us, but
the only thing that might intimidate them is the big crowd. They have got
some international players, but others might not be so used to playing in
such a big crowd, so we will use that to our advantage. "We have home
advantage in the first leg and obviously want to take a good score when we
go there next week."
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West Ham United v FC Lusitans
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st July 2015
By: Preview Percy
It's time to pay our first visit of the season to the Avram Grant Olympic
Rest Home For The Bewildered to see how much Preview Percy knows about
Andorra. Not much as it happens...
Hang on a moment, I've only just nodded off after our last game and you wake
me up for this?
Ok apparently we have qualified for the Thursday Night League by virtue of
us coming top of the "Good Egg" league, a concept whose worth can be gauged
by the fact that Liverpool, with one of the worst teams in history for
diving, were also hovering around the top towards the end of the season.
This has left us with a place in Europe, meaning that some of the
meaningless early season matches against lesser opposition have been
replaced by slightly more meaningful matches against lesser opposition.
So, after a draw that used three of my kind of brandy glasses and a bit of
messing about with the fixture dates we find ourselves drawn at home against
FC Lusitans of Andorra. Kick-off is 7:45pm and the rearranged fixture date
means we miss the tube strike. Which is nice.
As far as I can recall from my O-Level Geography (note to kids - O Levels
were sort of like GCSEs would be if you actually had to know stuff to get
them) Andorra is a small bit of land parked between a Pyrenee or two that
both France and Spain forgot to divvy up when they got round to drawing up
the border all those years ago. It's an odd little place which is co-ruled
by two princes, one of whom is always whoever is president of France at the
time and the other is whoever happens to be the Bishop of Urgell at the
time.
As you'd expect then there's a strong Franco-Spanish influence to the whole
place. There is, however, a third major influence on the country in the form
of England's oldest ally. There is a sizeable part of the population with a
Portuguese background which is a bit odd considering how far away it is.
However, it is this influence that is relevant to our opponents in this
first qualifying round. The club name is derived from Lusitania which is the
ancient Roman name for the bit of the Iberian peninsula that contains
Portugal. The kit is based on that of the Portuguese national side whilst
the club crest contains elements of that used by the Portuguese FA.
So what do we know of our opponents? Well at this point I'd usually send out
the work experience girl with an inappropriate number of rings through her
lips to go and find stuff out but it being the close season she's nowhere to
be found so I'm doing the legwork myself. The first thing to note is the
Andorran league is a little bit like the Welsh league insofar as the best
team in the country (FC Andorra) actually plays in the Spanish football
system in the same way as Swansea & Cardiff regularly hop across the Severn
Bridge. So Lusitans can be thought of in the same breath as Airbus UK, Bala
Town and of course the clumsily-monikered The New Saints, whose name derives
from the fact that they didn't want to change the initials when they removed
the sponsor's name from the official name of the club.
One of the things that is odd about football over there is that the stadia
are all owned by the Andorran FA, who decide who is going to play where at
the start of the season. Spurs would, I am sure, have complained about the
illegal state aid this clearly represents but for the fact that a) Andorra
isn't part of the EU so they can do what they like; and b)Spurs are too
occupied with counting the millions they have saved by getting Boris and
Haringay to pay for all those tedious infrastructure improvements that
usually accompany planning applications of the size of their new ground.
Lusitans play in the Andorran "Primera Divisio" which currently comprises 8
clubs. They stretch this out to a 20 match season by splitting the league in
two after everyone has played everyone else home and away with the top four
playing for the title and the bottom four playing to stay in the league.
They were actually Champions in 2011/12 and 2012/13 but their European
pedigree can be gauged by the fact that their inaugural so-called Champions
League "run" consisted of a 9-1 defeat to the then Maltese champions
Valetta. The pinnacle of their forays into European competition is probably
the 2-2 first leg home draw against the Faroes outfit EB/Streymur in the
Champions League in 2013. In fact they were 2-0 up in this match and missed
the spot-kick that would have taken them 3-0 up. Sadly for the Andorrans
(or, if you will, "Portuguese" to give them their nickname) they were unable
to hold onto the lead and the Faroese added a 5-1 win to the first leg draw
to send them out. Their 4th place finish in 2013/14 saw them fall outside
the European qualifying places but their second place last term saw them
qualify for this tie.
Their most famous player is probably, no, make that definitely, a chap by
the name of Oscar Sonejee who is in his second spell with the club having
played at a slightly higher level with the aforementioned FC Andorra, as
well as for a number of other clubs within the Primera Divisio. He is the
country's most capped player, having broken the ton a couple of weeks ago in
Andorra's 1-0 defeat by Equatorial Guinea. Some may remember him getting
into a bit of an argument with Wayne Rooney in a Euro qualifier a few years
back. There again most won't. The list of people who have gotten into an
argument with Wayne Rooney is hardly an exclusive one after all. Sonerjee
has cult hero status in Mumbai of all places, something that can be
attributed to his Indian heritage.
They also boast a Sierra Leonean international in the form of Alfi
Conteh-Lacalle. ACL (as probably nobody calls him given that the initials
are reminiscent of a nasty ligament problem) is in fact a product of the
Barcelona youth system having been born in the Catalonian capital. He was
actually capped by the Spaniards at U19 Level before throwing his hat into
the ring with Sierra Leone for whom he now has, er, one cap. Since exiting
Barcelona, "Knee Injury" has hawked himself around the lower leagues of a
number of countries including Spain, Greece and Hungary where Honved were
the best known of his clubs to date.
After that I'll admit I'm struggling. If this were an FA Cup match I'd no
doubt take great delight in being able to let you know which one of the
opposition was the postman that it is compulsory for all part–time squads to
contain but background details on the players is a little thin on the ground
if truth be told. Mr Sonarjee works in insurance when he's not chasing a bag
of leather about a patch of grass but that's about it. Ok this isn't very
helpful but you try finding out stuff about a country whose main claim to
fame is its duty-free status.
Us? It'll be an unusual team on the pitch. A mixture of one or two old lags
plus a few youngsters to do the running about. We have of course said
farewell to Mr Allardyce since the last woke me up to write one of these
things. Many years ago I wrote something in these pages along the lines that
I didn't want him anywhere near the club. Now he's gone I would say that he
did a job in getting us up. I know it was through the playoffs but he was a
little unlucky that season to see Reading come from nowhere, get outplayed
every week and still win. Their current position shows what a blip that was.
However, it was difficult to warm to the chap, especially as nothing ever
seemed to be his fault. The time was right for him to go so thanks & goodbye
it is.
So it's hello to Slaven Bilic as our new boss. He has already made the right
noises about the type of football he wants his teams to play so hopefully
we'll be a bit more pleasing to the eye over the next, well ten months at
least. However, Biic will apparently be watching this one from the stands
leaving Academy boss Terry Westley in charge dugout-wise.
I wouldn't expect to see too many of our new signings on display meaning
that we'll have to wait for tougher opposition before we see Pedro Obiang
and Dimitri Payet enter the fray. On the other hand it wouldn't be a
surprise to see Darren Randolph take a bow 'twixt the sticks. The rest of
the team has been reported as consisting of O'Brien, Burke, Page,
Amalfitano, Jarvis, Poyet (not Payet), Oxford, Zarate and Sakho. Zarate's
presence suggests a clean slate approach, which will please those who
believe that he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip under the previous
regime.
At this point its traditional to locate £2.50 from somewhere within the
environs of the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home For The Bewildered and place
it on a prediction but frankly the odds offered by Winstone's The Turf
Accountant for a West Ham win were so ludicrous you'd have to be the Greek
Government to bother placing a wager.
We'll win of course and my main hopes are that a) we somehow manage to
escape pre-season without a player coming down with the traditional serious
injury; and b) the team manages to put on a bit of a show for the 35,000
supporters at home plus the 500 or so popping over there for the return leg.
Enjoy the game!
When last we met: You're joking, right? Ok, since you ask we have never
played them. Alright?
Danger Man: Oscar Sonejee – as an Insurance Clerk he'll know all about
danger. I expect.
Referees: 1st Leg: Vadims Diretorenko (Latvia) 2nd Leg TBA. At least Mike
Riley won't have been involved in his appointment.
Daft Fact Of The Week:: As mentioned, the neighbours have had a major
influence on Andorran culture. For example, although Andorra declared war on
Germany at the start of the First World War, the French influence meant that
they didn't actually join in with any of the fighting. Then the Spanish
habit of having a mid-afternoon nap meant that they were nowhere to be seen
when the Treaty Of Versailles got signed, an omission which meant that,
technically, they remained at war with Germany until 1958. The position was
rectified when, as part of the Europe- wide celebrations in honour of Ted
Fenton's side's promotion to the top fight, all wars involving landlocked
European principalities were cancelled.
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Oxford to make history
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 2nd July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford will become the youngest ever Hammer to take part in a
competitive fixture tonight when he faces FC Lusitanos at the Boleyn Ground.
At 16 years and 198 days, the 6'3" central defender will break a record held
by Leytonstone-born Billy Williams who made his debut for West Ham at the
end of the 1921/22 season, but was a whole 23 days older than Oxford when he
did so. Oxford was close to making his first team debut almost a year ago
when Sam Allardyce named him as an unused substitute for the Capital One Cup
tie against Sheffield United. However despite being involved in the match
day squad on several occasions since, he has had to wait until tonight to
make his bow. Academy boss Terry Westley, a big fan of the youngster
insisted that Oxford is ready to make his bow. "We will find out whether he
can handle the pressure of the big situation, whether he is as good as we
think he is," he said. "We won't know that with him on the bench or in the
stand. "He has an opportunity and the talking has to stop. If he is going
to be one of the best we have produced, he has to be some player, with
(James) Tomkins here and then (Frank) Lampard, (Joe) Cole, (Rio) Ferdinand
and the rest. "Where he is at his age, he has done exactly what he needs to
do."
West Ham United's Europa League qualifying clash clash with FC Lusitanos
kicks off at 7.45pm tonight. Live coverage, for those who cannot attend is
being provided by whufc.com.
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Nolan warns of Euro danger
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 2nd July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Kevin Nolan believes a successful run in the Europa League could make for a
difficult season - although he has urged tonight's team to fully embrace the
opportunity. Now 32 and entering the final year of his contract at the club,
Nolan is unlikely to play a major role in this season's European campaign
but has plenty of experience of doing so, having featured for Bolton in the
(now defunct) UEFA Cup during the mid-noughties. And having experienced the
additional demands required by a good run in Europe - which could
potentially account for an extra 23 games for West Ham to play this season,
should they reach the Final - Nolan is more aware than most of the
difficulties than can arise as a result. "It's going to make everything
tough but it's something that we should all embrace, " he said. "We got in
through the back door but it's something we should all embrace, something we
can learn from. "I played in the Europa for a couple of seasons with Bolton
and really enjoyed my time. There's a few lads who are going to making their
debuts in European football. It's something for them to strive for and in
years to come, for West Ham to be aiming for." And even though he won't be
involved tonight, having remained at the club's Irish training camp with
several fellow first team squad members, Nolan believes Terry Westley's
pre-announced team should have enough in the tank to see off the challenge
of FC Lusitanos. "I wish them all the best," he said. "I'm sure the boys can
get the job done for us."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Let the final season commence
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 2nd July 2015
By: Graeme Howlett
That West Ham United have been able to completely sell out the Boleyn Ground
for tonight's Europa League tie against Andorran minnows FC Lusitanos is a
clear indication of the fans' desire to make the most of the limited time
remaining at our famous old ground.
Well, that and the opportunity to see our new manager Slaven Bilic for the
first time since he was appointed, of course!
Slav will be at the ground, we understand, although he has delegated
management duties to Academy chief Terry Westley - who has been working with
the squad at their Irish training camp - for the night.
In some ways the club have been extraordinarily lucky that a wild-card entry
into European competition has coincided with the Irons' final season in
Upton Park. Nonetheless, the Board should be congratulated for delivering a
sensible pricing structure which ensures not only that the ground is full,
but that entry is genuinely affordable for all.
Although a number of first team players only returned to training this week,
the Hammers will still be fielding a reasonably strong side; certainly one
that should be of sufficient quality to see off the challenge of a team who
have been routinely thumped in the first qualifying round in each of their
previous four Europa League campaigns.
Should West Ham manage to overcome the challenge of Lusitanos as expected
(although as Hammers we know NEVER to take anything for granted!) there will
be little chance for Bilic's boys to rest on their laurels, as the second
round commences just seven days after the first round, second leg in
Andorra.
We already know that either Birkirkara of Malta or Armenia's Ulisses FC
await, but continued progress in the competition will ensure games come
thick and fast once the Premier League campaign - which kicks off the
weekend of 8/9 August - begins.
Should West Ham make safe passage through the second qualifying round, they
will play the second leg of the third qualifying round just 72 hours before
the Premier League season-opener at Arsenal. And the final Europa League
play-off round is scheduled for 20 and 27 August - each three days ahead of
two very important early-season top-flight clashes with Bournemouth (home)
and Liverpool (away).
That means August alone could result in the Hammers playing no less than
SEVEN fixtures in 24 days - so it's no surprise that David Sullivan and his
recruitment team are looking to tie up as many deals as early as possible
this summer, with view to a potentially lengthy and arduous European
campaign to follow.
The early qualifying rounds of the competition have unfortunately arrived
too soon for one or two of the club's most recent arrivals to be eligible.
One who the Hammers could certainly do with is Slaven Bilic's latest
acquisition, Dimitri Payet from Marseille.
At 28, the 15-times capped French winger should be at his peak and whilst
some eyebrows were raised at the (undisclosed) eight-figure transfer fee
(except that bit), West Ham should be acquiring a player who will prove to
be worth every penny.
Payet's recent record is quite exceptional; it's already well-documented
that he created 135 goalscoring opportunities last season, more apparently
than any other player in the top European leagues. That should be music to
the ears of Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia, who were often
bereft of service during the last campaign (when not being asked to provide
it themselves).
Those 135 chances converted into 17 actual assists in Ligue 1 in 2014/15,
which were complemented by seven goals - a decent return for a player
charged with creating, rather than completing goalscoring opportunities.
Payet followed goalkeeper Darren Randolph, midfielder Pedro Obiang and
full-back Stephen Hendrie into the club already this summer. And according
to whufc.com's Boleyn Insider, two further new signings are set to arrive
imminently.
It's going to be a busier summer than usual at the Boleyn...
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West Ham trying to sign Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson and Juventus' Angelo
Ogbonna
Last Updated: 02/07/15 12:39pm
SSN
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has confirmed the club are "working hard" to
sign Arsenal right-back Carl Jenkinson. And Sky Italia sources understand
the Hammers are also attempting to sign Angelo Ogbonna from Juventus.
Jenkinson, who has found his first-team chances at Arsenal blocked by Calum
Chambers and Hector Bellerin, spent last season on loan at West Ham and made
29 Premier League starts for them. Ogbonna, meanwhile, has been third choice
behind Stefan Lichsteiner and Giorgio Chiellini at the Old Lady. Hammers
chairman Gold has previously stated the club are keen to bring in players to
play the "West Ham way" and on Thursday he said: "We are very working hard
to try and get Carl back here "We recognise this is an important season for
us, being in Europe, and we will go the extra mile to ensure we have got the
strongest possible squad we can muster." Sky sources understand another
player West Ham are interested in is the wantaway Paris Saint-Germain
playmaker Yohan Cabaye. The 29-year-old former Newcastle midfielder has
struggled to hold down a first-team place at the French champions but it is
understood former Toon boss Alan Pardew is interested in taking Cabaye to
Crystal Palace.
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Gold tweets good news
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
David Gold is confident Andy Carroll will soon be ready to rejoin the
action. Despite the club's record signing being unable to join the action
tomorrow night after being injured at Southampton back in the winter, the co
chairman believes the big fella will soon be back. Carroll has spent most of
the summer back at the Chadwell Heath training ground working on his knee
and core fitness. And Gold tweeted: "Andy is training nearly every day he
has great determination and will soon be ready to play. Dg,"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Young Reece told" Now gain the respect"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Reece Oxford – at 16 years and 198 days old – becomes the youngest ever
hammer to make his debut in a club first team shirt against Lusiantos
tonight and has been told: "We are now going to find out whether he's as
good as we think he is." Boss for the night Terry Westley said: "We'll find
out whether Reece can handle the pressure of playing in a big situation,
whether he's as good as we think he is. "We won't find that out sitting on
the bench or in the stand. He has that opportunity. He's now got to gain the
respect. The talking can stop and he can show people what he's about. "If
he's going to be one of the best ever [academy products], he's got some way
to go. James Tomkins isn't bad, Lampard, Cole and the rest weren't bad.
"[Reece] has got a bit to do but where he is at this age – England U17s
captain – he's done what he needed to do. He's got to take that into senior
football. Questions will be answered."
Westley claimed the decision for him to take charge of the team for the
early Europa League game was made during last season – before Bilic's
arrival and regardless of the identity of Sam Allardyce's successor. He
added: "You find you're in Europe, so someone has to put a plan together.
The club have been very proactive: 'Who's involved? What players come back
early?'
'We knew what the group would consist of. It was to make a smooth transition
for when the manager was put in place. 'We've got 35,000 who can't wait to
see the team, young and old. Slaven knows the players. He's been in Cork.
It's very much his first game."
Irons team: Randolph; O'Brien, Tomkins, Burke, Page, Amalfitano, Jarvis,
Poyet, Oxford, Zarate, Sakho.
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ClaretandHugh's big match coverage
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
ClaretandHugh will be at Upton Park tonight for the Europa Cup match against
Lusiantos! Rob Shepherd will be our man in the press box and will bring his
report soon after the final whistle has blown on hopefully a big victory. We
will keep those unable to watch on the live West Ham TV stream updated with
flash highlight reports throughout the 90 minutes. ClaretandHugh
congratulates the club for making the stream available when it really should
have been shown on one or other of the various sports channels. Well done to
everybody involved at WHUFC and if you aren't a member of West Ham TV make
sure you join up for the game at www.whufc.com.
It's free by the way.
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Remy not for sale say Chelsea
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Reports claim that Jose Mourinho has blocked a £15million Loic Remy's exit
from Chelsea. Crystal Palace, Swansea and West Ham have have been linked in
the media with the £80,000-a-week French striker but now it appears Chelsea
has had second thoughts. Remy first team chances have been limited since
joining from QPR, the arrival of Falcao on loan from Monaco is also thought
to push him further down the pecking order of strikers. Chelsea initially
said they would not listen to offers less than £15m for the 28 year old but
have staged a U-turn. Remy scored seven league goals last season despite
making just six starts. As we revealed 7 days ago, a West Ham insider
revealed to Claret and Hugh we were never seriously looking at Remy.
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Song continues to train with West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Alex Song continues to train with West Ham despite his loan agreement coming
to an end. Yesterday he posted a video of himself on Instragram training in
a West Ham gym with Hammers new training shorts on. The video re-enforces
the view that the 27 year old midfielder has agreed personal terms with the
Hammers and it is now just Barcelona who stand in his way of a permanent
move to West Ham on free transfer. Song is expected to undergo a final
medical within the next 48 hours and sign permanently if Barcelona agree to
terminate his contract without compensation from West Ham
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Villa agree fee with Hammers target
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Aston Villa are believed to be close to finalising a £9million move for
Lille's Idrissa Gueye who has often been linked with West Ham as a possible
summer target. Reports claim Villa have agreed a fee with the French Ligue 1
side for the 25-year-old Senegalese midfielder. He is believed to be flying
to the UK tomorrow for talks and a medical in the midlands. Gueye has been
linked with West Ham, Crystal Palace,Southampton and Marseille in the summer
but appears Villa have come in late to conclude a deal. Reports in France
last week suggested Marseille were closing in on the signing of the Senegal
international, but more money was on offer from Villa and that has turned
the player's head it has been claimed.
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West Ham defender: Slaven has real presence
London 24
14:30 02 July 2015 Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Hammers defender James Tomkins says that new manager Slaven Bilic will be a
great success . Jose 'The Special One' Mourinho certainly has it, Sir Alex
Ferguson had it and of course the likes of Brian Clough and Bill Shankly had
it too. Some would say former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce had it too, though
that is a matter of debate, but defender James Tomkins insists that the new
man at the helm has it as well. Presence. That is the key to success for
many of the top managers, the thing that sets them apart from the other
bosses and Tomkins believes Slaven Bilic has it in abundance, despite only
having met him for a short period of time. "I met him briefly and he is
really excited to be with us. Everyone is looking forward to working with
him and he made a great name for himself as a player here," said the
26-year-old. Slaven Bilic the new West Ham manager "At the minute he is
training with the other lads and they are all saying how good training is.
He certainly has that presence like all good managers have. When he comes
into the room, you can hear a pin drop at times." Tomkins joins a long line
of illustrious players who have captained West Ham when he wears the armband
in the Europa League clash with FC Lusitans at Upton Park tonight. And for
someone who has been at the club since the age of seven it means so much to
lead the side out. "It's a massive honour and a good role for me to try and
mature as a player and help the younger lads," said Tomkins, who established
himself as one of the first choice centre-backs last season until injury
struck near the end of the season. "I am only 26, but I am 10 years older
than Reece Oxford who is playing tonight. The atmosphere is going to be
electric and hopefully I can help the younger lads come through it." Tomkins
is an important part of the squad that are looking to progress in the Europa
League qualifying rounds, but does he envy the first-team players that are
currently showing Bilic what they can do over in Ireland? "Everyone is
looking to start well and impress the new manager," he said. "I would be
sunning myself somewhere in a normal year, but for me it is different
because I was injured towards the end of last season and I wanted to play
more games. "To have competitive games this early is great and the manager
will be watching me there." Tomkins knows the significance of this season,
West Ham's final one at the Boleyn Ground before their move to the Olympic
Stadium, and the centre-back can't wait for it to get into full swing. "It
is going to be emotional as much as it will be brilliant this season," said
Tomkins. "We need to leave the season in the best possible place and that
means in Europe as well as in the Premier League." Bilic is likely to be the
key to success this season. He is known for playing high tempo football,
looking to win the ball back early as well as play with flair, something
West Ham fans have not been used to too often under Allardyce. But winning
games and success is still vital and Tomkins and other players know that
they now need to deliver.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Report: Watford, Tottenham enter race to sign FC Sion striker Moussa Konate
HITC
Billy Hawkins
Watford and Tottenham want Konate, who has also been linked with West Ham
and Newcastle United. As reported by Blick, Tottenham and Watford are keen
on signing Moussa Konate this summer, and the latter team have already
opened discussions with current club FC Sion concerning his transfer.
Christian Constantin, chairman of the Swiss club, confirmed in the article
that Gino Pozzo has already visited him to talk about a potential move for
Konate this summer. He said: "The Watford president has already visited me."
Konate, 22, is a full Senegalese international with an impressive goal
record for Sion. He signed for the club last summer from FK Krasnodar, and
went on to score a prolific 22 goals in 33 games for the club, across
domestic league and cup action, as well as the Europa League. He has also
played for Genoa and Maccabi Tel Aviv in his short career, and has netted
four times for Senegal in just nine games. The 22-year-old's impressive
campaign saw him garner interest from England earlier in the summer, with
both Newcastle and West Ham linked to him. The Daily Mirror reported that
the Hammers are considering a bid to partner him up with international
teammate Diafra Sakho, whilst the Mail has indicated a long-term interest in
the forward from Newcastle.
The latest interest from the Premier League suggests that both Spurs and
Watford want to bring him to England this summer, and the Hornets appear to
be in discussions with him already.
He may be unproven in England, but a prolific goal record and young age have
made him a key transfer target. Watford are leading the race for the
forward, and it remains to be seen whether any of the other three interested
parties formalise their interest into a concrete approach in the coming
weeks.
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Gold is upbeat and Talking Sport
Posted on July 2, 2015 by Headmaster
claret&blues.com
We are indebted to our own Gavin Thurston (GoatyGav) for taking the time out
to précis the interview David Gold gave this morning to the Alan Brazil
Show. Now that we are post all of the 'I think West Ham are treating Sam
very unfairly' routine, it is good that Brazil was able to host Mr Gold and
even better that the co-Chairman sounded so confident that the club is
headed in the right direction. For the first time in years, you know what, I
agree with him!
Goaty's abbreviated transcript captures the main points as follows:
* Avoiding injuries this season (referenced our drop off last term).
* Youngsters coming through to help with squad.
* Doesn't know reason for Slav not being in charge tonight.
* A win tonight takes pressure off in the away leg next week.
* Potential bananna skin (referenced past losses to 4th tier teams in cup
competitions)
* Would be stunned if we didn't win
* What an evening it will be for the Andorrans playing in front of 35K+.
Their last gate was 68 fans
* Asked about Charlie Austin or AN other. Said they are going the extra mile
to make it happen
* Asked about new stadium – is Slaven a Risk? Why Change? Mr Allardyce was
the 2nd longest serving manager. Time for Change. He did what they asked of
him when we were down and stabilised us in the Prem.
* Likely Mr Allardyce will have a few months off rather than go for a job
now.
* Asked if Super Slav was NO1 choice. Replied that he was in the respect
that he ticked so many boxes. Ex player. Fan's favourite. Has Passion.
Understands the club. Has determination. Wants to play entertaining
football. Stats only say some of the story and when the owners met him they
were very impressed and he interviewed well.
* Many fans remember Brooking and Devonshire picking the ball up deep and
setting attacks going – Slav will provide football more in line with the
'West Ham Way'
* The OS will draw fans. Easy to get to. Better experience. Upton Park, by
comparison, a nightmare. Much better public transport links including 5
train stations.
* Ambition? DG said that they want to move on. Get the top 5 to look over
their shoulders. Owners have passion for this and that he feels it's 'Our
Time'. Spoke about the 'Correlation' of the size of a club's fan-base to
it's success as a club.
* Alan Brazil touched on Corporate Hospitality but they went to a break
before DS could answer.
* Kids a the OS – affordable. £99 for Season Ticket in OS. Investing in the
future of the club with young fans. Mickey Quinn commended DS for this –
making football affordable compared to ridiculous prices in Prem for
families.
* Sold out 'Club London' & spoke of potential embarrassment of not filling
the OS. At the moment they are hitting all their targets for sales for the
OS.
* Selling the club on in the future. Doesn't 'want' to do it but if a Super
Wealthy person comes in they may have to step aside and let it happen.
Ideally they would want to stay involved and ensure that the traditions are
retained.
* Asked about new season fixtures. Difficult start at Arsenal. Potential
difficult games against highly motivated, adrenaline filled, newly promoted
clubs.
* Payet was the owner's choice however Slaven "endorsed" the signing. He is
very much an exciting "West Ham Way" player.
* Alan Brazil referenced wise spending and how well West Ham did last Summer
in the transfer market. DS said that all 9 signings "met expectation" and
two "exceeded expectation." Spoke of Diafra Sakho as an example.
* Jenks – working hard to keep him. Cresswell great season but potential
even better. Made comparisons of current full backs to Julian Dicks, Ray
Stewart and Frank Lampard Snr.
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West Ham 'working hard' to get Carl Jenkinson back from Arsenal, confirms
David Gold
Evening Standard
DAMIAN SPELLMAN
Published: 02 July 2015 Updated: 12:28, 02 July 2015
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has confirmed the club is working to secure
Carl Jenkinson's return to Upton Park. The Arsenal full-back spent last
season on loan with the Hammers and manager Slaven Bilic is hopeful of
retaining his services for the new campaign. Jenkinson, 23, who made 36
appearances last season, has been linked with a series of potential suitors
this season with Southampton and Sunderland among those clubs touted as
possible competitors to West Ham for his signature. The Londoners have
already been busy in the summer transfer market, landing Marseille winger
Dimitri Payet, Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Obiang and Birmingham keeper
Darren Randolph as they attempt to manage the dual demands of domestic and
European campaigns.
Gold said: "We recognise this is an important season for us and being in
Europe we will go the extra mile to ensure we have got the strongest
possible squad we can muster."
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West Ham close in on transfer deals for Barcelona's Alex Song and Arsenal's
Carl Jenkinson
Simon Osborn for Metro.co.uk
Thursday 2 Jul 2015 10:24 am
West Ham hope to announce two new signings in the next 48-hours. The Hammers
are set to tie up a permanent move for midfielder Alex Song, who is expected
to join from Barcelona on a free transfer, and a one-year loan-deal Arsenal
defender Carl Jenkinson. Both players spent last season on-loan at Upton
Park and, according to the Daily Telegraph, will both return to play a role
in Slaven Bilic's new-look side. Keeping Song represents a major coup for
the Hammers as Chelsea were also thought to be in the race to sign the
27-year-old former Arsenal midfielder.
England under-21 international Jenkinson turned down a move to Sunderland
last month as he wanted to stay in East London.
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West Ham take Wimbledon's Daniel Agyei on trial amid Chelsea interest
By Jack Watson
Posted on July 2, 2015
squawka.com
West Ham United have offered AFC Wimbledon striker Daniel Agyei a trial amid
interest from Chelsea, according to the Daily Mail. The Hammers are having a
big summer after waving goodbye to Sam Allardyce and replacing him with
Slaven Bilic, who almost won the Turkish Super Lig with Besiktas last season
as well as knocking Liverpool out of the Europa League. He's a well-known
manager in England having played over here for West Ham during his playing
days, plus he was Croatian manager when Steven McClaren's England failed to
qualify for the European Championships in 2008. They're now seeking ways to
make improvements to their squad too and have offered Agyei the chance to
shine, who is clearly impressing scouts if Premier League champions Chelsea
have also taken a look at him. Agyei scored 29 goals for AFC Wimbledon's
Under-21s' side last season so clearly knows where the goal is and how stick
the ball in it.
West Ham made two great attacking signings of Diafra Sakho and Enner
Valencia last season and they both made exceptional starts before fading
away.
Sakho ended the season with 10 goals while Valencia finished with six fewer
on four, so adding another goal-poacher to the mix can only be a good thing
for the Hammers and for Bilic who will aim for a top ten finish next season.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Report: West Ham set £8m asking price for Stewart Downing amid reported
Newcastle interest
HITC
Olly Dawes
West Ham will reportedly sell Stewart Downing this summer - if they receive
£8m. According to the Daily Mirror, West Ham are willing to entertain offers
of around £8m for midfielder Stewart Downing this summer. Downing, 30,
enjoyed a productive season for West Ham with six goals in 37 games, but now
faces the Upton Park exit after new manager Slaven Bilic brought in
Marseille playmaker Dimitri Payet. Frenchman Payet will be the undoubted
first choice playmaker next season, meaning Downing could be forced out of
the side - and he is attracting Premier League interest. The Daily Star
recently reported that both Newcastle and Sunderland are interested in
signing the England international, with a battle potentially ensuing between
the two North East rivals. Now, the Daily Mirror report that West Ham would
be willing to sell Downing this summer - if they receive an offer of £8m,
having already rejected an offer of £6m from Sunderland.
Money well spent?
Downing played well for West Ham last season, flourishing as the central
playmaker in a 4-3-1-2 system under ex-Hammers boss Sam Allardyce. If either
Sunderland or Newcastle have plans to play Downing in that role, then he
could well be a good signing - but there are plenty of concerns. Downing
turns 31 later this month, and forking out £8m for a player of that age with
little resale value should be of great concern, especially for Newcastle,
who need to be signing young, hungry players, rather than paying so much for
a player who could be in decline soon.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Obiang and Hendrie train for West Ham, along with 16-year-old Reece Oxford
HITC
Dan Coombs
West Ham have been preparing for tonight's Europa League fixture. West Ham
United have been busy training in yesterday's searing July heat ahead of
their Europa League qualifying match against Lusitanos. Led by Slaven Bilic
and first team coach Julian Dicks, the players were put through their paces
as they prepare for their early season kick-off. Featuring in the training
session were new signings central midfielder Pedro Obiang, who joined from
Sampdoria, and full-back Stephen Hendrie, who joined from Scottish side
Hamilton. Neither are in line to start for the club on Thursday evening,
with academy manager Terry Westley announced the starting line-up at a press
conference, published by the Hammers' official Twitter account, with the
team listed below.
West Ham starting XI to play Lusitanos: Randolph, O'Brien, Tomkins, Burke,
Page, Oxford, Amalfitano, Poyet, Jarvis, Sakho, Zarate.
Mauro Zarate has a second chance to impress after falling out of favour
under Sam Allardyce last season, and Diego Poyet also goes straight into the
side after returning from the under-20 World Cup where he starred for
Uruguay. The most notable name set to appear on the teamsheet in England
under-17 star Reece Oxford, just 16, who is in line to make his first start
for the Hammers. Oxford is pictured below in training with young teammates
Emmanuel Onariase and Jordan Brown.
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Crystal Palace and West Ham in battle to sign Yohan Cabaye
Both clubs are willing to meet PSG's £10 million asking price
telegraph.co.uk
Jason Burt 10:22PM BST 01 Jul 2015
Crystal Palace and West Ham United are going head-to-head to try and bring
the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Yohan Cabaye back to the Premier League.
Both clubs have indicated they are willing to meet PSG's £10 million asking
price for the French international who has been told he can leave although
Palace manager Alan Pardew's strong relationship with the 29-year-old – who
he coached at Newcastle United – may prove decisive. Although Cabaye left
Newcastle under difficult circumstances he maintained a good friendship with
Pardew who wants to make him one of three significant signings at Palace
this summer as the club aims to consolidate its top-flight status. Palace
have been in talks with PSG for some time but they are not going to have a
free run at Cabaye with West Ham hoping that their potential – with the move
to the Olympic Stadium next season and the arrival of Slaven Bilic as their
new manager – could prove decisive.
Cabaye was signed for £19million by PSG from Newcastle in January 2014 but
has fallen out of the first-team reckoning with the French champions having
informed him he can find a new club.
Cabaye needs to re-establish himself as a regular first-team player having
been warned that his he will not regain a place in the France squad – ahead
of Euro 2016 – unless he does so.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham step up pursuit to bring Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson back on
loan... and give trial to Wimbledon striker Daniel Agyei
By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE and MATT MALTBY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 20:48, 1 July 2015 | UPDATED: 22:05, 1 July 2015
West Ham have stepped up their pursuit to bring Arsenal defender Carl
Jenkinson back on loan following his successful spell last season. The right
back impressed at Upton Park and helped the Hammers secure a 12th placed
finish in the Premier League. And with a lack of full back options,
Sportsmail understands the east London club are keen on signing Jenkinson
for a second-consecutive season. West Ham have stepped up their pursuit to
bring Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson back on loan in the summer The England
international made 36 appearances in all competitions last season but is
behind Hector Bellerin and Mathieu Debuchy in the pecking order at Arsenal.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is happy to allow Jenkinson to get more matches
under his belt on a temporary basis. West Ham United's Carl Jenkinson
applauds the fans after the final whistle during the Barclays Premier League
match at Upton Park, London. Meanwhile, the Hammers are expected to give a
trial to AFC Wimbledon striker Daniel Agyei, who has also courted the
interest of Chelsea, on Thursday. Teenager Agyei scored 29 goals for AFC
Wimbledon U18s last season and will be given the opportunity to prove his
worth at West Ham.
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Reece Oxford will become youngest ever player to represent West Ham by
featuring against FC Lusitans at tender age of 16
By ANTHONY HAY FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 21:17, 1 July 2015 | UPDATED: 07:01, 2 July 2015
Reece Oxford will write his name in West Ham's history books by making his
competitive debut against against FC Lusitans at the tender age of 16.
Oxford has been included in West Ham's experimental starting line-up to take
on the Andorran side in Thursday's UEFA Europa League first round qualifying
tie. England Under 17 starlet Oxford will break Billy Williams' record.
Williams had held the title of West Ham's youngest ever player for 93 years.
WEST HAM XI VS FC LUSITANS
Randolph; O'Brien, Tomkins (c), Burke, Page; Amalfitano, Poyet, Oxford,
Jarvis; Sakho, Zarate
Williams made his competitive debut at the age of 16 years and 221 days,
while Oxford will make his competitive bow at 16 years and 198 days. Oxford
came close to making his first senior appearance for the Hammers during the
2014-15 campaign. He was an unused substitute for West Ham's Barclays
Premier League matches against Liverpool, Manchester United, Southampton,
Queens Park Rangers and Burnley as well as in the east London side's Capital
One Cup defeat by Sheffield United in August. West Ham academy manager Terry
Westley will take charge of Thursday's match at Upton Park as Slaven Bilic
has decided to watch the European tie from the stands.
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'We'll see if he's as good as we think' West Ham wonderkid set for debut
London 24
06:50 02 July 2015 Brad Pinard
West Ham are set to hand a competitive debut to 16-year-old Reece Oxford in
tonight's Europa League first qualifying game v Andorran side Lusitanos. A
full house at Upton Park will watch a Hammers XI, featuring a number of
first team players, take to the field with more than five weeks to go until
the start of the Premier League season. One man who will also start is
England under-17 captain Oxford, who will line up in midfield alongside
Diego Poyet. The youngster signed a new contract with the club last year
after being linked with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, and academy boss
Terry Westley who will take charge against Lusitanos is hoping he can cope
with the occasion. "We will find out about him," Westley said. "We will find
out whether he can handle the pressure of the big situation, whether he is
as good as we think he is. "We won't know that with him on the bench or in
the stand. "He has an opportunity and the talking has to stop. "If he is
going to be one of the best we have produced he has to be some player with
Tomkins here and then Lampard, Cole, Ferdinand and the rest weren't bad.
"Where he is at his age, he has done exactly what he needs to do. "Some
questions will be answered tomorrow." Some areas of West Ham fans were
disappointed not to see more academy players given a chance under Sam
Allardyce. However Westley thinks former boss Big Sam has left the younger
players in a good position going into this campaign. "You've got to be good
enough," he added. "I spent three years at the Premier League and my job was
to bring through more youngsters. "They have to be good enough but you do
need opportunities and that is why this competition is such a good chance
for us. "People now have to step forward and prove they are good enough. "I
think Sam was good in that respect, right at the end with Reece Burke
playing and Reece Oxford was around the squad. "That is why I was brought to
the club, to have three or four home-grown players playing in the Olympic
Stadium next season, that is what this club is about. "We have to try and
develop the players to be good enough for that."
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'His knowledge of European players is fantastic' West Ham transfer targets
tipped to be a success
London 24
07:10 02 July 2015 Brad Pinard
Slaven Bilic has an extraordinary knowledge of top European players,
according to Hammers coach Terry Westley. The east enders take on Lusitanos
in their opening Europa League clash of the season tonight and Westley will
take charge. Bilic is on his way back from Cork, where the Hammers first
team is based at present, and will fly back out to work with his proper
squad after the game. The Hammers have already nabbed Pedro Obiang and
Dimitri Payet from Europe and more are set to follow with two new signings
expected before the start of next week. Bilic has a superb knowledge of
players, having worked in different countries and at international level,
and he can bring that to Upton Park. "His knowledge of European players is
fantastic," Westley said. The way he talks about players, he is a very
intelligent manager and I am sure he will bring that to the job. "He has
been very respectful. "He knows we know the players and what we are doing.
He has been respectful in terms of training and setting the team up. "We
have spoken about the team and what shape he wants to play, I've no doubt
tomorrow he will make changes if he wants to."
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WEST HAM JOIN RACE FOR STRIKER
West Ham have joined the heavily contested race to sign striker Chris Martin
this summer.
Several other Premier League clubs are interested in the Derby man.
Rob Mullis 7 hours ago
ironscircle.com
According to reports, West Ham are prepared to bring Derby County striker,
Chris Martin, to East London, but will face competition from several Premier
League clubs.
Slaven Bilic's new employers will be looking to go head-to-head with
Martin's former boss at Derby, Steve McClaren, who has recently taken over
at Newcastle United. Crystal Palace, Swansea City and West Bromwich Albion
are also looking to bring the Scotland international up to top-flight
football. The striker himself may prefer to join Alan Pardew at Palace,
where he scored 7 goals in 26 games between 2011 and 2012.
West Ham though, are looking to bolster the squad ahead of a first European
campaign in 9 years, where striking options will be tested to the full and
goals are a must. Chris Martin has scored a total of 45 goals in two years
at Rams; more than any Hammers striker in that time.
Derby County may face a serious challenge to hold onto the 26 year-old who
might offer better value for money than QPR's Charlie Austin, who has been
rumoured to be in Claret and Blue sights.
None the less, if Martin does join, West Ham may be forced to offload one of
the barrage of strikers available for this season, boosted by the returns of
Mauro Zarate and Modibo Maiga.
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Alex Song set for West Ham return after exercising in NEW club training
shorts despite still being on Barcelona's books
By SEAN GALLAGHER FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 01:16, 2 July 2015 | UPDATED: 01:40, 2 July 2015
Alex Song has fuelled speculation that he is closing in on a return to West
Ham after uploading a video on Instagram of him training in the club's new
training shorts in the gym on Wednesday. The 27-year-old, who impressed for
the Hammers during a loan spell last season, is believed to have been at the
club's training base when doing the exercise drills. The shorts, pictured
below, are available to buy via the club's official superstore for £27.99.
As Sportsmail revealed on Monday, the Cameroon international has agreed
personal terms with the east London side and is now awaiting a medical ahead
of a permanent move. A fee is yet to be agreed with Barcelona for the
former Arsenal midfielder though, with the Hammers keen to land Song on a
free transfer ideally. Despite this the transfer is expected to go through
and could be completed within the next 72 hours. New West Ham boss Slaven
Bilic is also hopeful of landing former loanee Carl Jenkinson from the
Emirates, as well as Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour and Lille midfielder
Idrissa Gueye.
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Thursday, July 2
Daily WHUFC News - 2nd July 2015
Hendrie ready to impress
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's new signing Stephen Hendrie has wasted no time settling into his new surroundings and says he is ready to play a major role for the Club in both domestic and European competition next season. Hendrie was one of the standout players in Scotland last season and earned rave reviews for Hamilton. The Scotland Under-21 international jumped at the chance to make the move into the Premier League when West Ham made their move to sign the talented full-back. And with a new manager being appointed and the club returning to European action for the first time since 2006, Hendrie says he could not be joining the club at a better time. Hendrie said: "When I signed contract I was eager to come down and meet the new boys and manager. It has been great. "I know Slaven is a great manager and taking Croatia to the quarter-finals of the Euros shows the qualities he has. "It is brilliant for me to join West Ham when we are playing in Europe and it will be great for the players to express themselves in the Europa League. "I like to get forward and whip in crosses but also be solid at the back. There is great competition for places and Aaron Cresswell obviously won the Hammer of the Year last season but I am looking forward to the challenge."
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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com
Our man on the inside lifts the lid on the latest transfer speculation...
With the players preparing for the start of the Europa League on Thursday night these are certainly busy times for the Club but I have been told that there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes as Slaven Bilic looks to bring even more players into his squad. I can exclusively reveal that the Club are close to making two more signings and hope to announce them in the next 72 hours. Darren Randolph, Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet have already arrived at the Boleyn Ground this summer and I believe the Club are doing everything to make the squad as strong as possible as they prepare for a busy schedule in both domestic and European competition. There has been a lot of speculation linking the Club with Aymen Abdennour and although he is highly regarded, my understanding is that the Monaco defender will be joining a top European club for a fee believed to be over £20m. There have also been stories linking West Ham with moves for defenders Aleksandar Dragovic and Angelo Ogbonna. I have been told that the Club are looking to sign another central defender and they are keeping all their options open at the moment. Rumours are also circulating that West Ham are in a battle with Crystal Palace to sign Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye, but my understanding is that the Club have other targets and he looks set to join another Premier League Club.
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West Ham United, a season in review: January 2015
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st July 2015
By: Graeme Howlett
Throughout the football season, KUMB Editor Graeme Howlett pens a weekly column for Echo Newspapers.
Join us as we take a look back at the highs and lows of the 2014/15 season, with our eyes today rooted on January 2015. And it had all been going so well, too...
Column #18: 11 January 2015
On the face of it, a point at Swansea isn't a terrible result. However there were few West Ham fans returning from the Liberty Stadium on Saturday night not feeling slightly disappointed that the Hammers hadn't taken all three.
For the third game in succession, West Ham had taken the lead only to have to settle for a draw. Andy Carroll temporarily silenced his critics with a wonderful solo effort on the cusp of half time before Mark Noble's own goal, with just 16 minutes remaining, gave the Jacks a share of the spoils.
Having opened the scoring through Carroll, it was an all-too-familiar tale as the Irons sat back and invited pressure on. After conceding the (inevitable) equaliser, West Ham took the game to their hosts and were unlucky not to grab a late winner with one of several opportunities - but it was a case of too little, too late.
That's been the story for Big Sam's boys since the New Year; three games - West Brom, Everton and Swansea, three leads spurned and three draws. In some ways, it's reminiscent of last season's dark(er) days, when United's modus operandi - away from home, at least - was to grab a goal and then attempt to hang on for dear life.
Sometimes the policy works, often it doesn't, but either way supporters are generally left dissatisfied with the standard of fayre on offer - especially this season, given the strength of the current squad and lack of reason to play in such a cautious manner.
It's long been joked that West Ham are like Christmas tree decorations, as they come down after Christmas. Laughable or otherwise, the Hammers are yet to pick up a win in the five games since Yuletide and need a win soon, if for no other reason than to calm a few nerves.
That streak of winless games has resulted in West Ham dropping from third to seventh in the Premier League - and it doesn't get any easier. Following the visit of struggling Hull next weekend, Liverpool (a), Man Utd (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (a), Chelsea (h) and Arsenal (a) provide six of the next seven opponents.
Before that of course, we have a transfer window to navigate; young centre half Doneil Henry has already arrived via Apollon Limassol for £1.5million, but further business duing January is likely to be limited due to the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play (FFP).
Column #19: 18 January 2015
There was no column #19 in anything but name, as I had a week off. So naturally, that's the weekend West Ham picked to secure a 3-0 win against Hull City.
Column #20: 25 January 2015
"We're in the hat - and that's what matters", declared Sam Allardyce after his West Ham United side beat Bristol City 1-0 in their FA Cup tie at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon.
Taking into account FA Cup results elsewhere at the weekend, it's hard to be critical of Sam's succinct summary - even if the Hammers produced a largely insipid performance in scraping through against a team two divisions below them.
In a fourth round littered with shock results West Ham avoided the pitfalls suffered by the likes of Chelsea, Swansea, Manchester City and Tottenham - beaten 24 hours earlier by Bradford, Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Leicester respectively - to reach the last 16 for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
Of the teams above West Ham in the Premier League currently, only Manchester United and Arsenal remain in this year's FA Cup. It is therefore no surprise that Allardyce, who fielded arguably his strongest XI against Bristol The Robins, believes this is a competition he can win.
Oddly perhaps United's victory - secured through a late Diafra Sakho header - was the first FA Cup match Big Sam has won in regulation time since becoming West Ham's manager in 2011. Defeats against Sheffield Wednesday (2011), Man Utd (2012) and Nottingham Forest (2013) were followed by the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Everton a fortnight ago.
For the first time since arriving at the Boleyn Ground, Allardyce and his squad have engineered a situation whereby West Ham's Premier League status is all but assured by mid-January. This has allowed the Hammers to take a real shot at Cup glory - rather than rest key players and risk repeating the embarrassing scenes witnessed at the City Ground a year ago.
So having started 2015 with a treble of draws, the Hammers have now won three on the spin. As a result, confidence in the camp is high ahead of next weekend's trip to Liverpool - where West Ham will once again attempt to break their Anfield hoodoo.
The Beatles were at number one in the music charts with 'She Loves You' when Ron Greenwood's side left Merseyside with 2-0 win in September 1963, courtesy of goals from home grown youngsters Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. Since then a succession of West Ham teams have tried and failed (usually miserably) to emulate that success.
Could this finally be our year?
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Dicks' delight tinged with sadness
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Julian Dicks joy at becoming part of Slaven Bilic's new back room team was bittersweet, after it was revealed that he had lost his father on the same day. Dicks' daughter Jessica, posting on Twitter this afternoon revealed that her grandfather passed away on the same day her father discovered that he had been appointed as first team coaching assistant. "I wouldn't usually put personal things on Facebook," she wrote, "but I have received hundreds of lovely messages regarding my dad's new job. I am sorry that I haven't replied to any but I am so grateful.
"On Monday not only did we have the best news this year, but also really sad news as my dad's dad passed away. He passed away not only having the most wonderful, caring wife but he also got to hold his first great grandchild Teddy. "On his last day he was smiling as he was so proud of my dad's new job. Rest in peace, granddad."
Dicks, speaking via his former column for KUMB.com revealed back in 2012 that his father had played a major role in his son's development as a footballer during his youth. "My dad was a big influence on me when I was growing up. He was a good player [for Frome Town] and well known around Bristol, but he never forced me to play football," Dicks recalled. "He'd watch me at the weekends and encourage me - he'd never shout at me, unlike some parents now. If I'd done something wrong he'd tell me - that's what parents do. But he wasn't like 'you've got to do this' - he'd just let me get on with it. "
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Irons still chasing top Monaco defender
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham are continuing to pursue their interest in Monaco central defender Aymen Abdennour. The Irons have been on the Tunisian's case for some time and were they to beat Liverpool to the £15 million target the club would have staged a major coup. Newcastle are also interested but the Irons are ahead of the Geordie club having already made two bids which have been rejected.
Slaven Bilic has made it clear since his job interview that a world class central defender is a priority and the club's negotiators have been holding discussions and making proposals for some time as a result. It's an indication of the board's readiness to back their new manager as far as is humanly possible as he bids to reshape his squad. And the player's agent Abdelkader Jilani has explained on several occasions in the past that the Premier League is his client's preferred option saying: "There are some proposals from England and Spain but only an enquiry from Italy."
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Irons target' Cabaye "close" to Palace switch
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Yohan Cabaye – regularly linked as a major target for West Ham – is this morning reported as being close to a switch to Crystal Palace. The Mirror claims that the former Newcastle midfield ace is ready for a premier league return after his spell at Paris St Germain following a £19 million switch to the French champs. He is now apparently available at a cut price and is keen to link up with Alan Pardew at Selhurst Park. The Mirror understands a deal is set to be done in the next week in time for the Eagles' pre-season. The Hammers – despite reports claiming that he is a target – have revealed to ClaretandHugh that they have not been chasing the 29 year old. We were told: "We have done zero on the player." Former Irons boss But Pardew is also claimed to be interested in Charlie Austin who also interests West Brom and has again been linked with us. But the £15 million asking fee is too much for the Irons who would only possibly become involved if it were to be dropped.
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33 goal striker to have Hammers trial
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
AFC Wimbledon striker Daniel Agyei will have a trial at West Ham tomorrow reports Sky News. The young striker scored 33 goals for AFC Wimbledon Under 21 team after being fast tracked from the U18 team, He has been monitored by Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham. The 17-year-old is said to have impressed Hammers scouts.
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WEST HAM AGREE DEAL FOR RIGHT-BACK
West Ham have agreed a deal with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for the transfer of right-back Luis Advincula.
The Peruvian has impressed at the Copa America.
Michael Oliver
theironscircle.com
West Ham are said to be close to signing Hoffenheim right-back Luis Advincula after agreeing a deal with the Bundesliga club, according to Libero. The Hammers were in 'advanced talks' with Hoffenheim for his transfer last month, but it now seems like the deal is close to being completed. Portuguese news outlet Record says that the Hammers, impressed by the player's performances at the Copa America this summer with Peru, have opened talks with the Bundesliga side over a possible transfer. The 25-year-old is made 27 appearances in all competitions on loan in Portugal last season, and the report claims that Advincula is set to leave as 'the chances of Advíncula return [to Vitoria Setubal] are practically nil'. Vitoria Setubal narrowly avoided relegation from the Primeira Liga last season, and Advincula is said to want to take the next step as a player and not return for a second loan spell despite their interest.
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West Ham set for frustration in bid for World Cup winning Spaniard
HITC
Heath Chesters
West Ham have been linked with an approach for Alvaro Arbeloa. Following the arrival of Brazilian right-back Danilo from FC Porto, plus the growing importance of Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid, the future of Alvaro Arbeloa at the Santiago Bernabeu has become uncertain. At the weekend, The Sunday Times suggested that West Ham United are interested in Arbeloa, conscious that the wealth of experience the player has at the highest level of the game, could prove an excellent addition to their team. Although the reports from England indicated the 32-year-old World Cup winner might be interested in a switch to The Hammers, contrasting views have emerged from Spain. Whilst regular action for Arbeloa during the 2015-16 season at Real Madrid is looking complicated, according to radio network Cadena COPE, Arbeloa is set to snub any offers received this summer, in order to stay with Los Blancos and fight for his place. The Spanish radio network also believe that Arbeloa has made that intention perfectly clear to new Real Madrid boss, Rafa Benitez, who he also worked with during a previous spell in the Premier League at Liverpool. During the 2014-15 season, Arbeloa still made a total of 35 appearances in all competitions, and despite the competition from Carvajal and Danilo, he still feels he has a role to play with Real Madrid. As such, the player intends on proving his worth to Benitez during pre-season with Real Madrid. With that intention, it's only by being told he's surplus to requirements, that could lead to Arbeloa considering other offers and only towards the end of the summer transfer window. Given that West Ham have other irons in the fire, whether they're prepared to wait that long for the Spaniard to consider what they have to offer, remains to be seen.
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West Ham goalkeeper Adrian admits he had never heard of new signing and fellow Spaniard Pedro Obiang
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian has admitted he had never heard of the club's £4.4 million signing Pedro Obiang, despite being from the same country. The Hammers snapped up the former Spain Under 21 midfielder from Serie A side Sampdoria earlier this month, just 24 hours after naming Slaven Bilic as their new manager. Obiang had left Atletico Madrid as a youngster before joining Sampdoria's youth academy where he progressed to become a permanent fixture in the Italian club's first team. However, the East Londoners' number one has told West Ham's official website his compatriot was unknown to him before he joined the Premier League side but that has not stopped them striking up an instant friendship on their return to pre-season training. "I don't know him before," he told whufc.com. "But I know he's a great guy now and today is the first time I have met him in person and he's a very funny guy and I think we have a lot of Latin players now as we have Enner (Valenica), Mauro (Zarate), Diego Poyet, Pedro and me."
Adrian is something of a cult hero to Hammers fans for his goalkeeping skills and the passion he brings to the number one shirt at the Boleyn Ground. He cemented his place in West Ham folklore last season when he threw his gloves to the floor before stepping up to score the winning penalty in an epic FA Cup replay against Everton. But off the pitch he is proving a true team player too as he is helping players, including Obiang, to learn the language as his wife Tamara is an English teacher. West Ham fans will be hoping that Obiang leaves a lasting impression on Adrian when the new season gets under way. The Hammers start competitive football before any other Premier League side tomorrow night when they take on Andorran minnows FC Lusitans in the Europa League and the 23-year-old midfielder could feature.
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West Ham, Liverpool and Newcastle battle for 'one of the best defenders in Europe'
London 24
08:04 01 July 2015 Brad Pinard
Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour has numerous offers on the table and could make a decision on his future in the next week or so. The Tunisian hard man is interesting West Ham, Liverpool and Newcastle in England, while clubs in Spain and Italy are also keen. Monaco want around £15million for their centre back but so far West Ham have twice fallen short of that figure in discussions. Agent Abdelkader Jilani has been quoted on numerous occasions claiming a move to England was the preffered destination of his client and things haven't changed. "Abdennour is one of the best defenders on the European stage and it's only natural he is admired," he told Italian site Calciomercado. "There were some proposals from England and Spain, while in Italy there were only enquiries, so no official offer on the table or negotiations in progress. "At the moment he has a contract with Monaco, so anyone who wants him must speak to the Principality club. They deserve respect. "What I can say right now is that there is nothing concrete with Italian clubs. "Italy is an option, but the right offer must come in."
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Pardew eyes £10m Cabaye reunion as West Ham and Saints stumble on former Newcastle man
ALAN PARDEW will be reunited with Yohan Cabaye if PSG accept an estimated £10million offer from Crystal Palace for the midfielder.
By JOE SHORT
PUBLISHED: 07:29, Wed, Jul 1, 2015 | UPDATED: 07:38, Wed, Jul 1, 2015
Express.co.uk
Eagles boss Pardew signed Cabaye for Newcastle back in 2011 but was powerless to stop him leaving for Paris for £19m in January last year. Eighteen months down the line and Cabaye is set to move back to the Premier League, with Southampton and West Ham keen on the player. But the Guardian claim Palace have stolen a lead over their rivals in the race for the talented France international, who struggled to keep his place in the PSG side last season. Pardew is on a scouting mission for new recruits after keeping Palace in the Premier League last term. They are yet to land a player this summer but have been linked with a number of new signings, including Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Newcastle's Tim Krul.
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WHO'S THE SKIPPER?
By Tony Hanna 1 Jul 2015 at 08:00
West Ham Till I DIe
With all the talk at the moment concentrated on possible new signings and the Europa League, one thing that has not had much air time is who is going to be the club captain for this coming season? Since the arrival of new boss Slaven Bilic and his back room staff there has been an air of the new broom sweeping clean. The appointment of a new captain is one that Slaven I am sure will be deliberating over and there are a few possibilities.
Captain for the past four seasons has of course been Kevin Nolan. Whilst he is still with the club at present the signs are that he probably won't be come the start of the season. When the club unveiled its new 2015/16 kit on the official website recently, they paraded five players wearing the new design and no, Kevin was not one of them. Quite a telling statement and a lot heavier than a subliminal message! This past week he has been linked with a move back to Bolton but it would seem that our Kev will have to take quite a drop in wages to leave the Boleyn. If he does decide to stay and "take the money" I am sure it will only be in a bench warming position. It would appear either way that Kevin will not be our captain any longer.
Up to now the most obvious choice to take over from Nolan has been Mark Noble. Approaching ten years at the club he is our current Mr West Ham, coming through the youth system along with James Tomkins. In the matches where Nolan was out of the side last season it was Noble who took the armband if he was available. But, one has to ask, will Noble even be a regular in the side next season? The arrival of Dimitri Payat and Pedro Obiang, and the probability of Alex Song signing on a permanent deal further begs the question whether Noble will get enough game time to command the position? After an impressive first season it would be doubtful that Kouyate would not be one of the first names on the team sheet. Could he be a candidate?
Now if Song does sign a deal to permanently join West Ham he could also come into calculations. He skippered the side on several occasions last season in the absence of both Nolan and Noble. Given that he was only on loan at the club last season and he still got a gig in the role, you would have to imagine he has a good case. Another possibility could be Winston Reid. He has shown his commitment to the club by signing a long term deal recently and perhaps Bilic would favour a defender as skipper?
If passion is what you want from a captain then many would not look further than Adrian? It has never been my cup of tea having a goalkeeper as captain but it would not be a total surprise if he became the choice. However, it may even be possible our new captain is someone who has not even signed yet? With the promise from the club of one more major signing this transfer window who is to say our new captain is yet to join the club? It will be a decision that Slaven Bilic will be giving a lot of serious consideration to over the next few weeks. Mark Noble is an obvious favourite at the moment but who would be your choice?
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Report: West Ham still in race for Yohan Cabaye, Tottenham not interested
HITC
Olly Dawes
Crystal Palace are reportedly in talks to sign Yohan Cabye - but West Ham are still in the race for his signature. According to The Guardian, Crystal Palace have opened talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal to sign midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Cabaye, 29, left Newcastle for PSG in January 2014, but has struggled to nail down a regular spot in Laurent Blanc's first team in the French capital. A return to the Premier League could be on the cards, with The Guardian reporting that Crystal Palace now opened talks with PSG over a deal to bring Cabaye back to England. Eagles boss Alan Pardew signed and worked with Cabaye at Newcastle, and a reunion - costing £10m - is in the pipeline according to reports. However, The Guardian also note that West Ham United are still in the running for Cabaye's signature, even after the signings of Dimitri Payet and Pedro Obiang earlier this summer. The report also states that Tottenham are currently not interested in Cabaye, though Southampton could make a move should Morgan Schneiderlin move to Manchester United.
Crystal Palace v West Ham
It seems that the race for Cabaye's signature could now come down to a fight between Crystal Palace and West Ham, but who should he join? West Ham likely have higher immediate ambitions, but Palace are clearly a club moving in the right direction under Pardew, and Cabaye's relationship with the Eagles boss should come into play here. It would be something of a coup for Palace to sign Cabaye, with the French international possessing great quality in midfield - and whilst West Ham are an attractive proposition, Palace may well be his best option.
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West Ham 'in transfer talks to sign world-class defenders Aleksandar Dragovic and Angelo Ogbonna'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Wednesday 1 Jul 2015 12:23 am
West Ham are in talks to sign defenders Aleksandar Dragovic and Angelo Ogbonna, according to reports. The Hammers are looking to strengthen their whole team ahead of the new season and defence is a key area. Reports in Italy say Slaven Bilic wants two proven stars, with Dynamo Kiev ace Dragovic the surprise choice. Manchester United and Arsenal are also keen on a £15million deal for him, while Juventus star Ogbonna is also believed to be in advanced negotiations to sign for £12m. West Ham are assembling a quality side and have already spent big on the signing of Dimitri Payet from Marseille.
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West Ham cult figure Adrian says fans are in for an exciting but emotional season
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian says the club are in for an exciting but emotional season under new boss Slaven Bilic. Speaking to West Ham's official website on his return to pre-season training after a summer break which saw him tie the knot with his wife Tamara, the cult figure admitted it will be tough to say goodbye to the club's Boleyn Ground home of 112 years. The Hammers will leave Upton Park next summer to move down the road to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium in Stratford. And despite having only been at the club for two seasons, the 28-year-old Spaniard is fully immersed in east London life and will miss what he now calls his second home. But it is also exciting times for West Ham who are back playing in Europe for what is one of the landmark seasons in the club's long history. Ironically, the shot stopper helped former La Liga club Real Betis qualify for the Europa League but did not get to play in the competition after leaving to join the Irons in 2013.
Now he hopes to finally taste a big European night under the Boleyn lights before they are no more. "It is an exciting time for everybody, for West Ham fans and for all the players because we have new manager, new staff and new players," he told whufc.com. "It's exciting for two things, from sporting side because we play for the Europa League and also emotional and sentimental as it is the last year at Upton Park."
Adrian secured cult hero status with the West Ham faithful last season when he threw his gloves to the floor and scored the winning penalty in an epic FA Cup replay against Everton.
Hammers fans also love his enthusiasm and passion on the pitch and tendency to use social media to give an insight into his life at West Ham off it. He has played 58 times for the club so far and was even praised for his Premier League form last season by Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque. The club has brought in Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph on a free transfer from Birmingham City to provide competition for Adrian after the departure of Jussi Jaaskelainen.
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WEST HAM MAKE BID FOR LIGUE 1 MIDFIELDER
the ironscircle.com
West Ham have submitted an undisclosed bid for Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye. Crystal Palace and Marseille have also made moves. West Ham have made an undisclosed offer to Lille for the signing of midfielder Idrissa Gueye, reports RMC. Crystal Palace have also been linked with a move for the 25-year-old, with the report claiming that the Eagles have also made a similar offer, with both bids understood to be between €8-10m. It wasn't too long ago that the Senegalese international was set to join Southampton as a replacement for the outgoing Morgan Schneiderlin, but the Saints have since cooled their interest. Marseille are also interested in purchasing Gueye from their fellow Ligue 1 club, and have made a €7m offer for the player as well. However, it's understood that Gueye, much like former Marseille star Dimitri Payet who's now turning out in claret and blue, would favour a move to England and the Premier League due to the attractive financial packaged teams are able to put together in comparison to those in French football.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United's new signing Stephen Hendrie has wasted no time settling into his new surroundings and says he is ready to play a major role for the Club in both domestic and European competition next season. Hendrie was one of the standout players in Scotland last season and earned rave reviews for Hamilton. The Scotland Under-21 international jumped at the chance to make the move into the Premier League when West Ham made their move to sign the talented full-back. And with a new manager being appointed and the club returning to European action for the first time since 2006, Hendrie says he could not be joining the club at a better time. Hendrie said: "When I signed contract I was eager to come down and meet the new boys and manager. It has been great. "I know Slaven is a great manager and taking Croatia to the quarter-finals of the Euros shows the qualities he has. "It is brilliant for me to join West Ham when we are playing in Europe and it will be great for the players to express themselves in the Europa League. "I like to get forward and whip in crosses but also be solid at the back. There is great competition for places and Aaron Cresswell obviously won the Hammer of the Year last season but I am looking forward to the challenge."
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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com
Our man on the inside lifts the lid on the latest transfer speculation...
With the players preparing for the start of the Europa League on Thursday night these are certainly busy times for the Club but I have been told that there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes as Slaven Bilic looks to bring even more players into his squad. I can exclusively reveal that the Club are close to making two more signings and hope to announce them in the next 72 hours. Darren Randolph, Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet have already arrived at the Boleyn Ground this summer and I believe the Club are doing everything to make the squad as strong as possible as they prepare for a busy schedule in both domestic and European competition. There has been a lot of speculation linking the Club with Aymen Abdennour and although he is highly regarded, my understanding is that the Monaco defender will be joining a top European club for a fee believed to be over £20m. There have also been stories linking West Ham with moves for defenders Aleksandar Dragovic and Angelo Ogbonna. I have been told that the Club are looking to sign another central defender and they are keeping all their options open at the moment. Rumours are also circulating that West Ham are in a battle with Crystal Palace to sign Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye, but my understanding is that the Club have other targets and he looks set to join another Premier League Club.
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West Ham United, a season in review: January 2015
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st July 2015
By: Graeme Howlett
Throughout the football season, KUMB Editor Graeme Howlett pens a weekly column for Echo Newspapers.
Join us as we take a look back at the highs and lows of the 2014/15 season, with our eyes today rooted on January 2015. And it had all been going so well, too...
Column #18: 11 January 2015
On the face of it, a point at Swansea isn't a terrible result. However there were few West Ham fans returning from the Liberty Stadium on Saturday night not feeling slightly disappointed that the Hammers hadn't taken all three.
For the third game in succession, West Ham had taken the lead only to have to settle for a draw. Andy Carroll temporarily silenced his critics with a wonderful solo effort on the cusp of half time before Mark Noble's own goal, with just 16 minutes remaining, gave the Jacks a share of the spoils.
Having opened the scoring through Carroll, it was an all-too-familiar tale as the Irons sat back and invited pressure on. After conceding the (inevitable) equaliser, West Ham took the game to their hosts and were unlucky not to grab a late winner with one of several opportunities - but it was a case of too little, too late.
That's been the story for Big Sam's boys since the New Year; three games - West Brom, Everton and Swansea, three leads spurned and three draws. In some ways, it's reminiscent of last season's dark(er) days, when United's modus operandi - away from home, at least - was to grab a goal and then attempt to hang on for dear life.
Sometimes the policy works, often it doesn't, but either way supporters are generally left dissatisfied with the standard of fayre on offer - especially this season, given the strength of the current squad and lack of reason to play in such a cautious manner.
It's long been joked that West Ham are like Christmas tree decorations, as they come down after Christmas. Laughable or otherwise, the Hammers are yet to pick up a win in the five games since Yuletide and need a win soon, if for no other reason than to calm a few nerves.
That streak of winless games has resulted in West Ham dropping from third to seventh in the Premier League - and it doesn't get any easier. Following the visit of struggling Hull next weekend, Liverpool (a), Man Utd (h), Southampton (a), Tottenham (a), Chelsea (h) and Arsenal (a) provide six of the next seven opponents.
Before that of course, we have a transfer window to navigate; young centre half Doneil Henry has already arrived via Apollon Limassol for £1.5million, but further business duing January is likely to be limited due to the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play (FFP).
Column #19: 18 January 2015
There was no column #19 in anything but name, as I had a week off. So naturally, that's the weekend West Ham picked to secure a 3-0 win against Hull City.
Column #20: 25 January 2015
"We're in the hat - and that's what matters", declared Sam Allardyce after his West Ham United side beat Bristol City 1-0 in their FA Cup tie at Ashton Gate on Sunday afternoon.
Taking into account FA Cup results elsewhere at the weekend, it's hard to be critical of Sam's succinct summary - even if the Hammers produced a largely insipid performance in scraping through against a team two divisions below them.
In a fourth round littered with shock results West Ham avoided the pitfalls suffered by the likes of Chelsea, Swansea, Manchester City and Tottenham - beaten 24 hours earlier by Bradford, Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Leicester respectively - to reach the last 16 for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
Of the teams above West Ham in the Premier League currently, only Manchester United and Arsenal remain in this year's FA Cup. It is therefore no surprise that Allardyce, who fielded arguably his strongest XI against Bristol The Robins, believes this is a competition he can win.
Oddly perhaps United's victory - secured through a late Diafra Sakho header - was the first FA Cup match Big Sam has won in regulation time since becoming West Ham's manager in 2011. Defeats against Sheffield Wednesday (2011), Man Utd (2012) and Nottingham Forest (2013) were followed by the dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Everton a fortnight ago.
For the first time since arriving at the Boleyn Ground, Allardyce and his squad have engineered a situation whereby West Ham's Premier League status is all but assured by mid-January. This has allowed the Hammers to take a real shot at Cup glory - rather than rest key players and risk repeating the embarrassing scenes witnessed at the City Ground a year ago.
So having started 2015 with a treble of draws, the Hammers have now won three on the spin. As a result, confidence in the camp is high ahead of next weekend's trip to Liverpool - where West Ham will once again attempt to break their Anfield hoodoo.
The Beatles were at number one in the music charts with 'She Loves You' when Ron Greenwood's side left Merseyside with 2-0 win in September 1963, courtesy of goals from home grown youngsters Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters. Since then a succession of West Ham teams have tried and failed (usually miserably) to emulate that success.
Could this finally be our year?
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Dicks' delight tinged with sadness
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 1st July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Julian Dicks joy at becoming part of Slaven Bilic's new back room team was bittersweet, after it was revealed that he had lost his father on the same day. Dicks' daughter Jessica, posting on Twitter this afternoon revealed that her grandfather passed away on the same day her father discovered that he had been appointed as first team coaching assistant. "I wouldn't usually put personal things on Facebook," she wrote, "but I have received hundreds of lovely messages regarding my dad's new job. I am sorry that I haven't replied to any but I am so grateful.
"On Monday not only did we have the best news this year, but also really sad news as my dad's dad passed away. He passed away not only having the most wonderful, caring wife but he also got to hold his first great grandchild Teddy. "On his last day he was smiling as he was so proud of my dad's new job. Rest in peace, granddad."
Dicks, speaking via his former column for KUMB.com revealed back in 2012 that his father had played a major role in his son's development as a footballer during his youth. "My dad was a big influence on me when I was growing up. He was a good player [for Frome Town] and well known around Bristol, but he never forced me to play football," Dicks recalled. "He'd watch me at the weekends and encourage me - he'd never shout at me, unlike some parents now. If I'd done something wrong he'd tell me - that's what parents do. But he wasn't like 'you've got to do this' - he'd just let me get on with it. "
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Irons still chasing top Monaco defender
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham are continuing to pursue their interest in Monaco central defender Aymen Abdennour. The Irons have been on the Tunisian's case for some time and were they to beat Liverpool to the £15 million target the club would have staged a major coup. Newcastle are also interested but the Irons are ahead of the Geordie club having already made two bids which have been rejected.
Slaven Bilic has made it clear since his job interview that a world class central defender is a priority and the club's negotiators have been holding discussions and making proposals for some time as a result. It's an indication of the board's readiness to back their new manager as far as is humanly possible as he bids to reshape his squad. And the player's agent Abdelkader Jilani has explained on several occasions in the past that the Premier League is his client's preferred option saying: "There are some proposals from England and Spain but only an enquiry from Italy."
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Irons target' Cabaye "close" to Palace switch
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Yohan Cabaye – regularly linked as a major target for West Ham – is this morning reported as being close to a switch to Crystal Palace. The Mirror claims that the former Newcastle midfield ace is ready for a premier league return after his spell at Paris St Germain following a £19 million switch to the French champs. He is now apparently available at a cut price and is keen to link up with Alan Pardew at Selhurst Park. The Mirror understands a deal is set to be done in the next week in time for the Eagles' pre-season. The Hammers – despite reports claiming that he is a target – have revealed to ClaretandHugh that they have not been chasing the 29 year old. We were told: "We have done zero on the player." Former Irons boss But Pardew is also claimed to be interested in Charlie Austin who also interests West Brom and has again been linked with us. But the £15 million asking fee is too much for the Irons who would only possibly become involved if it were to be dropped.
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33 goal striker to have Hammers trial
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
AFC Wimbledon striker Daniel Agyei will have a trial at West Ham tomorrow reports Sky News. The young striker scored 33 goals for AFC Wimbledon Under 21 team after being fast tracked from the U18 team, He has been monitored by Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham. The 17-year-old is said to have impressed Hammers scouts.
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WEST HAM AGREE DEAL FOR RIGHT-BACK
West Ham have agreed a deal with Bundesliga side Hoffenheim for the transfer of right-back Luis Advincula.
The Peruvian has impressed at the Copa America.
Michael Oliver
theironscircle.com
West Ham are said to be close to signing Hoffenheim right-back Luis Advincula after agreeing a deal with the Bundesliga club, according to Libero. The Hammers were in 'advanced talks' with Hoffenheim for his transfer last month, but it now seems like the deal is close to being completed. Portuguese news outlet Record says that the Hammers, impressed by the player's performances at the Copa America this summer with Peru, have opened talks with the Bundesliga side over a possible transfer. The 25-year-old is made 27 appearances in all competitions on loan in Portugal last season, and the report claims that Advincula is set to leave as 'the chances of Advíncula return [to Vitoria Setubal] are practically nil'. Vitoria Setubal narrowly avoided relegation from the Primeira Liga last season, and Advincula is said to want to take the next step as a player and not return for a second loan spell despite their interest.
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West Ham set for frustration in bid for World Cup winning Spaniard
HITC
Heath Chesters
West Ham have been linked with an approach for Alvaro Arbeloa. Following the arrival of Brazilian right-back Danilo from FC Porto, plus the growing importance of Dani Carvajal at Real Madrid, the future of Alvaro Arbeloa at the Santiago Bernabeu has become uncertain. At the weekend, The Sunday Times suggested that West Ham United are interested in Arbeloa, conscious that the wealth of experience the player has at the highest level of the game, could prove an excellent addition to their team. Although the reports from England indicated the 32-year-old World Cup winner might be interested in a switch to The Hammers, contrasting views have emerged from Spain. Whilst regular action for Arbeloa during the 2015-16 season at Real Madrid is looking complicated, according to radio network Cadena COPE, Arbeloa is set to snub any offers received this summer, in order to stay with Los Blancos and fight for his place. The Spanish radio network also believe that Arbeloa has made that intention perfectly clear to new Real Madrid boss, Rafa Benitez, who he also worked with during a previous spell in the Premier League at Liverpool. During the 2014-15 season, Arbeloa still made a total of 35 appearances in all competitions, and despite the competition from Carvajal and Danilo, he still feels he has a role to play with Real Madrid. As such, the player intends on proving his worth to Benitez during pre-season with Real Madrid. With that intention, it's only by being told he's surplus to requirements, that could lead to Arbeloa considering other offers and only towards the end of the summer transfer window. Given that West Ham have other irons in the fire, whether they're prepared to wait that long for the Spaniard to consider what they have to offer, remains to be seen.
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West Ham goalkeeper Adrian admits he had never heard of new signing and fellow Spaniard Pedro Obiang
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian has admitted he had never heard of the club's £4.4 million signing Pedro Obiang, despite being from the same country. The Hammers snapped up the former Spain Under 21 midfielder from Serie A side Sampdoria earlier this month, just 24 hours after naming Slaven Bilic as their new manager. Obiang had left Atletico Madrid as a youngster before joining Sampdoria's youth academy where he progressed to become a permanent fixture in the Italian club's first team. However, the East Londoners' number one has told West Ham's official website his compatriot was unknown to him before he joined the Premier League side but that has not stopped them striking up an instant friendship on their return to pre-season training. "I don't know him before," he told whufc.com. "But I know he's a great guy now and today is the first time I have met him in person and he's a very funny guy and I think we have a lot of Latin players now as we have Enner (Valenica), Mauro (Zarate), Diego Poyet, Pedro and me."
Adrian is something of a cult hero to Hammers fans for his goalkeeping skills and the passion he brings to the number one shirt at the Boleyn Ground. He cemented his place in West Ham folklore last season when he threw his gloves to the floor before stepping up to score the winning penalty in an epic FA Cup replay against Everton. But off the pitch he is proving a true team player too as he is helping players, including Obiang, to learn the language as his wife Tamara is an English teacher. West Ham fans will be hoping that Obiang leaves a lasting impression on Adrian when the new season gets under way. The Hammers start competitive football before any other Premier League side tomorrow night when they take on Andorran minnows FC Lusitans in the Europa League and the 23-year-old midfielder could feature.
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West Ham, Liverpool and Newcastle battle for 'one of the best defenders in Europe'
London 24
08:04 01 July 2015 Brad Pinard
Monaco defender Aymen Abdennour has numerous offers on the table and could make a decision on his future in the next week or so. The Tunisian hard man is interesting West Ham, Liverpool and Newcastle in England, while clubs in Spain and Italy are also keen. Monaco want around £15million for their centre back but so far West Ham have twice fallen short of that figure in discussions. Agent Abdelkader Jilani has been quoted on numerous occasions claiming a move to England was the preffered destination of his client and things haven't changed. "Abdennour is one of the best defenders on the European stage and it's only natural he is admired," he told Italian site Calciomercado. "There were some proposals from England and Spain, while in Italy there were only enquiries, so no official offer on the table or negotiations in progress. "At the moment he has a contract with Monaco, so anyone who wants him must speak to the Principality club. They deserve respect. "What I can say right now is that there is nothing concrete with Italian clubs. "Italy is an option, but the right offer must come in."
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Pardew eyes £10m Cabaye reunion as West Ham and Saints stumble on former Newcastle man
ALAN PARDEW will be reunited with Yohan Cabaye if PSG accept an estimated £10million offer from Crystal Palace for the midfielder.
By JOE SHORT
PUBLISHED: 07:29, Wed, Jul 1, 2015 | UPDATED: 07:38, Wed, Jul 1, 2015
Express.co.uk
Eagles boss Pardew signed Cabaye for Newcastle back in 2011 but was powerless to stop him leaving for Paris for £19m in January last year. Eighteen months down the line and Cabaye is set to move back to the Premier League, with Southampton and West Ham keen on the player. But the Guardian claim Palace have stolen a lead over their rivals in the race for the talented France international, who struggled to keep his place in the PSG side last season. Pardew is on a scouting mission for new recruits after keeping Palace in the Premier League last term. They are yet to land a player this summer but have been linked with a number of new signings, including Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye and Newcastle's Tim Krul.
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WHO'S THE SKIPPER?
By Tony Hanna 1 Jul 2015 at 08:00
West Ham Till I DIe
With all the talk at the moment concentrated on possible new signings and the Europa League, one thing that has not had much air time is who is going to be the club captain for this coming season? Since the arrival of new boss Slaven Bilic and his back room staff there has been an air of the new broom sweeping clean. The appointment of a new captain is one that Slaven I am sure will be deliberating over and there are a few possibilities.
Captain for the past four seasons has of course been Kevin Nolan. Whilst he is still with the club at present the signs are that he probably won't be come the start of the season. When the club unveiled its new 2015/16 kit on the official website recently, they paraded five players wearing the new design and no, Kevin was not one of them. Quite a telling statement and a lot heavier than a subliminal message! This past week he has been linked with a move back to Bolton but it would seem that our Kev will have to take quite a drop in wages to leave the Boleyn. If he does decide to stay and "take the money" I am sure it will only be in a bench warming position. It would appear either way that Kevin will not be our captain any longer.
Up to now the most obvious choice to take over from Nolan has been Mark Noble. Approaching ten years at the club he is our current Mr West Ham, coming through the youth system along with James Tomkins. In the matches where Nolan was out of the side last season it was Noble who took the armband if he was available. But, one has to ask, will Noble even be a regular in the side next season? The arrival of Dimitri Payat and Pedro Obiang, and the probability of Alex Song signing on a permanent deal further begs the question whether Noble will get enough game time to command the position? After an impressive first season it would be doubtful that Kouyate would not be one of the first names on the team sheet. Could he be a candidate?
Now if Song does sign a deal to permanently join West Ham he could also come into calculations. He skippered the side on several occasions last season in the absence of both Nolan and Noble. Given that he was only on loan at the club last season and he still got a gig in the role, you would have to imagine he has a good case. Another possibility could be Winston Reid. He has shown his commitment to the club by signing a long term deal recently and perhaps Bilic would favour a defender as skipper?
If passion is what you want from a captain then many would not look further than Adrian? It has never been my cup of tea having a goalkeeper as captain but it would not be a total surprise if he became the choice. However, it may even be possible our new captain is someone who has not even signed yet? With the promise from the club of one more major signing this transfer window who is to say our new captain is yet to join the club? It will be a decision that Slaven Bilic will be giving a lot of serious consideration to over the next few weeks. Mark Noble is an obvious favourite at the moment but who would be your choice?
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Report: West Ham still in race for Yohan Cabaye, Tottenham not interested
HITC
Olly Dawes
Crystal Palace are reportedly in talks to sign Yohan Cabye - but West Ham are still in the race for his signature. According to The Guardian, Crystal Palace have opened talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a deal to sign midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Cabaye, 29, left Newcastle for PSG in January 2014, but has struggled to nail down a regular spot in Laurent Blanc's first team in the French capital. A return to the Premier League could be on the cards, with The Guardian reporting that Crystal Palace now opened talks with PSG over a deal to bring Cabaye back to England. Eagles boss Alan Pardew signed and worked with Cabaye at Newcastle, and a reunion - costing £10m - is in the pipeline according to reports. However, The Guardian also note that West Ham United are still in the running for Cabaye's signature, even after the signings of Dimitri Payet and Pedro Obiang earlier this summer. The report also states that Tottenham are currently not interested in Cabaye, though Southampton could make a move should Morgan Schneiderlin move to Manchester United.
Crystal Palace v West Ham
It seems that the race for Cabaye's signature could now come down to a fight between Crystal Palace and West Ham, but who should he join? West Ham likely have higher immediate ambitions, but Palace are clearly a club moving in the right direction under Pardew, and Cabaye's relationship with the Eagles boss should come into play here. It would be something of a coup for Palace to sign Cabaye, with the French international possessing great quality in midfield - and whilst West Ham are an attractive proposition, Palace may well be his best option.
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West Ham 'in transfer talks to sign world-class defenders Aleksandar Dragovic and Angelo Ogbonna'
Jamie Sanderson for Metro.co.uk
Wednesday 1 Jul 2015 12:23 am
West Ham are in talks to sign defenders Aleksandar Dragovic and Angelo Ogbonna, according to reports. The Hammers are looking to strengthen their whole team ahead of the new season and defence is a key area. Reports in Italy say Slaven Bilic wants two proven stars, with Dynamo Kiev ace Dragovic the surprise choice. Manchester United and Arsenal are also keen on a £15million deal for him, while Juventus star Ogbonna is also believed to be in advanced negotiations to sign for £12m. West Ham are assembling a quality side and have already spent big on the signing of Dimitri Payet from Marseille.
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West Ham cult figure Adrian says fans are in for an exciting but emotional season
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian says the club are in for an exciting but emotional season under new boss Slaven Bilic. Speaking to West Ham's official website on his return to pre-season training after a summer break which saw him tie the knot with his wife Tamara, the cult figure admitted it will be tough to say goodbye to the club's Boleyn Ground home of 112 years. The Hammers will leave Upton Park next summer to move down the road to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium in Stratford. And despite having only been at the club for two seasons, the 28-year-old Spaniard is fully immersed in east London life and will miss what he now calls his second home. But it is also exciting times for West Ham who are back playing in Europe for what is one of the landmark seasons in the club's long history. Ironically, the shot stopper helped former La Liga club Real Betis qualify for the Europa League but did not get to play in the competition after leaving to join the Irons in 2013.
Now he hopes to finally taste a big European night under the Boleyn lights before they are no more. "It is an exciting time for everybody, for West Ham fans and for all the players because we have new manager, new staff and new players," he told whufc.com. "It's exciting for two things, from sporting side because we play for the Europa League and also emotional and sentimental as it is the last year at Upton Park."
Adrian secured cult hero status with the West Ham faithful last season when he threw his gloves to the floor and scored the winning penalty in an epic FA Cup replay against Everton.
Hammers fans also love his enthusiasm and passion on the pitch and tendency to use social media to give an insight into his life at West Ham off it. He has played 58 times for the club so far and was even praised for his Premier League form last season by Spain boss Vicente Del Bosque. The club has brought in Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph on a free transfer from Birmingham City to provide competition for Adrian after the departure of Jussi Jaaskelainen.
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WEST HAM MAKE BID FOR LIGUE 1 MIDFIELDER
the ironscircle.com
West Ham have submitted an undisclosed bid for Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye. Crystal Palace and Marseille have also made moves. West Ham have made an undisclosed offer to Lille for the signing of midfielder Idrissa Gueye, reports RMC. Crystal Palace have also been linked with a move for the 25-year-old, with the report claiming that the Eagles have also made a similar offer, with both bids understood to be between €8-10m. It wasn't too long ago that the Senegalese international was set to join Southampton as a replacement for the outgoing Morgan Schneiderlin, but the Saints have since cooled their interest. Marseille are also interested in purchasing Gueye from their fellow Ligue 1 club, and have made a €7m offer for the player as well. However, it's understood that Gueye, much like former Marseille star Dimitri Payet who's now turning out in claret and blue, would favour a move to England and the Premier League due to the attractive financial packaged teams are able to put together in comparison to those in French football.
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Wednesday, July 1
Daily WHUFC News - 1st July 2015
West Ham United extend Asian reach with iHotel Group
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are pleased to announce a new two-year sponsorship agreement with the iHotel Group, a high-end hotel booking agency based in Hong Kong and operating across the Asian business community.
West Ham have a growing number of commercial partnerships with companies across the world, ranging from healthcare providers to social trading networks, all increasing the revenue coming in to the Club, and allowing further investment in the playing squad.
The iHotel Group specialise in arranging premium accommodation and hospitality for Asian corporate executives on business abroad, ensuring that – whenever they travel to major financial centres around the world – they can enjoy the best in sports and entertainment in their leisure time.
Club London, the luxury suite of private lounges, restaurants and bars in West Ham's magnificent new Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is set to offer a hospitality experience second-to-none in world sport, conveniently placed on the doorstep of London's financial centre, Canary Wharf.
With such superb facilities on offer, and West Ham poised as one of the rising forces in English and European football, the timing of this new partnership could not be more apt.
Felicity Croft, Commercial Director of West Ham United, said:
"We are delighted to welcome the iHotel Group to West Ham United's growing family of commercial partners, and we look forward to working closely with them over the years to come. It is a huge sign of West Ham's increasing global reach and ambition that such a large and successful company based in the Asian corporate market wants to be associated with our brand, and promote our hospitality offering to their clients. It is clear that companies all over the world can see the exciting future that lies in store for West Ham and are buying in to our potential."
Tan Lung Lai CEO of the iHotel Group, said:
"We work in a fast-growing market, which is changing in every single minute, so it is important for us to do something different to maintain our competitive advantage. That is why we are so happy to work with and sponsor West Ham United. Through this partnership, we will enhance our reputation and offer even better value and greater opportunities to our customers, including the chance to watch live Premier League football at a world-famous stadium. We hope that this will be a milestone for West Ham and the iHotel Group as we both continue to grow our brands and customer base in Asia."
Under the terms of the commercial partnership, under which the iHotel Group will be designated as West Ham's official Far East Hotel Booking Partner, the company will be promoted to the global audience for the Club's website and other digital channels, and the iHotel Group will market Club London hospitality packages to their clients across Asia.
Most of Club London's lounges and bars are now completely sold out, and demand for the remaining membership packages remains extremely high, so to avoid disappointment, any West Ham fans or corporate hospitality companies wishing to become members are advised to sign up to the waiting list as soon as possible by visiting https://reservations.whufc.com or calling 0808 110 2016.
Join the Club London waiting list today.
The mission of the iHotel Group (www.ihotelgroup.com) is to enable customers to get the best-value deals within the diverse and competitive hotel and hospitality market at the click of a button, making executive travel more affordable, easy and satisfying. From their user-friendly online platform, thousands of high-end hotel and hospitality offers can be accessed worldwide within seconds.
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Adrian ready for fresh start
WHUFC.com
West Ham United keeper Adrian is brimming with confidence as he heads into the new season and says he is excited at the prospect of working under new manager Slaven Bilic.
The Spanish keeper enjoyed one of the best days of his life during the summer when he got married to his new wife Tamara and is now looking forward to another fresh challenge under the new management.
With the Hammers also playing in the Europa League and the final ever season at the Boleyn Ground, Adrian knows this is going to be a special year for the east London Club.
Adrian said: "It was a great day with my family and friends. It was emotional and I will remember that day for the rest of my life.
These are exciting times for everyone at the Club because we have a new manager and new players and we are playing in the Europe League.
"It is also emotional and sentimental because we will be playing the last season at the Boleyn Ground."
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FC Lusitans clash sold out
WHUFC.com
Standard tickets for Thursday's UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg against FC Lusitans have SOLD OUT.
Hammers fans have moved quickly to snap up tickets for the Club's first taste of European football in nine years and a 35,000 Boleyn Ground crowd is expected.
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Dimitri Payet: What will West Ham signing bring to Slaven Bilic's side?
Last Updated: 29/06/15 5:43pm
SSN
We examine the qualities of West Ham's Dimitri Payet following his arrival from Marseille...
Marcelo Bielsa or Slaven Bilic? There was much speculation this summer that the two men were rivals for the vacancy at West Ham manager. Ultimately, the Hammers went with the latter but they've bagged the former's star man from Marseille nevertheless. And that could prove crucial for the club as they look to move on from the Sam Allardyce era in style. At £10.7million, France international Dimitri Payet represents a significant investment for West Ham and a considerable coup too given his remarkable season under Bielsa at Marseille. The statistics are stunning and will already have Hammers fans convinced that their team can prove a more exciting proposition in the final third next season. Payet's tally of 17 assists was the best in France and the fourth best in any major European league in 2014/15. That's the headline statistic but the underlying data was arguably even more impressive. His total of 134 chances created was more than anyone else. Indeed, only two other players – Kevin de Bruyne and former Lille team-mate Eden Hazard – topped 100. It's a reflection of the work Payet has put in under Bielsa. The ruthless streak that was once lacking is now there. "What he gave me in one season, I know it will serve me for the rest of my career but also my life," said Payet earlier this month. "When you have worked with him, you come away a different man."
As a result, Bilic is getting a player who has fused quality with a work ethic – "there's so much intensity in training and in matches, especially mentally" – and that means half the battle for his new coach has already been won. There was a minor issue in December but Bielsa soon defended his "outstanding" player. Put simply, the penny has dropped. There have been tactical changes too. Although he enjoyed the freedom to come off the left wing at Lille, his influence was restricted to the right flank for much of his first year at Marseille. It's since switching to a No 10 role under Bielsa that he has blossomed. "He repositioned me as the playmaker and brought me the regularity I'd been lacking."
It's brought a new dimension to Payet's game and one that earned him a France recall by Didier Deschamps. "Today, what he does with his club is very interesting," said Deschamps in October. "He's in a different role – a playmaker at the axis, where he is very influential. He has been very efficient and effective in terms of goals and assists with Marseille."
The decision-making has improved as well. There were 10 successful through-balls in 2014/15, the most of anyone in France, as Payet evidently enjoyed the increased options available with the ball at his feet in a central position. While Marseille's title bid faded, Payet either scored or assisted in eight of his last 10 appearances for the club. So how will Bilic look to use Payet? Sticking with the midfield diamond would limit the options, while the 4-4-2 that the Croat opted for occasionally at Besiktas would preclude playing Payet in his best position altogether. The 4-2-3-1 utilised in the Europa League triumph over Liverpool – with wingers switching flanks – would offer most flexibility. That would open up the wings as possibilities, but while Bilic is not a manager keen to get bogged down in tactical formations, it would seem certain that he intends to play the Frenchman in the position in which he flourished at Marseille. It would surely be counter-productive to do anything else when paying a large fee for a 28-year-old of his capabilities. Payet seems optimistic on that score. "He made it clear that he wanted me to sign and that was important in my choice," he said of Bilic upon signing a five-year contract. "I'm an attacking footballer and that they're counting on me to help achieve that gives me a sense of responsibility."
As West Ham begin their final campaign at the Boleyn Ground, they'll need their high-profile new acquisition to thrive on that responsibility. Payet made relatively slow starts to his spells at both Lille and Marseille. Hammers fans will be hoping the adjustment period won't be necessary this time – thanks in part to the man they didn't appoint as their new manager.
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BILIC'S BACKROOM BOYS
By Dan Coker 30 Jun 2015 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham United's pre-season trip to Cork has seen new manager Slaven Bilic meet some of his new players. Academy Director Terry Westley has taken the majority of training in Ireland but Bilic was joined upon his arrival by some of his new backroom team – Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic and Miljenko Rak.
Nikola Jurcevic was a midfielder, standing just short of 6', who played for Dinamo Zagreb and NK Zagreb with a spell in Belgium with Antwerp in the 1988/89 season sandwiched in between. He moved to Austria in 1991, signing for the club now known as Red Bull Salzburg, and spent four years there, scoring 42 goals in 130 appearances. From there he joined German side Freiburg; while he was with the German club, Jurcevic appeared three times for Croatia at Euro '96. Wearing number 2, he made his first appearance in the tournament as an 82nd minute substitute in the 3-0 win over Denmark before playing the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Portugal. He started in a holding midfield role for the 2-1 quarter-final loss to eventual tournament winners Germany before being substituted in the 78th minute, a game which saw former Hammer Igor Stimac sent off with the score at 1-1. Bilic, incidentally, played every minute of Croatia's tournament. In 1997, Jurcevic returned to Salzburg where he ended his playing career in 1999. He has since managed former clubs NK Zagreb in 2002/03, when they finished 6th in the league and reached the quarter-finals in the Croatian Cup, and Dinamo Zagreb in 2003/04, where he won the Croatian Cup and finished runners-up in the league. A brief spell as manager back at Salzburg lasted just over a month in the spring of 2005 before a similarly short spell in charge of Slaven Belupo in his homeland. Jurcevic, along with ex-Derby midfielder Aljosa Asanovic, was appointed as one of Bilic's assistants for the national team and he remained in post between 2006 and 2012. He has since followed Bilic to Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas.
Edin Terzic is a 32-year-old who was Bilic's first-team coach at Besiktas; Super Slav has described Terzic as being "really good with players". Terzic, a right-sided midfielder, played in the German lower leagues from 2001 to 2013, with his most notable club being SG Wattenscheid in the 2006/07 season. He was assistant coach for Borussia Dortmund's Under-19s and Under-17s between 2010 and 2013.
Miljenko Rak is a 67-year-old who will join as fitness coach. He held a similar role when working with the Croatia handball team who won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and with Janica Kostelic, a Croatian alpine skier who is the most successful participant in her sport in the history of the Winter Olympics. Rak also worked with Bilic during his time at Besiktas.
A collection of Bilic's former Hammers' team-mates have also been the subject of speculation regarding roles at the club since the Croatian's appointment. Steve Potts is already working with the Development Squad, while Julian Dicks' appointment as a first-team coaching assistant was confirmed yesterday. John Moncur, Ian Bishop, John Hartson and Steve Lomas have all been linked with coaching positions.
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Transfer window to open at midnight
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The Summer transfer officially opens at midnight Wednesday 1st July when Darren Randolph and Doneil Henry officially become West Ham players. Both have been left out of the Europa league squad but Darren Randolph is hotly tipped to be a late addition to the Europa League 25 man A list under the UEFA 24 hour rule which allows one new addition to the squad. The opening of the official transfer window brings fresh speculation that a deal for Alex Song could be concluded tomorrow. The 27-year-old Barcelona midfielder has reportedly agreed personal terms with West Ham, but Barca have been holding out for a fee, believed to be as much as £5million. West Ham are hoping to persuade Barcelona to terminate his contract to make him a free agent.
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Return of the Nene
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Nene could still play in the Premier League despite agreeing terms on a deal to join Greek side Olympiakos, Goal.com claim. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder joined West Ham in February as a free agent and played eight games for the Hammers.
He left the club at the end of the season once his short-term contract completed but Goal claim he could make a return under new manager Slaven Bilic. Goal also say West Brom who tried to sign Nene earlier this year and Watford are also showing an interest in the 33-year-old.
Nene has agreed terms on a two-year deal with Olympiakos but is understood to be unsure about the financial stability in Greece with banks closed presumably he is worried he won't get paid.
His English representative, Barry McIntosh, told Goal: "Nene does feel like there is some unfinished business in England and, yes, there is some interest.
"The move to Greece is not yet finalised so we will have to see what happens in the coming days."
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Hammers bid for Besiktas midfielder
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The Hammers have made a €7 million bid for Besiktas' midfielder Tolgay Arslan according to Turkish newspaper Fanatik. Arslan joined Beşiktaş from HSV in January for just €500,000. The 24-year-old found fame when he scored against Liverpool in the Europa League Round of 32 clash. The newspaper report claims that the midfielder has also attracted attention from Italy and Germany. Slaven Bilic is said to be a fan of the Germany U21 international following his time as manager of Besiktas.Tolgay has three years remaining on his contract and has made 16 Turkish Super Lig appearances since joining Besiktas.
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Lille midfielder linked with West Ham again
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
According to French Radio station RMC West Ham have made a bid for Lille defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye of €8m. Marseille have put a €7m offer on the table while Crystal Palace are said to have table a €1om offer. According to the report, the player might lean to England because of the more favourable salary he is being offered.
Lille midfielder Idrisse Gueye is keen to move to the Premier League and previous interest from the Hammers may have encouraged his hopes of getting a deal at the Boleyn. The Senegalese international helped take the Lille side to an eighth place finish last season during his 32 games for the French outfit, scoring four goals.
Southampton and Crystal Palace have all been tracking the bruising midfielder said to be valued at £7 million.
The player said he would sit down with Lille and decide which club would be best for him but offers obviously need to be made first!
He told French publication La Voix du Nord: " I have a contract with Lille until 2018. Admittedly, there are contacts and there will be offers.
I will have to look at it all and decide what suits me best. "[I will] find the offer that will allow me to grow, to allow me to take new steps to be in line with my ambitions.
"But I feel good at Lille and if I was to stay here, it would not be the end of the world. Everyone knows that England has a league that attracts me, even if I am not closing the door on going to other leagues."
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Hammers look for Jenks breakthrough
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham remain hopeful that they will complete a deal for Carl Jenkinson over the next couple of weeks. Although Arsenal are continuing to play hardball over loan terms the Hammers believe a fee of around £1.5 million will ultimately be sorted out. We were told this evening: "We are hopeful of doing the deal. It is still very much on the cards and we believe it is a straightforward situation between ourselves and Sunderland. "However, we can see no reason why he should want to move to north east where he has no friends given that he knows so many people at Upton Park and is happily settled in London." The club is continuing to talk with his advisers but the key is to lower Arsenal's loan fee as that, plus wages of around £40k a week, would push the deal to close to £4 million for ONE season. Jenks is on around £32k a week at the Emirates but would be looking to better that at the Boleyn as a regular member of the first team.
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Hammers interest in Austrian Dynamo
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham have opened negotiations with Dynamo Kiev over signing defender Aleksandar Dragovic. The 24-year-old centre back who has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United
The report says that, if West Ham can't seal a move for Dragovic, they will turn their attention to Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna but they claim talks underway with Dynamo Kiev.
Back in November 2014 Claret and Hugh reported that Aleksandar Dragovic was being watched by club scouts when Austria played Russia. Dragovic has been capped 35 times for Austria.
Aleksandar Dragovic started his career by playing in the youth teams of Austrian giants Austria Wien In 2011 he transferred to FC Basel in the Swiss Super League for whom he appeared 77 times scoring 4 goals. In the summer of 2013, Dragovic signed a 5 year contract with the Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kiev.
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Zarate enjoys the London Sun
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Mauro Zarate posted a photo of himself enjoying the warm weather on his way to training at Chadwell heath this morning ahead Thursday's Europa League opener against Andorran minnows FC Lusitans.
Zarate appeared to enjoying the London Sun saying "Sun in London 😁😁😁. For you Natalie Webber lol" Natalie Weber is his Argentinian model wife.
His wife teased back "Send me photo in the morning when you have got your jacket back on and it rains"
Mauro Zarate has been included in the squad for the opening two legs of the Europa League qualifiers and has a good chance of being in the starting line up after returning from Ireland yesterday.
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Thursday night a major celebration for all Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The sun is beating down, there will be a full house at Upton Park Thursday evening, Aaron Cresswell has signed a massive new deal and a top French midfielder/winger in Dimitri Payet has arrived.
Frankly, I feel like a reborn Hammer this summer. It's almost as if I've travelled back in time 20 odd years to those days when the club truly felt as if it truly belonged to US, the fans.
Slaven Bilic has been doing and saying all the right things , The Terminator has arrived on the backroom team and the board are working hard on more deals.
The sight of a much younger manager with his hard man coaching team alongside him watching his new charges in a recently published photo was a joy to behold.
Slav knows this club and has carried it in his heart for a long time. When he spoke in an interview of the pleasure he felt when travelling "through those narrow streets" to the ground as a player he hit a chord with me.
I felt it the first time I disembarked at Plaistow Tube Station for my debut game. It never leaves you. Indeed it grows more and more intense.
We all get the same buzz when tumbling out of the tube and legging it to the ground – it's a feeling you can never replicate – it's a feeling known by all true Hammers.
I'm not gonna get into what happened over the last three or four years. Most know. I felt the club had slipped away from the fans and I think we all know why.
Now it has been reclaimed and as proof of my point I'll let followers of this site into a little secret: Since the former manager departed and Slav was installed traffic figures doubled and on two or three occasions actually trebled.
The mood has changed in an instant – the humour is back on the forums, the horribly divisive rows have stopped. It's brilliant.
I expect Thursday night to be electric even though we are playing perhaps the weakest opposition possible as I believe the fans are desperate to go back 'home' on July 2 and celebrate.
I reckon there's an awful lot more to Thursday evening than what is going to happen on the field – it's about what's happened in our hearts!
The old has gone – the new is here and there's only one way to look at things – with a huge smile of satisfaction and optimism that we are on our way as West Ham UNITED again!
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82 Lusitans fans to make the trip to Boleyn
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Just 82 have been sold tickets have been sold to FC Lusitans fans for the away end of the Boleyn Ground for the first qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday night 15 year old Jack Sullivan has revealed. The game is widely expected to sell out with just 2,700 tickets remaining yesterday to make a special night under the Boleyn Ground floodlights. On Thursday Jack revealed 'Only 2,700 tickets left for Thursday night!!!!' and 'The away support will be 82 people on Thursday night' Priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children West Ham are set to receive around £300,000 in ticket sales for the first leg home game in addition to 200,000 Euros in Europa League prize money for the first qualifying for both legs round worth around £142,000.
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Cresswell deal has no escape clauses
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Aaron Cresswell has signed a "no escape clauses" contract with West Ham! The news that the left back and Hammer of the Year had signed a new deal was greeted with delight last night and the even better news is that he is locked down for the term of the contract. Cresswell had no hesitation in signing a contract which will keep him at the club until 2020 and the package he has agreed to sign is a triumph for the club's negotiating team. In the light of keen interest in him from Manchester City and Chelsea, the Irons have demonstrated they are becoming a serious force in Premier League football. The club are thrilled that the Liverpool born star has pledged himself to the club which will send a message to other players they are keen to sign.
ClaretandHugh was told exclusively: "Like every club, if a massive, massive offer comes in it has to be looked at but in terms of escape clauses there are none. "Aaron will therefore stay at this football club for as long as we choose. Both sides could not be happier with the situation."
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OS death not a work place incident
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AN H
Health and Safety Executive inspectors have confirmed that the fatality at the Olympic Stadium construction site on Sunday morning was not a workplace incident. Main contractor Balfour Beatty resumed work on Monday morning after the HSE and police concluded their enquiries. Balfour said: "There was a fatality at the former Olympic Stadium site yesterday morning. We worked fully with the police whilst they carried out their enquiries which concluded yesterday. They are treating the death as non-suspicious." "The HSE has confirmed the fatality is not being treated as a workplace incident. "Work resumed on site this morning. Our thoughts remain with the individual's family, friends and colleagues." The live web cam video feed for the Olympic Stadium remains offline since the weekend. The first test event for the new stadium is scheduled in July.
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Rodney Marsh: 'Low expectations of Payet'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Rodney Marsh has been asked about his thoughts on West Ham new boy Dimitri Payet and said he has low expectations of the 28 year old. Using his twitter account from Tampa Florida, Marsh replied "Decent wide player, low expectations of him…" He also thinks West Ham would be a bad move for Charlie Austin saying "Wow! Charlie Austin to Bournemouth ?!! And I thought West Ham was a bad move for him……" He later explained "I'm not underestimating Bournemouth or West Ham. Just thought a 20 goal a year man could get a bigger club. You fans are so myopic !!"
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Europa League game sold out
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
In the last few minutes the West Ham v FC Lusitans has sold out for the first leg of the Europa League qualifying round on Thursday night at the Boleyn Ground. Over 35,000 West Ham fans have shelled out £10 or £5 to watch Slaven Bilic's first match in charge of the Hammers and our first return to Europe in nine years. An insider told Claret and Hugh "That's correct the stadium is sold out, we will have an attendance of over 35,000. We haven't had to include a large segregation as its not needed especially with less than 50 away fans looking to actually attend" Kick off is at 7.45pm and as yet no details have been given as to whether the game will be televised. BT Sports holds the exclusive rights in the UK for the UEFA Europa League but it's TV schedule is void of the Europa League match on Thursday evening so far.
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Andy Carroll forced to watch team-mates train as crocked West Ham striker continues to recover from knee ligament injury
By NICHOLAS GODDEN FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:51, 30 June 2015 | UPDATED: 14:54, 30 June 2015
Andy Carroll appears no closer to a return to action after the West Ham striker sat out training as the club continued their preparations ahead of their Europa League clash against FC Lusitans. The former Liverpool forward injured his knee ligaments in February this year and was ruled out for up to seven months. And Carroll is facing a race against time to be available for the start of the Premier League campaign after he could only watch his team-mates during the session on Tuesday. West Ham take on Andorran minnows Lusitans at Upton Park on Thursday in the first leg of their firs round Europa League qualifier after they secured a place in the competition through the Fair Play league. Carroll will not play a part in either leg and the 26-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time, could only watch from the sidelines as the rest of Slaven Bilic's squad were put through their paces in the glorious sunshine.
The former Newcastle frontman, who has struggled with injuries for the last two seasons, was pictured perched on a drinks cooler and was not involved in the session at all.
Carroll only recently started jogging again following the injury he sustained against Southampton earlier this year that left him needing extensive knee surgery, but he is pleased with the progress he has made over the summer. 'The injury is going well and I have pretty much been in every day working on it and strengthening the injury,' he said earlier this month. 'I started jogging and it is all getting better. 'I have been in the gym a long time now and it is nice to be outside going for a jog and it felt great afterwards. Hopefully I can be back out there. 'I want to step it up again and start kicking a ball but I am glad to be outside and moving again.'
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Will West Ham sign Angelo Ogbonna or Aymen Abdennour?
By Mitch Waddon
Posted on June 30, 2015
www.squawka.com
Slaven Bilic's appointment as manager of West Ham heralded a summer of change for the East London club. It appears that following his arrival there has been a shift in mentality for the Hammers; the club that seemed preoccupied with the threat of relegation under previous manager Sam Allardyce have now shifted their focus up the Premier League table. West Ham will begin their season on Thursday in the Europa League, and the club has already signalled their intent to push towards bigger things with the signing of Dimitri Payet from Marseille for £10.7 million (fee via the Daily Mail). That transfer led to French Football Federation president Noel Le Grant describing the move as "embarrassing", given that one of Ligue 1's Champions League contenders had lost arguably their most influential player to a middling Premier League team.
However West Ham are looking to challenge on all fronts in the future, as shown by their rumoured transfer targets. A new centre-back is in order for their side, so Aymen Abdennour of Monaco and Angelo Ogbonna of Juventus have both been linked in the past few days by the Daily Express and Metro respectively. Signing either would be a fantastic representation of ambition by the club and, more specifically, chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan, who pledged to make "significant transfer funds" available to their new manager in a statement on the official club website in May. Both competed in the Champions League last season with their current employers – Ogbonna was on the bench for Juventus in the final against Barcelona, which they lost 3-1, while Abdennour was part of the Monaco side that shocked Arsenal by the same scoreline at the Emirates, ultimately eliminating the Gunners from the competition. Such experience in Europe's elite competition is likely a huge selling point for the Hammers, who would love to qualify for the Champions League during Bilic's reign as manager.
Neither Abdennour or Ogbonna have plied their trade in the Premier League before, meaning that an adjustment period will be required for both players. However both possess a strong build and are used to the physical aspects of the game, something that will no doubt aid either should they complete a move to England. Abdennour is the more travelled of the two, despite being a year younger than his Italian rival. The Tunisian international began his career with Etoile du Sahel in his home nation in 2008. A brief loan spell with Werder Bremen in 2010 was quickly followed with a move to Toulouse of Ligue 1, before the defender made the move to Monaco on loan in 2014. The club, owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, completed a permanent deal for Abdennour last July. However he made just 18 league appearances for Monaco last season, as the club finished third in Ligue 1. Ogbonna meanwhile has yet to play for a team outside of Italy, having moved to Juventus from Torino in 2013. The centre-back played in 25 league games for the Old Lady during the last campaign, as they claimed their fourth-consecutive Serie A title.
Both are recognised for their strength and comfortable nature with the ball at their feet; something that Bilic is eager to introduce to the West Ham defenders. Both enjoy passing the ball and, in Ogbonna's case, there is an ability to bring it forward rather than unnecessarily lifting it towards the strikers; something that the fans will appreciate as the quest to reintroduce the "West Ham way" continues. Neither defender scored any goals last season in their respective leagues, more than likely due to their limited game time, but with West Ham's new signing Payet providing 17 assists for Marseille last term, both would probably get chances at the other end of the pitch.
The biggest obstacle to completing a deal for either of these undoubtedly talented centre-backs is likely to be the level of interest from other clubs. In Ogbonna's case, the Liverpool Echo reports that Everton were interested in a move for the Italian international. However to secure Abdennour, West Ham will have to fight off a significantly higher-calibre of club; ESPN FC believe that Liverpool and Barcelona are in for the defender, making the prospect of a move to East London less-likely for the 25-year-old. Ogbonna, who has 10 international caps for Italy, could well be playing for West Ham next season. Signing either of these players would bring a quality that West Ham fans long to see at Upton Park, and at the Olympic Stadium in 12 months time. Abdennour or Ogbonna would likely be welcomed into the starting XI relatively soon after joining, and any deal is likely to come down to the preference of Bilic, given the similarities in playing style and build. Given the interest in Abdennour by Champions League clubs, it seems more reasonable to expect that Ogbonna will be seen in the claret and blue of West Ham next season. However they must not be disheartened with such a transfer; Ogbonna, like Payet, represents a new dawn for West Ham. One that shows the club's ambitions can attract players of the highest quality from the biggest clubs.
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Why Mark Noble's West Ham future could be hindered by Slaven Bilic and big-money signings
13:21 30 June 2015 Brad Pinard
London 24
West Ham United's Mark Noble 'He wears the claret and blue, he's West Ham through and through' sing the Hammers fans towards favourite Mark Noble game after game. The 28-year-old has been at West Ham for 15 years and is certainly a fans hero, putting in a shift each week and having to ability to cut open defences at will when on song. England recognition has not and seemingly will not be coming Noble's way, so he has to think, what next? At times it has been almost blasphemy to criticise Noble, but it certainly occured more last season. West Ham snapped up Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria earlier this summer along with Dimitri Payet from Marseille and are reportedly closing in on bringing Alex Song back to Upton Park. Three more midfielders for Noble to compete with. Cheikhou Kouyate will likely go from strength to strength and youngster Diego Poyet is almost certain to find more game time this season with Sam Allardyce out of the way as well as any more signings coming through the door. So where does that leave Noble? Like his team-mates, Noble fell away dramatically towards the end of last season and just didn't have the impact on the team that was needed. With even more games this season, in the Europa League for starters, Noble's ability to play three times in a week will surely be questioned after niggling injuries started to play a part last term. I'm not suggesting either West Ham will get rid of Noble, nor the player himself will want to leave, but a starting role every week for the homegrown star is in doubt. Slaven Bilic will see Noble as a West Ham man, with Julian Dicks' appointment fairly poignant, so upsetting that ship will not be an option but if anything it could motivate Noble to take on more responsibility, and even the captain's armband.
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West Ham, West Brom & Watford interested in Nene despite Olympiakos deal
goal.com
30 Jun 2015 12:05:17
The 33-year-old looked set to join the Greek side after leaving Upton Park this summer but the deal is not yet finalised and the Hammers could re-sign the midfielder
GOAL By Graeme Bailey
Nene could still play in the Premier League next season despite leaving West Ham and agreeing terms on a deal to join Greek side Olympiakos, Goal understands. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder joined West Ham in February as a free agent and played eight games under Sam Allardyce. Nene left the club at the end of the season once his short-term contract expired but now, with Slaven Bilic in charge at Upton Park, a move back to West Ham is understood to be under consideration. However, Goal understands that West Brom – who tried to sign Nene earlier this year – and Premier League new-boys Watford are also showing an interest in the 33-year-old. Nene has agreed terms on a two-year deal with Olympiakos but is understood to be unsure about the financial stability in Greece. His English representative, Barry McIntosh, confirmed to Goal: "Nene does feel like there is some unfinished business in England and, yes, there is some interest. "The move to Greece is not yet finalised so we will have to see what happens in the coming days."
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West Ham open to Kevin Nolan bids - sources
espnfc.co.uk
ESPNFC's Janusz Michallik provides the lowdown on West Ham's recruitment of France international midfielder Dimitri Payet from Marseille. West Ham are willing to offload captain Kevin Nolan as Slaven Bilic looks to overhaul the squad this summer, sources have told ESPN FC. Former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce signed Nolan shortly after his arrival at Upton Park in 2011 but, following his departure, the club are ready to listen to offers for the 33-year-old. ESPN FC has been told that a number of clubs, including Nolan's former side Bolton Wanderers, are monitoring the midfielder's position. Kevin Nolan made 10 of his 29 Premier League appearances from the bench last season, and scored one goal. Bilic, who has been charged with securing a top-eight finish this season, has already brought in midfield duo Dimitri Payet and Pedro Obiang this summer. Their arrivals will push Nolan, who found his first-team chances limited in the second half of last season, further down the pecking order. West Ham have also announced the appointment of Julian Dicks as coaching assistant this week, while Aaron Cresswell has signed a new long-term contract.
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Scouting Report: West Ham's latest target looks a real prospect in midfield
foreverwestham.com
Date: 30th June 2015 at 12:31 pm
Written by: Matt Bourne | Comments (0)
The latest Besiktas player linked with a move to West Ham is promising German midfielder Tolgay Arslan. Many will be familiar with him as he was the man who scored the goal against Liverpool in the game that knocked the English side out of the Europa League. Other than that, his status is relatively unknown, so here's the low-down on West Ham's latest target.
Strengths
Dribbling
Arslan is a very gifted player. Capable of carrying the ball long distances, the midfielder is very skilful and will often look to beat players in the middle of the park. He always looks a composed and assured figure on the ball and shows maturity in possession.
Passing
The midfielder possesses a solid passing range. He likes to look for the measured lofted ball and often supplied the wingers in Bilic's Besiktas side. Arslan is a naturally forward-thinking player and will look to spark attacks when he is in possession. He is also economical on the ball, averaging an 86% pass success rate in the Turkish Superlig last season.
Tackling
As well as being comfortable on the ball, Arslan is also very good at reading the game, often timing clean tackles before looking to get the ball forward. Due to his tackling ability, Arslan has been deployed in a deeper role but was encouraged to carry more of a creative influence under Bilic.
Weaknesses
Goal-scoring
Although Arslan took his goal against Liverpool very well, it was the only goal he scored last season. In 2013/14, he managed just the single goal in 32 Bundesliga appearances. He clearly needs to improve in this area but at just 24-years-old, there's plenty of time for the German to add this element to his game.
Would he fit in at West Ham?
The Hammers are looking to play attractive attacking football under Slaven Bilic and Arslan would certainly provide the entertainment factor. He is an intelligent player who is capable of producing the extraordinary and he has the potential to be a very good Premier League player. Before he joined Besiktas in January, he attracted the interest of Arsenal before deciding to join Bilic's side, so his talent has been earmarked as appropriate for the demands of the Premier League before.
The young German certainly has ability and would provide a creative spark in midfield for a reasonable fee. Turkish newspaper Fanatik are reporting that the Irons have bid around £5 million for his services, a very good fee considering the talent of the player. It is very difficult to find a player that is very good on the ball but also good at reading the game and timing a tackle. He shows similarities with fellow countryman Ikay Gundogan, carrying that solidly assured persona coupled with a creative presence in the middle of the park.
Verdict
Bilic initially bought Arlsan as a player for the future at Besiktas but towards the end of the season, he gradually forced his way into Bilic's first-team plans and impressed in his performances when given the opportunity.
It may not be as easy at West Ham but he certainly possesses the creative instinct that the club are desperately looking for as they try to encourage a more attacking style of football next season. An agile, quick and creative player, Arslan could slot in well alongside the physical, energetic presence of players like Cheikou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang in midfield. Also, considering the rather cheap asking price and the fact that the manager knows exactly what he's getting, it could represent an excellent bit of business for Slaven Bilic's West Ham side.
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Enthusiasm trumps everything when recruiting, says Brady
Tue, 30 Jun 2015
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recruiter.co.uk
A candidate's track record and how bright they are figure highly in many a recruiter's decision-making process. However, according to Karren Brady (Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge), vice-chairman of West Ham United Football Club, businesswoman and one of Lord Sugar's advisers on BBC's The Apprentice, they are trumped by one thing: enthusiasm. Speaking last week at Recruitstock in Hampshire, The FIRM's (Forum for In-House Recruitment Manager's) annual event, Brady told the audience: "I only look for one thing, and that is enthusiasm. I cannot and will not work with unenthusiastic people no matter how bright they are, no matter how good their track record is. "I want people who are proud of what they do and want to do their best every day, and I think that as a trait carries you through an awful lot of ups and downs. "And I actually quite like honesty. I prefer [hearing] 'I don't know how to do it but I really want to learn how to do it'," she continued. Although not involved in recruiting on a day-to-day basis, Brady said she sits in on some final interviews, and takes an active role in senior level appointments.
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Liverpool AND West Ham in talks with Monaco over £21m-rated defender
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Liverpool and West Ham have opened negotiations with Monaco over the signing of Aymen Abdennour, according to reports in France. The defender is being chased by several sides this summer and is available if a club meets his £21m asking price. AC Milan have made a £14m offer, while Newcastle are also believed to have lodged a £12m bid for the Tunisian. And now, according to RMC, both Liverpool and West Ham have begun talks with Monaco over a deal for Abdennour. The Premier League pair have scouted the 25-year-old on several occasions and are keen to secure his services. Monaco remain adamant the centre-back will only leave for £21m and it remains to be seen whether a club meets that asking price.
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West Ham Cautious About Conteh Threat
Tallafrica.com
By Sahr Morris Jr.
English Premier League side, West Ham United, are mindful of the threat posed by Sierra Leone and FC Lusitanos hit man, Alfi Conteh Lacalle aka 'White Boy' ahead of their Europa League qualifiers. The Hammers, who qualified for the Europa League via the Fair Play League standings, were drawn to face their Andorran counterparts on July 2 at home with the return leg scheduled a week later on July 9. However, the East London side are considering the Sierra Leonean forward as the club's key man following his rich goal-scoring form last season, scoring nine goals in 10 appearances. Alfi Conteh, who was raised within the famed La Masia at Barcelona throughout his entire youth, helped the club finish as runners-up in the Andorran league as they missed out on Champions League football by only three points, losing out to the eventual league champions, FC Santa Coloma FC Lusitanos was only formed in 1999. Just one win in their final five games of the season meant they finished second, just three points behind winners FC Santa Coloma. They finished joint-top of the regular season before it broke away in March into a four-team 'Championship round'. The team has not enjoyed much success in the Europa League and Champions League first qualifying rounds. Since their first game in Europe, a 11-0 aggregate defeat in 2010, they have scored four and conceded 33.
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West Ham make €7m bid for Tolgay Arslan
Posted by Eren Sarigul June 30, 2015
Turkish-Football.com
West Ham United have made a €7 million bid for Besiktas' midfielder Tolgay Arslan according to the Turkish newspaper Fanatik. Arslan joined Besiktas from HSV in January for just €500,000 in January and has already established himself as a first team player. The 24-year-old scored against Liverpool in the Europa League Round of 32 clash against Liverpool. The report goes onto state that the highly rated midfielder has also attracted attention from Italy and Germany. Newly appointed West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is a fan of the Germany U21 international following his time at Besiktas. Bilic resigned from his position as Besiktas manager at the end of the season after failing to win the league title. The former Croatia national team manager did not win any silverware in the two seasons he spent at the Black Eagles. Tolgay – who has three years remaining on his contract – made 16 Turkish Super Lig appearances since joining Besiktas.
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West Ham co-owner David Sullivan sets Slaven Bilic top-eight goal
ESPN Staff, Now
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has set new Irons boss Slaven Bilic the target of a top-eight finish next season in the Premier League. Bilic, who joined West Ham at the beginning of June, had also agreed to walk away from the club without a payout if they are relegated. "Slaven knows what is expected of him," Sullivan said according to the The Sun. "He gets no bonus unless we finish top eight or above. He has accepted that." "We also insisted he agrees to being sacked with no pay-off if we get relegated. "If he utterly fails, it's his responsibility. But Bilic sees this as his big chance and has an amazingly positive attitude." Sullivan also revealed that new Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez was originally the man chosen to replace Sam Allardyce in the Hammers hot-seat, before being offered the Bernabeu job. "We spoke to several coaches ahead of Slaven and had everything sorted out with Rafa," he said. "Then he got a call from Real Madrid and called to say sorry but he was going there, as it was his dream. "But Slaven should not feel bad that he wasn't first choice. In fact, he has told us he will prove that he should have been. You can't argue with that."
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic will be sacked with no pay-off if Hammers go down - and needs top-eight finish to land bonus
Evening Standard
TOM DUTTON
Published: 30 June 2015 Updated: 10:23, 30 June 2015
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has revealed Slaven Bilic will be dismissed with no pay-off if the Hammers drop out of the Premier League this season. The former Croatia international coach was named as Sam Allardyce's successor learlier this month on a three-year deal, returning to the club he played for 54 times during the mid-90s. Sullivan openly revealed the new manager was not West Ham's first choice with Rafa Benitez, David Moyes, Carlo Ancelotti, Unai Emery and Jurgen Klopp all linked to the post, but offered the job to Bilic after the 46-year-old agreed to strict terms. "Slaven knows what is expected of him. He gets no bonus unless we finish top eight or above. He has accepted that," Sullivan told The Sun. We also insisted he agrees to being sacked with no pay-off if we get relegated. "If he utterly fails, it's his responsibility. But Bilic sees this as his big chance and has an amazingly positive attitude." Sullivan added: "We spoke to several coaches ahead of Slaven and had everything sorted out with Rafa. "Then he got a call from Real Madrid and called to say sorry but he was going there, as it was his dream.
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David Sullivan claims Rafael Benitez agreed West Ham deal before Bilic arrival
HITC
Olly Dawes
David Sullivan has revealed that Rafael Benitez had agreed to become the new West Ham manager earlier this summer. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has told The Sun that he had struck an agreement to appoint Rafa Benitez this summer - only to lose out to Real Madrid. Sullivan oversaw the departure of former manager Sam Allardyce on the final day of the Premier League season, and after an extensive search for a new boss, West Ham settled on Slaven Bilic. The Croatian played for West Ham as a defender during the 1990's, and makes his return to Upton Park ahead of the new Premier League campaign. However, co-owner Sullivan has now admitted to The Sun that Benitez - who won the Champions League with West Ham's Premier League rivals Liverpool in 2005 - had agreed to become the new West Ham manager. That deal fell apart though, as Spanish giants Real Madrid handed Benitez his dream move, and he became their latest boss after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti. "We spoke to several coaches ahead of Slaven and had everything sorted out with Rafa," said Sullivan. "Then he got a call from Real Madrid and called to say sorry but he was going there, as it was his dream." "But Slaven should not feel bad that he wasn't first choice. In fact, he has told us he will prove that he should have been. You can't argue with that," he added.
Benitez or Bilic?
West Ham have made a fine choice in appointing former Besiktas boss Bilic, but would they have been in a better position with Benitez? The Spaniard hasn't enjoyed a great deal of success since leaving Liverpool in 2010, but West Ham would have sent out a real signal of intent by appointing a manager who has been with some of the best teams in the world, including Valencia, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli. Benitez would have brought Premier League experience, which Bilic doesn't possess, at least in terms of being a manager, but West Ham now have to hope that Bilic can show them that they aren't missing anything having failed to land Benitez.
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'The path to West Ham is closed' Hammers to miss out on defender as Newcastle and Liverpool eye bids
London 24
06:30 30 June 2015 Brad Pinard
The agent of West Ham target Aymen Abdennour has claimed his client will not be moving to east London. The Monaco central defender is reportedly top of Slaven Bilic's shopping list as he gets to grip with life back at West Ham, however the £13.5million price tag looks hefty. Newcastle, Liverpool and AC Milan are reportedly interested too and could now pounce with West Ham unlikely to get their man. "We've never been contacted by Milan, or any Italian club," agent Abdelkader Jilani told Calciomercato. "Abdennour wants to play in the Premier League or La Liga, not in Italy. The path leading to West Ham is closed. "Would he consider Milan? No, because he doesn't want to go to Italy. I repeat, England or Spain is his future."
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Aaron Cresswell hopes for more new signings at West Ham
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United's Hammer of the Year Aaron Cresswell hopes he is the first of many to be signing contract papers at the club this summer. Fresh from putting pen to paper on a new contract which could potentially keep him with the east Londoners for the next seven years, Cresswell hopes new arrivals will be hot on his heels ahead of a crucial few seasons in the history of the club. Premier League champions Chelsea and fellow big guns Manchester City have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old left-back this summer by the likes of the Daily Mail.
But the Hammers have moved quickly to ward off any interest with a bumper new deal running until 2020, with the option for a further two years after that. Speaking to West Ham's official website after penning the new deal, the former Liverpool youth player said he hopes new arrivals will boost the squad even further as they compete in Europe for the first time in nearly a decade in what is also the club's last season at the Boleyn Ground before their move to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium. "It's going to be a massive year for us, the last year at Upton Park," the former Ipswich Town defender told whufc.com. "But it's exciting times going into one of the best stadiums in Europe, even in the world. It's going to be a good summer, hopefully a few more faces will come in and we'll have a good year." West Ham have been one of the busiest clubs so far this summer since replacing Sam Allardyce with Slaven Bilic. They have already signed Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph from Birmingham City, Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria and star midfielder Dimitri Payet from Marseille. But if co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are true to their promise of bringing in at least five top quality additions, then Cresswell will get his wish come the start of the season.
The former Tranmere defender was one of the big success stories of West Ham's ultimately disappointing 2014/15 campaign where they were as high as fourth at Christmas but ended up finishing 12th. After signing from Ipswich for just £3million, Cresswell proved players can make the step up from the Championship as he went on to play every minute of every league game for the Irons and won a hat-trick of awards at the end of the season including the prestigious Hammer of the Year honour.
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Mr West Ham Mark Noble is looking forward to enjoyable new era under Slaven Bilic
HITC
Damien Lucas
The man known as Mr West Ham United Mark Noble says he is looking forward to what he hopes will be an 'enjoyable' new era under Slaven Bilic. The Hammers replaced Sam Allardyce with former defender Bilic in the summer and will play in Europe for the first time in nearly a decade this season, the last at their Boleyn Ground home of 112 years. Noble was a teenager on the fringes of Alan Pardew's first team squad when the east Londoners were uncremoniously dumped out of the UEFA Cup at the first hurdle 4-0 by Palermo nine years ago. Now, aged 28 and with 282 games to his name, Noble has told West Ham's official website he is hoping to strike up a good rapport with his new manager, who has already signed two midfielders since taking over earlier this month. And he thinks Bilic will fit straight in given his experience of working in Turkey with 'crazy' fans not to dissimilar to West Ham's very own - who have already sold out their Europa League first qualifying round match against Andorran minnows FC Lusitans. "I'm hoping it will be very enjoyable," Noble told whufc.com. "I've not met the new gaffer yet, as he's over in Ireland (with squad players likely to face FC Lusitans on Thursday night), but it's a new start with a new set of staff. "It's going to take a little while for us to get used to each other and the manager to get used to his players, which is to be expected. "He has come from a different country where the fans are not dissimilar to ours – crazy – and I think it'll be a good match. "I'm looking forward to working with the new manager and seeing where that takes us this season."
Noble's opinion on anything to do with his boyhood club is always scrutinised given his affiliation with the fans. According to a recent HITC.com poll, Noble is even the man the Upton Park faithful want to see replace Kevin Nolan as the club's captain. A dyed-in-the-wool Hammer from birth he has consistently been a first-team regular since breaking into the senior side as a teen. He is Mr West Ham, the closest you will get to a fan on the pitch. However, it will be interesting to see how things pan out given that Noble is coming off the back of one of his worst seasons personally in the claret and blue. Bilic's first move on returning to east London was to sign Spanish U21 international midfielder Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria. And the club has since added the gifted Dimitri Payet to its ranks from Marseille in an eight figure deal. Therefor the Canning Town-born star will face increased competition for his place and may not even be a certain starter. So he will be looking to impress Bilic from the off to ensure he plays his part in what promises to be an exciting time in West Ham's history with the move to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium just a year away.
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WEST HAM AGREE TERMS WITH SONG – STILL NEED TO AGREE WITH BARCA
West Ham have agreed terms over a long-term contract with Barcelona midfielder Alex Song.
Now comes the tough task of agreeing a fee with Barcelona.
Michael Oliver 8 hours ago
theironscircle.come
West Ham have agreed terms to a long-term contract with Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, reports the Daily Mail. The Cameroonian spent last season on loan at Upton Park, and West Ham are very keen to bring the former Arsenal man back this summer on a permanent basis. Reports claim that Song has agreed terms to a four-year deal worth £70,000-a-week, which is a hefty wage drop from what he's currently earning in Spain from Barcelona. The La Liga champions are desperate to offload the 27-year-old this summer, but want to recoup some of the £15m they spent on him three years ago. However, the Hammers are hoping they can bide their time with Barcelona and hope they cave in and let the player go for nothing, despite the Catalan club wants around £5m for his services. West Ham are said to be willing to pay a certain amount for Alex Song, but as interest elsewhere begins to dissipate, they believe Barcelona will eventually reduce their demands and a deal can be struck soon.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United are pleased to announce a new two-year sponsorship agreement with the iHotel Group, a high-end hotel booking agency based in Hong Kong and operating across the Asian business community.
West Ham have a growing number of commercial partnerships with companies across the world, ranging from healthcare providers to social trading networks, all increasing the revenue coming in to the Club, and allowing further investment in the playing squad.
The iHotel Group specialise in arranging premium accommodation and hospitality for Asian corporate executives on business abroad, ensuring that – whenever they travel to major financial centres around the world – they can enjoy the best in sports and entertainment in their leisure time.
Club London, the luxury suite of private lounges, restaurants and bars in West Ham's magnificent new Stadium on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, is set to offer a hospitality experience second-to-none in world sport, conveniently placed on the doorstep of London's financial centre, Canary Wharf.
With such superb facilities on offer, and West Ham poised as one of the rising forces in English and European football, the timing of this new partnership could not be more apt.
Felicity Croft, Commercial Director of West Ham United, said:
"We are delighted to welcome the iHotel Group to West Ham United's growing family of commercial partners, and we look forward to working closely with them over the years to come. It is a huge sign of West Ham's increasing global reach and ambition that such a large and successful company based in the Asian corporate market wants to be associated with our brand, and promote our hospitality offering to their clients. It is clear that companies all over the world can see the exciting future that lies in store for West Ham and are buying in to our potential."
Tan Lung Lai CEO of the iHotel Group, said:
"We work in a fast-growing market, which is changing in every single minute, so it is important for us to do something different to maintain our competitive advantage. That is why we are so happy to work with and sponsor West Ham United. Through this partnership, we will enhance our reputation and offer even better value and greater opportunities to our customers, including the chance to watch live Premier League football at a world-famous stadium. We hope that this will be a milestone for West Ham and the iHotel Group as we both continue to grow our brands and customer base in Asia."
Under the terms of the commercial partnership, under which the iHotel Group will be designated as West Ham's official Far East Hotel Booking Partner, the company will be promoted to the global audience for the Club's website and other digital channels, and the iHotel Group will market Club London hospitality packages to their clients across Asia.
Most of Club London's lounges and bars are now completely sold out, and demand for the remaining membership packages remains extremely high, so to avoid disappointment, any West Ham fans or corporate hospitality companies wishing to become members are advised to sign up to the waiting list as soon as possible by visiting https://reservations.whufc.com or calling 0808 110 2016.
Join the Club London waiting list today.
The mission of the iHotel Group (www.ihotelgroup.com) is to enable customers to get the best-value deals within the diverse and competitive hotel and hospitality market at the click of a button, making executive travel more affordable, easy and satisfying. From their user-friendly online platform, thousands of high-end hotel and hospitality offers can be accessed worldwide within seconds.
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Adrian ready for fresh start
WHUFC.com
West Ham United keeper Adrian is brimming with confidence as he heads into the new season and says he is excited at the prospect of working under new manager Slaven Bilic.
The Spanish keeper enjoyed one of the best days of his life during the summer when he got married to his new wife Tamara and is now looking forward to another fresh challenge under the new management.
With the Hammers also playing in the Europa League and the final ever season at the Boleyn Ground, Adrian knows this is going to be a special year for the east London Club.
Adrian said: "It was a great day with my family and friends. It was emotional and I will remember that day for the rest of my life.
These are exciting times for everyone at the Club because we have a new manager and new players and we are playing in the Europe League.
"It is also emotional and sentimental because we will be playing the last season at the Boleyn Ground."
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FC Lusitans clash sold out
WHUFC.com
Standard tickets for Thursday's UEFA Europa League first qualifying round first leg against FC Lusitans have SOLD OUT.
Hammers fans have moved quickly to snap up tickets for the Club's first taste of European football in nine years and a 35,000 Boleyn Ground crowd is expected.
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Dimitri Payet: What will West Ham signing bring to Slaven Bilic's side?
Last Updated: 29/06/15 5:43pm
SSN
We examine the qualities of West Ham's Dimitri Payet following his arrival from Marseille...
Marcelo Bielsa or Slaven Bilic? There was much speculation this summer that the two men were rivals for the vacancy at West Ham manager. Ultimately, the Hammers went with the latter but they've bagged the former's star man from Marseille nevertheless. And that could prove crucial for the club as they look to move on from the Sam Allardyce era in style. At £10.7million, France international Dimitri Payet represents a significant investment for West Ham and a considerable coup too given his remarkable season under Bielsa at Marseille. The statistics are stunning and will already have Hammers fans convinced that their team can prove a more exciting proposition in the final third next season. Payet's tally of 17 assists was the best in France and the fourth best in any major European league in 2014/15. That's the headline statistic but the underlying data was arguably even more impressive. His total of 134 chances created was more than anyone else. Indeed, only two other players – Kevin de Bruyne and former Lille team-mate Eden Hazard – topped 100. It's a reflection of the work Payet has put in under Bielsa. The ruthless streak that was once lacking is now there. "What he gave me in one season, I know it will serve me for the rest of my career but also my life," said Payet earlier this month. "When you have worked with him, you come away a different man."
As a result, Bilic is getting a player who has fused quality with a work ethic – "there's so much intensity in training and in matches, especially mentally" – and that means half the battle for his new coach has already been won. There was a minor issue in December but Bielsa soon defended his "outstanding" player. Put simply, the penny has dropped. There have been tactical changes too. Although he enjoyed the freedom to come off the left wing at Lille, his influence was restricted to the right flank for much of his first year at Marseille. It's since switching to a No 10 role under Bielsa that he has blossomed. "He repositioned me as the playmaker and brought me the regularity I'd been lacking."
It's brought a new dimension to Payet's game and one that earned him a France recall by Didier Deschamps. "Today, what he does with his club is very interesting," said Deschamps in October. "He's in a different role – a playmaker at the axis, where he is very influential. He has been very efficient and effective in terms of goals and assists with Marseille."
The decision-making has improved as well. There were 10 successful through-balls in 2014/15, the most of anyone in France, as Payet evidently enjoyed the increased options available with the ball at his feet in a central position. While Marseille's title bid faded, Payet either scored or assisted in eight of his last 10 appearances for the club. So how will Bilic look to use Payet? Sticking with the midfield diamond would limit the options, while the 4-4-2 that the Croat opted for occasionally at Besiktas would preclude playing Payet in his best position altogether. The 4-2-3-1 utilised in the Europa League triumph over Liverpool – with wingers switching flanks – would offer most flexibility. That would open up the wings as possibilities, but while Bilic is not a manager keen to get bogged down in tactical formations, it would seem certain that he intends to play the Frenchman in the position in which he flourished at Marseille. It would surely be counter-productive to do anything else when paying a large fee for a 28-year-old of his capabilities. Payet seems optimistic on that score. "He made it clear that he wanted me to sign and that was important in my choice," he said of Bilic upon signing a five-year contract. "I'm an attacking footballer and that they're counting on me to help achieve that gives me a sense of responsibility."
As West Ham begin their final campaign at the Boleyn Ground, they'll need their high-profile new acquisition to thrive on that responsibility. Payet made relatively slow starts to his spells at both Lille and Marseille. Hammers fans will be hoping the adjustment period won't be necessary this time – thanks in part to the man they didn't appoint as their new manager.
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BILIC'S BACKROOM BOYS
By Dan Coker 30 Jun 2015 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham United's pre-season trip to Cork has seen new manager Slaven Bilic meet some of his new players. Academy Director Terry Westley has taken the majority of training in Ireland but Bilic was joined upon his arrival by some of his new backroom team – Nikola Jurcevic, Edin Terzic and Miljenko Rak.
Nikola Jurcevic was a midfielder, standing just short of 6', who played for Dinamo Zagreb and NK Zagreb with a spell in Belgium with Antwerp in the 1988/89 season sandwiched in between. He moved to Austria in 1991, signing for the club now known as Red Bull Salzburg, and spent four years there, scoring 42 goals in 130 appearances. From there he joined German side Freiburg; while he was with the German club, Jurcevic appeared three times for Croatia at Euro '96. Wearing number 2, he made his first appearance in the tournament as an 82nd minute substitute in the 3-0 win over Denmark before playing the full 90 minutes in the 3-0 defeat to Portugal. He started in a holding midfield role for the 2-1 quarter-final loss to eventual tournament winners Germany before being substituted in the 78th minute, a game which saw former Hammer Igor Stimac sent off with the score at 1-1. Bilic, incidentally, played every minute of Croatia's tournament. In 1997, Jurcevic returned to Salzburg where he ended his playing career in 1999. He has since managed former clubs NK Zagreb in 2002/03, when they finished 6th in the league and reached the quarter-finals in the Croatian Cup, and Dinamo Zagreb in 2003/04, where he won the Croatian Cup and finished runners-up in the league. A brief spell as manager back at Salzburg lasted just over a month in the spring of 2005 before a similarly short spell in charge of Slaven Belupo in his homeland. Jurcevic, along with ex-Derby midfielder Aljosa Asanovic, was appointed as one of Bilic's assistants for the national team and he remained in post between 2006 and 2012. He has since followed Bilic to Lokomotiv Moscow and Besiktas.
Edin Terzic is a 32-year-old who was Bilic's first-team coach at Besiktas; Super Slav has described Terzic as being "really good with players". Terzic, a right-sided midfielder, played in the German lower leagues from 2001 to 2013, with his most notable club being SG Wattenscheid in the 2006/07 season. He was assistant coach for Borussia Dortmund's Under-19s and Under-17s between 2010 and 2013.
Miljenko Rak is a 67-year-old who will join as fitness coach. He held a similar role when working with the Croatia handball team who won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics and with Janica Kostelic, a Croatian alpine skier who is the most successful participant in her sport in the history of the Winter Olympics. Rak also worked with Bilic during his time at Besiktas.
A collection of Bilic's former Hammers' team-mates have also been the subject of speculation regarding roles at the club since the Croatian's appointment. Steve Potts is already working with the Development Squad, while Julian Dicks' appointment as a first-team coaching assistant was confirmed yesterday. John Moncur, Ian Bishop, John Hartson and Steve Lomas have all been linked with coaching positions.
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Transfer window to open at midnight
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The Summer transfer officially opens at midnight Wednesday 1st July when Darren Randolph and Doneil Henry officially become West Ham players. Both have been left out of the Europa league squad but Darren Randolph is hotly tipped to be a late addition to the Europa League 25 man A list under the UEFA 24 hour rule which allows one new addition to the squad. The opening of the official transfer window brings fresh speculation that a deal for Alex Song could be concluded tomorrow. The 27-year-old Barcelona midfielder has reportedly agreed personal terms with West Ham, but Barca have been holding out for a fee, believed to be as much as £5million. West Ham are hoping to persuade Barcelona to terminate his contract to make him a free agent.
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Return of the Nene
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Nene could still play in the Premier League despite agreeing terms on a deal to join Greek side Olympiakos, Goal.com claim. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder joined West Ham in February as a free agent and played eight games for the Hammers.
He left the club at the end of the season once his short-term contract completed but Goal claim he could make a return under new manager Slaven Bilic. Goal also say West Brom who tried to sign Nene earlier this year and Watford are also showing an interest in the 33-year-old.
Nene has agreed terms on a two-year deal with Olympiakos but is understood to be unsure about the financial stability in Greece with banks closed presumably he is worried he won't get paid.
His English representative, Barry McIntosh, told Goal: "Nene does feel like there is some unfinished business in England and, yes, there is some interest.
"The move to Greece is not yet finalised so we will have to see what happens in the coming days."
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Hammers bid for Besiktas midfielder
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The Hammers have made a €7 million bid for Besiktas' midfielder Tolgay Arslan according to Turkish newspaper Fanatik. Arslan joined Beşiktaş from HSV in January for just €500,000. The 24-year-old found fame when he scored against Liverpool in the Europa League Round of 32 clash. The newspaper report claims that the midfielder has also attracted attention from Italy and Germany. Slaven Bilic is said to be a fan of the Germany U21 international following his time as manager of Besiktas.Tolgay has three years remaining on his contract and has made 16 Turkish Super Lig appearances since joining Besiktas.
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Lille midfielder linked with West Ham again
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
According to French Radio station RMC West Ham have made a bid for Lille defensive midfielder Idrissa Gueye of €8m. Marseille have put a €7m offer on the table while Crystal Palace are said to have table a €1om offer. According to the report, the player might lean to England because of the more favourable salary he is being offered.
Lille midfielder Idrisse Gueye is keen to move to the Premier League and previous interest from the Hammers may have encouraged his hopes of getting a deal at the Boleyn. The Senegalese international helped take the Lille side to an eighth place finish last season during his 32 games for the French outfit, scoring four goals.
Southampton and Crystal Palace have all been tracking the bruising midfielder said to be valued at £7 million.
The player said he would sit down with Lille and decide which club would be best for him but offers obviously need to be made first!
He told French publication La Voix du Nord: " I have a contract with Lille until 2018. Admittedly, there are contacts and there will be offers.
I will have to look at it all and decide what suits me best. "[I will] find the offer that will allow me to grow, to allow me to take new steps to be in line with my ambitions.
"But I feel good at Lille and if I was to stay here, it would not be the end of the world. Everyone knows that England has a league that attracts me, even if I am not closing the door on going to other leagues."
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Hammers look for Jenks breakthrough
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham remain hopeful that they will complete a deal for Carl Jenkinson over the next couple of weeks. Although Arsenal are continuing to play hardball over loan terms the Hammers believe a fee of around £1.5 million will ultimately be sorted out. We were told this evening: "We are hopeful of doing the deal. It is still very much on the cards and we believe it is a straightforward situation between ourselves and Sunderland. "However, we can see no reason why he should want to move to north east where he has no friends given that he knows so many people at Upton Park and is happily settled in London." The club is continuing to talk with his advisers but the key is to lower Arsenal's loan fee as that, plus wages of around £40k a week, would push the deal to close to £4 million for ONE season. Jenks is on around £32k a week at the Emirates but would be looking to better that at the Boleyn as a regular member of the first team.
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Hammers interest in Austrian Dynamo
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, West Ham have opened negotiations with Dynamo Kiev over signing defender Aleksandar Dragovic. The 24-year-old centre back who has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United
The report says that, if West Ham can't seal a move for Dragovic, they will turn their attention to Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna but they claim talks underway with Dynamo Kiev.
Back in November 2014 Claret and Hugh reported that Aleksandar Dragovic was being watched by club scouts when Austria played Russia. Dragovic has been capped 35 times for Austria.
Aleksandar Dragovic started his career by playing in the youth teams of Austrian giants Austria Wien In 2011 he transferred to FC Basel in the Swiss Super League for whom he appeared 77 times scoring 4 goals. In the summer of 2013, Dragovic signed a 5 year contract with the Ukrainian club FC Dynamo Kiev.
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Zarate enjoys the London Sun
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Mauro Zarate posted a photo of himself enjoying the warm weather on his way to training at Chadwell heath this morning ahead Thursday's Europa League opener against Andorran minnows FC Lusitans.
Zarate appeared to enjoying the London Sun saying "Sun in London 😁😁😁. For you Natalie Webber lol" Natalie Weber is his Argentinian model wife.
His wife teased back "Send me photo in the morning when you have got your jacket back on and it rains"
Mauro Zarate has been included in the squad for the opening two legs of the Europa League qualifiers and has a good chance of being in the starting line up after returning from Ireland yesterday.
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Thursday night a major celebration for all Irons
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The sun is beating down, there will be a full house at Upton Park Thursday evening, Aaron Cresswell has signed a massive new deal and a top French midfielder/winger in Dimitri Payet has arrived.
Frankly, I feel like a reborn Hammer this summer. It's almost as if I've travelled back in time 20 odd years to those days when the club truly felt as if it truly belonged to US, the fans.
Slaven Bilic has been doing and saying all the right things , The Terminator has arrived on the backroom team and the board are working hard on more deals.
The sight of a much younger manager with his hard man coaching team alongside him watching his new charges in a recently published photo was a joy to behold.
Slav knows this club and has carried it in his heart for a long time. When he spoke in an interview of the pleasure he felt when travelling "through those narrow streets" to the ground as a player he hit a chord with me.
I felt it the first time I disembarked at Plaistow Tube Station for my debut game. It never leaves you. Indeed it grows more and more intense.
We all get the same buzz when tumbling out of the tube and legging it to the ground – it's a feeling you can never replicate – it's a feeling known by all true Hammers.
I'm not gonna get into what happened over the last three or four years. Most know. I felt the club had slipped away from the fans and I think we all know why.
Now it has been reclaimed and as proof of my point I'll let followers of this site into a little secret: Since the former manager departed and Slav was installed traffic figures doubled and on two or three occasions actually trebled.
The mood has changed in an instant – the humour is back on the forums, the horribly divisive rows have stopped. It's brilliant.
I expect Thursday night to be electric even though we are playing perhaps the weakest opposition possible as I believe the fans are desperate to go back 'home' on July 2 and celebrate.
I reckon there's an awful lot more to Thursday evening than what is going to happen on the field – it's about what's happened in our hearts!
The old has gone – the new is here and there's only one way to look at things – with a huge smile of satisfaction and optimism that we are on our way as West Ham UNITED again!
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82 Lusitans fans to make the trip to Boleyn
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Just 82 have been sold tickets have been sold to FC Lusitans fans for the away end of the Boleyn Ground for the first qualifying round of the Europa League on Thursday night 15 year old Jack Sullivan has revealed. The game is widely expected to sell out with just 2,700 tickets remaining yesterday to make a special night under the Boleyn Ground floodlights. On Thursday Jack revealed 'Only 2,700 tickets left for Thursday night!!!!' and 'The away support will be 82 people on Thursday night' Priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children West Ham are set to receive around £300,000 in ticket sales for the first leg home game in addition to 200,000 Euros in Europa League prize money for the first qualifying for both legs round worth around £142,000.
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Cresswell deal has no escape clauses
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Aaron Cresswell has signed a "no escape clauses" contract with West Ham! The news that the left back and Hammer of the Year had signed a new deal was greeted with delight last night and the even better news is that he is locked down for the term of the contract. Cresswell had no hesitation in signing a contract which will keep him at the club until 2020 and the package he has agreed to sign is a triumph for the club's negotiating team. In the light of keen interest in him from Manchester City and Chelsea, the Irons have demonstrated they are becoming a serious force in Premier League football. The club are thrilled that the Liverpool born star has pledged himself to the club which will send a message to other players they are keen to sign.
ClaretandHugh was told exclusively: "Like every club, if a massive, massive offer comes in it has to be looked at but in terms of escape clauses there are none. "Aaron will therefore stay at this football club for as long as we choose. Both sides could not be happier with the situation."
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OS death not a work place incident
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AN H
Health and Safety Executive inspectors have confirmed that the fatality at the Olympic Stadium construction site on Sunday morning was not a workplace incident. Main contractor Balfour Beatty resumed work on Monday morning after the HSE and police concluded their enquiries. Balfour said: "There was a fatality at the former Olympic Stadium site yesterday morning. We worked fully with the police whilst they carried out their enquiries which concluded yesterday. They are treating the death as non-suspicious." "The HSE has confirmed the fatality is not being treated as a workplace incident. "Work resumed on site this morning. Our thoughts remain with the individual's family, friends and colleagues." The live web cam video feed for the Olympic Stadium remains offline since the weekend. The first test event for the new stadium is scheduled in July.
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Rodney Marsh: 'Low expectations of Payet'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Rodney Marsh has been asked about his thoughts on West Ham new boy Dimitri Payet and said he has low expectations of the 28 year old. Using his twitter account from Tampa Florida, Marsh replied "Decent wide player, low expectations of him…" He also thinks West Ham would be a bad move for Charlie Austin saying "Wow! Charlie Austin to Bournemouth ?!! And I thought West Ham was a bad move for him……" He later explained "I'm not underestimating Bournemouth or West Ham. Just thought a 20 goal a year man could get a bigger club. You fans are so myopic !!"
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Europa League game sold out
Posted by Sean Whetstone on June 30, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
In the last few minutes the West Ham v FC Lusitans has sold out for the first leg of the Europa League qualifying round on Thursday night at the Boleyn Ground. Over 35,000 West Ham fans have shelled out £10 or £5 to watch Slaven Bilic's first match in charge of the Hammers and our first return to Europe in nine years. An insider told Claret and Hugh "That's correct the stadium is sold out, we will have an attendance of over 35,000. We haven't had to include a large segregation as its not needed especially with less than 50 away fans looking to actually attend" Kick off is at 7.45pm and as yet no details have been given as to whether the game will be televised. BT Sports holds the exclusive rights in the UK for the UEFA Europa League but it's TV schedule is void of the Europa League match on Thursday evening so far.
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Andy Carroll forced to watch team-mates train as crocked West Ham striker continues to recover from knee ligament injury
By NICHOLAS GODDEN FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 14:51, 30 June 2015 | UPDATED: 14:54, 30 June 2015
Andy Carroll appears no closer to a return to action after the West Ham striker sat out training as the club continued their preparations ahead of their Europa League clash against FC Lusitans. The former Liverpool forward injured his knee ligaments in February this year and was ruled out for up to seven months. And Carroll is facing a race against time to be available for the start of the Premier League campaign after he could only watch his team-mates during the session on Tuesday. West Ham take on Andorran minnows Lusitans at Upton Park on Thursday in the first leg of their firs round Europa League qualifier after they secured a place in the competition through the Fair Play league. Carroll will not play a part in either leg and the 26-year-old, who recently became a father for the first time, could only watch from the sidelines as the rest of Slaven Bilic's squad were put through their paces in the glorious sunshine.
The former Newcastle frontman, who has struggled with injuries for the last two seasons, was pictured perched on a drinks cooler and was not involved in the session at all.
Carroll only recently started jogging again following the injury he sustained against Southampton earlier this year that left him needing extensive knee surgery, but he is pleased with the progress he has made over the summer. 'The injury is going well and I have pretty much been in every day working on it and strengthening the injury,' he said earlier this month. 'I started jogging and it is all getting better. 'I have been in the gym a long time now and it is nice to be outside going for a jog and it felt great afterwards. Hopefully I can be back out there. 'I want to step it up again and start kicking a ball but I am glad to be outside and moving again.'
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Will West Ham sign Angelo Ogbonna or Aymen Abdennour?
By Mitch Waddon
Posted on June 30, 2015
www.squawka.com
Slaven Bilic's appointment as manager of West Ham heralded a summer of change for the East London club. It appears that following his arrival there has been a shift in mentality for the Hammers; the club that seemed preoccupied with the threat of relegation under previous manager Sam Allardyce have now shifted their focus up the Premier League table. West Ham will begin their season on Thursday in the Europa League, and the club has already signalled their intent to push towards bigger things with the signing of Dimitri Payet from Marseille for £10.7 million (fee via the Daily Mail). That transfer led to French Football Federation president Noel Le Grant describing the move as "embarrassing", given that one of Ligue 1's Champions League contenders had lost arguably their most influential player to a middling Premier League team.
However West Ham are looking to challenge on all fronts in the future, as shown by their rumoured transfer targets. A new centre-back is in order for their side, so Aymen Abdennour of Monaco and Angelo Ogbonna of Juventus have both been linked in the past few days by the Daily Express and Metro respectively. Signing either would be a fantastic representation of ambition by the club and, more specifically, chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan, who pledged to make "significant transfer funds" available to their new manager in a statement on the official club website in May. Both competed in the Champions League last season with their current employers – Ogbonna was on the bench for Juventus in the final against Barcelona, which they lost 3-1, while Abdennour was part of the Monaco side that shocked Arsenal by the same scoreline at the Emirates, ultimately eliminating the Gunners from the competition. Such experience in Europe's elite competition is likely a huge selling point for the Hammers, who would love to qualify for the Champions League during Bilic's reign as manager.
Neither Abdennour or Ogbonna have plied their trade in the Premier League before, meaning that an adjustment period will be required for both players. However both possess a strong build and are used to the physical aspects of the game, something that will no doubt aid either should they complete a move to England. Abdennour is the more travelled of the two, despite being a year younger than his Italian rival. The Tunisian international began his career with Etoile du Sahel in his home nation in 2008. A brief loan spell with Werder Bremen in 2010 was quickly followed with a move to Toulouse of Ligue 1, before the defender made the move to Monaco on loan in 2014. The club, owned by Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, completed a permanent deal for Abdennour last July. However he made just 18 league appearances for Monaco last season, as the club finished third in Ligue 1. Ogbonna meanwhile has yet to play for a team outside of Italy, having moved to Juventus from Torino in 2013. The centre-back played in 25 league games for the Old Lady during the last campaign, as they claimed their fourth-consecutive Serie A title.
Both are recognised for their strength and comfortable nature with the ball at their feet; something that Bilic is eager to introduce to the West Ham defenders. Both enjoy passing the ball and, in Ogbonna's case, there is an ability to bring it forward rather than unnecessarily lifting it towards the strikers; something that the fans will appreciate as the quest to reintroduce the "West Ham way" continues. Neither defender scored any goals last season in their respective leagues, more than likely due to their limited game time, but with West Ham's new signing Payet providing 17 assists for Marseille last term, both would probably get chances at the other end of the pitch.
The biggest obstacle to completing a deal for either of these undoubtedly talented centre-backs is likely to be the level of interest from other clubs. In Ogbonna's case, the Liverpool Echo reports that Everton were interested in a move for the Italian international. However to secure Abdennour, West Ham will have to fight off a significantly higher-calibre of club; ESPN FC believe that Liverpool and Barcelona are in for the defender, making the prospect of a move to East London less-likely for the 25-year-old. Ogbonna, who has 10 international caps for Italy, could well be playing for West Ham next season. Signing either of these players would bring a quality that West Ham fans long to see at Upton Park, and at the Olympic Stadium in 12 months time. Abdennour or Ogbonna would likely be welcomed into the starting XI relatively soon after joining, and any deal is likely to come down to the preference of Bilic, given the similarities in playing style and build. Given the interest in Abdennour by Champions League clubs, it seems more reasonable to expect that Ogbonna will be seen in the claret and blue of West Ham next season. However they must not be disheartened with such a transfer; Ogbonna, like Payet, represents a new dawn for West Ham. One that shows the club's ambitions can attract players of the highest quality from the biggest clubs.
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Why Mark Noble's West Ham future could be hindered by Slaven Bilic and big-money signings
13:21 30 June 2015 Brad Pinard
London 24
West Ham United's Mark Noble 'He wears the claret and blue, he's West Ham through and through' sing the Hammers fans towards favourite Mark Noble game after game. The 28-year-old has been at West Ham for 15 years and is certainly a fans hero, putting in a shift each week and having to ability to cut open defences at will when on song. England recognition has not and seemingly will not be coming Noble's way, so he has to think, what next? At times it has been almost blasphemy to criticise Noble, but it certainly occured more last season. West Ham snapped up Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria earlier this summer along with Dimitri Payet from Marseille and are reportedly closing in on bringing Alex Song back to Upton Park. Three more midfielders for Noble to compete with. Cheikhou Kouyate will likely go from strength to strength and youngster Diego Poyet is almost certain to find more game time this season with Sam Allardyce out of the way as well as any more signings coming through the door. So where does that leave Noble? Like his team-mates, Noble fell away dramatically towards the end of last season and just didn't have the impact on the team that was needed. With even more games this season, in the Europa League for starters, Noble's ability to play three times in a week will surely be questioned after niggling injuries started to play a part last term. I'm not suggesting either West Ham will get rid of Noble, nor the player himself will want to leave, but a starting role every week for the homegrown star is in doubt. Slaven Bilic will see Noble as a West Ham man, with Julian Dicks' appointment fairly poignant, so upsetting that ship will not be an option but if anything it could motivate Noble to take on more responsibility, and even the captain's armband.
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West Ham, West Brom & Watford interested in Nene despite Olympiakos deal
goal.com
30 Jun 2015 12:05:17
The 33-year-old looked set to join the Greek side after leaving Upton Park this summer but the deal is not yet finalised and the Hammers could re-sign the midfielder
GOAL By Graeme Bailey
Nene could still play in the Premier League next season despite leaving West Ham and agreeing terms on a deal to join Greek side Olympiakos, Goal understands. The former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder joined West Ham in February as a free agent and played eight games under Sam Allardyce. Nene left the club at the end of the season once his short-term contract expired but now, with Slaven Bilic in charge at Upton Park, a move back to West Ham is understood to be under consideration. However, Goal understands that West Brom – who tried to sign Nene earlier this year – and Premier League new-boys Watford are also showing an interest in the 33-year-old. Nene has agreed terms on a two-year deal with Olympiakos but is understood to be unsure about the financial stability in Greece. His English representative, Barry McIntosh, confirmed to Goal: "Nene does feel like there is some unfinished business in England and, yes, there is some interest. "The move to Greece is not yet finalised so we will have to see what happens in the coming days."
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West Ham open to Kevin Nolan bids - sources
espnfc.co.uk
ESPNFC's Janusz Michallik provides the lowdown on West Ham's recruitment of France international midfielder Dimitri Payet from Marseille. West Ham are willing to offload captain Kevin Nolan as Slaven Bilic looks to overhaul the squad this summer, sources have told ESPN FC. Former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce signed Nolan shortly after his arrival at Upton Park in 2011 but, following his departure, the club are ready to listen to offers for the 33-year-old. ESPN FC has been told that a number of clubs, including Nolan's former side Bolton Wanderers, are monitoring the midfielder's position. Kevin Nolan made 10 of his 29 Premier League appearances from the bench last season, and scored one goal. Bilic, who has been charged with securing a top-eight finish this season, has already brought in midfield duo Dimitri Payet and Pedro Obiang this summer. Their arrivals will push Nolan, who found his first-team chances limited in the second half of last season, further down the pecking order. West Ham have also announced the appointment of Julian Dicks as coaching assistant this week, while Aaron Cresswell has signed a new long-term contract.
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Scouting Report: West Ham's latest target looks a real prospect in midfield
foreverwestham.com
Date: 30th June 2015 at 12:31 pm
Written by: Matt Bourne | Comments (0)
The latest Besiktas player linked with a move to West Ham is promising German midfielder Tolgay Arslan. Many will be familiar with him as he was the man who scored the goal against Liverpool in the game that knocked the English side out of the Europa League. Other than that, his status is relatively unknown, so here's the low-down on West Ham's latest target.
Strengths
Dribbling
Arslan is a very gifted player. Capable of carrying the ball long distances, the midfielder is very skilful and will often look to beat players in the middle of the park. He always looks a composed and assured figure on the ball and shows maturity in possession.
Passing
The midfielder possesses a solid passing range. He likes to look for the measured lofted ball and often supplied the wingers in Bilic's Besiktas side. Arslan is a naturally forward-thinking player and will look to spark attacks when he is in possession. He is also economical on the ball, averaging an 86% pass success rate in the Turkish Superlig last season.
Tackling
As well as being comfortable on the ball, Arslan is also very good at reading the game, often timing clean tackles before looking to get the ball forward. Due to his tackling ability, Arslan has been deployed in a deeper role but was encouraged to carry more of a creative influence under Bilic.
Weaknesses
Goal-scoring
Although Arslan took his goal against Liverpool very well, it was the only goal he scored last season. In 2013/14, he managed just the single goal in 32 Bundesliga appearances. He clearly needs to improve in this area but at just 24-years-old, there's plenty of time for the German to add this element to his game.
Would he fit in at West Ham?
The Hammers are looking to play attractive attacking football under Slaven Bilic and Arslan would certainly provide the entertainment factor. He is an intelligent player who is capable of producing the extraordinary and he has the potential to be a very good Premier League player. Before he joined Besiktas in January, he attracted the interest of Arsenal before deciding to join Bilic's side, so his talent has been earmarked as appropriate for the demands of the Premier League before.
The young German certainly has ability and would provide a creative spark in midfield for a reasonable fee. Turkish newspaper Fanatik are reporting that the Irons have bid around £5 million for his services, a very good fee considering the talent of the player. It is very difficult to find a player that is very good on the ball but also good at reading the game and timing a tackle. He shows similarities with fellow countryman Ikay Gundogan, carrying that solidly assured persona coupled with a creative presence in the middle of the park.
Verdict
Bilic initially bought Arlsan as a player for the future at Besiktas but towards the end of the season, he gradually forced his way into Bilic's first-team plans and impressed in his performances when given the opportunity.
It may not be as easy at West Ham but he certainly possesses the creative instinct that the club are desperately looking for as they try to encourage a more attacking style of football next season. An agile, quick and creative player, Arslan could slot in well alongside the physical, energetic presence of players like Cheikou Kouyate and Pedro Obiang in midfield. Also, considering the rather cheap asking price and the fact that the manager knows exactly what he's getting, it could represent an excellent bit of business for Slaven Bilic's West Ham side.
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Enthusiasm trumps everything when recruiting, says Brady
Tue, 30 Jun 2015
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recruiter.co.uk
A candidate's track record and how bright they are figure highly in many a recruiter's decision-making process. However, according to Karren Brady (Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge), vice-chairman of West Ham United Football Club, businesswoman and one of Lord Sugar's advisers on BBC's The Apprentice, they are trumped by one thing: enthusiasm. Speaking last week at Recruitstock in Hampshire, The FIRM's (Forum for In-House Recruitment Manager's) annual event, Brady told the audience: "I only look for one thing, and that is enthusiasm. I cannot and will not work with unenthusiastic people no matter how bright they are, no matter how good their track record is. "I want people who are proud of what they do and want to do their best every day, and I think that as a trait carries you through an awful lot of ups and downs. "And I actually quite like honesty. I prefer [hearing] 'I don't know how to do it but I really want to learn how to do it'," she continued. Although not involved in recruiting on a day-to-day basis, Brady said she sits in on some final interviews, and takes an active role in senior level appointments.
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Liverpool AND West Ham in talks with Monaco over £21m-rated defender
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Liverpool and West Ham have opened negotiations with Monaco over the signing of Aymen Abdennour, according to reports in France. The defender is being chased by several sides this summer and is available if a club meets his £21m asking price. AC Milan have made a £14m offer, while Newcastle are also believed to have lodged a £12m bid for the Tunisian. And now, according to RMC, both Liverpool and West Ham have begun talks with Monaco over a deal for Abdennour. The Premier League pair have scouted the 25-year-old on several occasions and are keen to secure his services. Monaco remain adamant the centre-back will only leave for £21m and it remains to be seen whether a club meets that asking price.
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West Ham Cautious About Conteh Threat
Tallafrica.com
By Sahr Morris Jr.
English Premier League side, West Ham United, are mindful of the threat posed by Sierra Leone and FC Lusitanos hit man, Alfi Conteh Lacalle aka 'White Boy' ahead of their Europa League qualifiers. The Hammers, who qualified for the Europa League via the Fair Play League standings, were drawn to face their Andorran counterparts on July 2 at home with the return leg scheduled a week later on July 9. However, the East London side are considering the Sierra Leonean forward as the club's key man following his rich goal-scoring form last season, scoring nine goals in 10 appearances. Alfi Conteh, who was raised within the famed La Masia at Barcelona throughout his entire youth, helped the club finish as runners-up in the Andorran league as they missed out on Champions League football by only three points, losing out to the eventual league champions, FC Santa Coloma FC Lusitanos was only formed in 1999. Just one win in their final five games of the season meant they finished second, just three points behind winners FC Santa Coloma. They finished joint-top of the regular season before it broke away in March into a four-team 'Championship round'. The team has not enjoyed much success in the Europa League and Champions League first qualifying rounds. Since their first game in Europe, a 11-0 aggregate defeat in 2010, they have scored four and conceded 33.
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West Ham make €7m bid for Tolgay Arslan
Posted by Eren Sarigul June 30, 2015
Turkish-Football.com
West Ham United have made a €7 million bid for Besiktas' midfielder Tolgay Arslan according to the Turkish newspaper Fanatik. Arslan joined Besiktas from HSV in January for just €500,000 in January and has already established himself as a first team player. The 24-year-old scored against Liverpool in the Europa League Round of 32 clash against Liverpool. The report goes onto state that the highly rated midfielder has also attracted attention from Italy and Germany. Newly appointed West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is a fan of the Germany U21 international following his time at Besiktas. Bilic resigned from his position as Besiktas manager at the end of the season after failing to win the league title. The former Croatia national team manager did not win any silverware in the two seasons he spent at the Black Eagles. Tolgay – who has three years remaining on his contract – made 16 Turkish Super Lig appearances since joining Besiktas.
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West Ham co-owner David Sullivan sets Slaven Bilic top-eight goal
ESPN Staff, Now
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has set new Irons boss Slaven Bilic the target of a top-eight finish next season in the Premier League. Bilic, who joined West Ham at the beginning of June, had also agreed to walk away from the club without a payout if they are relegated. "Slaven knows what is expected of him," Sullivan said according to the The Sun. "He gets no bonus unless we finish top eight or above. He has accepted that." "We also insisted he agrees to being sacked with no pay-off if we get relegated. "If he utterly fails, it's his responsibility. But Bilic sees this as his big chance and has an amazingly positive attitude." Sullivan also revealed that new Real Madrid manager Rafa Benitez was originally the man chosen to replace Sam Allardyce in the Hammers hot-seat, before being offered the Bernabeu job. "We spoke to several coaches ahead of Slaven and had everything sorted out with Rafa," he said. "Then he got a call from Real Madrid and called to say sorry but he was going there, as it was his dream. "But Slaven should not feel bad that he wasn't first choice. In fact, he has told us he will prove that he should have been. You can't argue with that."
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic will be sacked with no pay-off if Hammers go down - and needs top-eight finish to land bonus
Evening Standard
TOM DUTTON
Published: 30 June 2015 Updated: 10:23, 30 June 2015
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has revealed Slaven Bilic will be dismissed with no pay-off if the Hammers drop out of the Premier League this season. The former Croatia international coach was named as Sam Allardyce's successor learlier this month on a three-year deal, returning to the club he played for 54 times during the mid-90s. Sullivan openly revealed the new manager was not West Ham's first choice with Rafa Benitez, David Moyes, Carlo Ancelotti, Unai Emery and Jurgen Klopp all linked to the post, but offered the job to Bilic after the 46-year-old agreed to strict terms. "Slaven knows what is expected of him. He gets no bonus unless we finish top eight or above. He has accepted that," Sullivan told The Sun. We also insisted he agrees to being sacked with no pay-off if we get relegated. "If he utterly fails, it's his responsibility. But Bilic sees this as his big chance and has an amazingly positive attitude." Sullivan added: "We spoke to several coaches ahead of Slaven and had everything sorted out with Rafa. "Then he got a call from Real Madrid and called to say sorry but he was going there, as it was his dream.
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David Sullivan claims Rafael Benitez agreed West Ham deal before Bilic arrival
HITC
Olly Dawes
David Sullivan has revealed that Rafael Benitez had agreed to become the new West Ham manager earlier this summer. West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has told The Sun that he had struck an agreement to appoint Rafa Benitez this summer - only to lose out to Real Madrid. Sullivan oversaw the departure of former manager Sam Allardyce on the final day of the Premier League season, and after an extensive search for a new boss, West Ham settled on Slaven Bilic. The Croatian played for West Ham as a defender during the 1990's, and makes his return to Upton Park ahead of the new Premier League campaign. However, co-owner Sullivan has now admitted to The Sun that Benitez - who won the Champions League with West Ham's Premier League rivals Liverpool in 2005 - had agreed to become the new West Ham manager. That deal fell apart though, as Spanish giants Real Madrid handed Benitez his dream move, and he became their latest boss after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti. "We spoke to several coaches ahead of Slaven and had everything sorted out with Rafa," said Sullivan. "Then he got a call from Real Madrid and called to say sorry but he was going there, as it was his dream." "But Slaven should not feel bad that he wasn't first choice. In fact, he has told us he will prove that he should have been. You can't argue with that," he added.
Benitez or Bilic?
West Ham have made a fine choice in appointing former Besiktas boss Bilic, but would they have been in a better position with Benitez? The Spaniard hasn't enjoyed a great deal of success since leaving Liverpool in 2010, but West Ham would have sent out a real signal of intent by appointing a manager who has been with some of the best teams in the world, including Valencia, Inter Milan, Chelsea and Napoli. Benitez would have brought Premier League experience, which Bilic doesn't possess, at least in terms of being a manager, but West Ham now have to hope that Bilic can show them that they aren't missing anything having failed to land Benitez.
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'The path to West Ham is closed' Hammers to miss out on defender as Newcastle and Liverpool eye bids
London 24
06:30 30 June 2015 Brad Pinard
The agent of West Ham target Aymen Abdennour has claimed his client will not be moving to east London. The Monaco central defender is reportedly top of Slaven Bilic's shopping list as he gets to grip with life back at West Ham, however the £13.5million price tag looks hefty. Newcastle, Liverpool and AC Milan are reportedly interested too and could now pounce with West Ham unlikely to get their man. "We've never been contacted by Milan, or any Italian club," agent Abdelkader Jilani told Calciomercato. "Abdennour wants to play in the Premier League or La Liga, not in Italy. The path leading to West Ham is closed. "Would he consider Milan? No, because he doesn't want to go to Italy. I repeat, England or Spain is his future."
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Aaron Cresswell hopes for more new signings at West Ham
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United's Hammer of the Year Aaron Cresswell hopes he is the first of many to be signing contract papers at the club this summer. Fresh from putting pen to paper on a new contract which could potentially keep him with the east Londoners for the next seven years, Cresswell hopes new arrivals will be hot on his heels ahead of a crucial few seasons in the history of the club. Premier League champions Chelsea and fellow big guns Manchester City have been linked with a move for the 25-year-old left-back this summer by the likes of the Daily Mail.
But the Hammers have moved quickly to ward off any interest with a bumper new deal running until 2020, with the option for a further two years after that. Speaking to West Ham's official website after penning the new deal, the former Liverpool youth player said he hopes new arrivals will boost the squad even further as they compete in Europe for the first time in nearly a decade in what is also the club's last season at the Boleyn Ground before their move to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium. "It's going to be a massive year for us, the last year at Upton Park," the former Ipswich Town defender told whufc.com. "But it's exciting times going into one of the best stadiums in Europe, even in the world. It's going to be a good summer, hopefully a few more faces will come in and we'll have a good year." West Ham have been one of the busiest clubs so far this summer since replacing Sam Allardyce with Slaven Bilic. They have already signed Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph from Birmingham City, Spanish midfielder Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria and star midfielder Dimitri Payet from Marseille. But if co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are true to their promise of bringing in at least five top quality additions, then Cresswell will get his wish come the start of the season.
The former Tranmere defender was one of the big success stories of West Ham's ultimately disappointing 2014/15 campaign where they were as high as fourth at Christmas but ended up finishing 12th. After signing from Ipswich for just £3million, Cresswell proved players can make the step up from the Championship as he went on to play every minute of every league game for the Irons and won a hat-trick of awards at the end of the season including the prestigious Hammer of the Year honour.
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Mr West Ham Mark Noble is looking forward to enjoyable new era under Slaven Bilic
HITC
Damien Lucas
The man known as Mr West Ham United Mark Noble says he is looking forward to what he hopes will be an 'enjoyable' new era under Slaven Bilic. The Hammers replaced Sam Allardyce with former defender Bilic in the summer and will play in Europe for the first time in nearly a decade this season, the last at their Boleyn Ground home of 112 years. Noble was a teenager on the fringes of Alan Pardew's first team squad when the east Londoners were uncremoniously dumped out of the UEFA Cup at the first hurdle 4-0 by Palermo nine years ago. Now, aged 28 and with 282 games to his name, Noble has told West Ham's official website he is hoping to strike up a good rapport with his new manager, who has already signed two midfielders since taking over earlier this month. And he thinks Bilic will fit straight in given his experience of working in Turkey with 'crazy' fans not to dissimilar to West Ham's very own - who have already sold out their Europa League first qualifying round match against Andorran minnows FC Lusitans. "I'm hoping it will be very enjoyable," Noble told whufc.com. "I've not met the new gaffer yet, as he's over in Ireland (with squad players likely to face FC Lusitans on Thursday night), but it's a new start with a new set of staff. "It's going to take a little while for us to get used to each other and the manager to get used to his players, which is to be expected. "He has come from a different country where the fans are not dissimilar to ours – crazy – and I think it'll be a good match. "I'm looking forward to working with the new manager and seeing where that takes us this season."
Noble's opinion on anything to do with his boyhood club is always scrutinised given his affiliation with the fans. According to a recent HITC.com poll, Noble is even the man the Upton Park faithful want to see replace Kevin Nolan as the club's captain. A dyed-in-the-wool Hammer from birth he has consistently been a first-team regular since breaking into the senior side as a teen. He is Mr West Ham, the closest you will get to a fan on the pitch. However, it will be interesting to see how things pan out given that Noble is coming off the back of one of his worst seasons personally in the claret and blue. Bilic's first move on returning to east London was to sign Spanish U21 international midfielder Pedro Obiang from Sampdoria. And the club has since added the gifted Dimitri Payet to its ranks from Marseille in an eight figure deal. Therefor the Canning Town-born star will face increased competition for his place and may not even be a certain starter. So he will be looking to impress Bilic from the off to ensure he plays his part in what promises to be an exciting time in West Ham's history with the move to the 54,000 seater Olympic Stadium just a year away.
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WEST HAM AGREE TERMS WITH SONG – STILL NEED TO AGREE WITH BARCA
West Ham have agreed terms over a long-term contract with Barcelona midfielder Alex Song.
Now comes the tough task of agreeing a fee with Barcelona.
Michael Oliver 8 hours ago
theironscircle.come
West Ham have agreed terms to a long-term contract with Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, reports the Daily Mail. The Cameroonian spent last season on loan at Upton Park, and West Ham are very keen to bring the former Arsenal man back this summer on a permanent basis. Reports claim that Song has agreed terms to a four-year deal worth £70,000-a-week, which is a hefty wage drop from what he's currently earning in Spain from Barcelona. The La Liga champions are desperate to offload the 27-year-old this summer, but want to recoup some of the £15m they spent on him three years ago. However, the Hammers are hoping they can bide their time with Barcelona and hope they cave in and let the player go for nothing, despite the Catalan club wants around £5m for his services. West Ham are said to be willing to pay a certain amount for Alex Song, but as interest elsewhere begins to dissipate, they believe Barcelona will eventually reduce their demands and a deal can be struck soon.
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