Hammers qualify for UEFA Europa League
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have qualified for the 2016/17 UEFA Europa League third
qualifying round, bringing European football to their stunning new Stadium
on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
Slaven Bilic's side will kick-off their continental challenge with a
first-leg tie on Thursday 28 July, with the return leg to be played on
Thursday 4 August. The draw to discover the opposition will be made on
Friday 15 July.
Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold welcomed the Club's
qualification at the end of a record-breaking Barclays Premier League season
which saw the Hammers finish seventh with an all-time high 62 points
"A place in Europe is just reward for the highest points total achieved by
West Ham United in the Premier League, and a season full of excellent
performances," said the Joint-Chairmen. "We look forward to starting this
exciting new era for the Club as we mean to go on, by competing in Europe."
West Ham will formally open the Club's new 60,000-capacity Stratford Stadium
with an opening ceremony celebration marking the Betway Cup visit of Italian
champions Juventus on Sunday 7 August at 1pm. Tickets for this fixture are
on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Members here.
The Joint Chairmen added: "We said farewell to the Boleyn Ground with a
thrilling match and a magnificent atmosphere under the lights. Our game
against Juventus remains the official opening of our iconic new Stadium but
a European qualification game will be the perfect preparation for that."
2016/17 UEFA Europa League draw and round dates:
UEFA Europa League third qualifying round draw: 15 July
UEFA Europa League third qualifying round dates: 28 July and 4 August
UEFA Europa League play-off round draw: 5 August
UEFA Europa League play-off round dates: 18 August and 25 August
UEFA Europa League group stage draw: 26 August
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Delighted Kemp signs new deal
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that exciting prospect Dan Kemp
has signed a professional contract. The winger has impressed coaches and
teammates alike since joining West Ham from London rivals Chelsea earlier in
the campaign. Having put pen to paper on a three year deal that will see the
youngster turn professional, Kemp said: "It feels amazing to sign a long
term professional contract with such a great club. I'm really looking
forward to working hard and improving as much as possible. "There's been a
lot of hard work and sacrifices along the way but I'm fully aware of staying
focused for the challenges ahead. It's an extremely proud moment for me and
my family, I am always striving to make them proud and keep achieving more
and more."
Since arriving at Rush Green, Kemp has gone from strength to strength, first
impressing for U18s where he scored six times from eleven starts, while also
featuring six times for the Development Squad, scoring once in a 4-1 rout
away at Newcastle United. Kemp continued: "Being involved with the U21s on a
number of occasions has been a great experience and a high point was scoring
on my first competitive start for the U21s at St James Park Newcastle.
"After settling in when I first signed, I have been really pleased with my
form, progress and my goal tally this season. Regular appearances for the
U18s was my aim for this season and I managed to do that. "It's flattering
to be offered such a great long term contract at a young age. It is my
intention to pay back the trust and belief placed in me by working hard, and
hopefully one day becoming a West Ham United first team player."
Now, having committed his future to the Hammers, the 16-year-old is looking
ahead to what could be a very bright future for both himself and the club.
He explained: "The club is moving forward very quickly and I am sure there
will be some very exciting times ahead. It a great time to be a West Ham
United player. "I'm really looking forward to a good pre-season and to
progress through the ranks towards the first team. "Obviously a first team
debut is one of my short term goals, it would be incredible to make my
Premier League debut at the new stadium. I set my goals high for myself but
know that I need to work extremely hard to get there and I will do
everything I possibly can to get to where I want to be."
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New contract for delighted Neufville
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that highly regarded left-back
Vashon Neufville has signed a three-year contract with the Club. The England
youth international is one of the most talented players to come through the
Academy of Football in recent years. Speaking after signing his new
contract, the 16-year-old said: "I'm very happy to have the pleasure in
signing my first professional contract with West Ham. "I've been working
hard towards this so yes it's a proud moment and hopeful there's many more
to come! "I found out a little while ago and I just couldn't wait to sign
it."
In a widely successful year for the Academy which saw several players make
their first team debuts, before winning the U21 Premier League Cup,
Neufville has similarly enjoyed a breakthrough campaign. Already an U18
regular, making 14 appearances, he made the step up to the Development Squad
in the second half of the season where he impressed during eight starts. He
reflected: "I think it's been a good season for me. Some of my highlights
include playing for England in the Euro qualifiers as well as being a part
of the U21 cup games."
Having enjoyed a successful past 12 months, Neufville is equally as positive
about his future with the club. He continued: "It's a great time to be
involved with West Ham. Leaving the Boleyn Ground and going to the new
stadium is really something to look forward too. "Hopefully I can make my
debut at the new stadium as soon as possible."
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Young Hammers progress to quarter-finals
WHUFC.com
A young West Ham side enjoyed a terrific first day at the Hong Kong Sevens
tournament this weekend as they topped their group to reach the semi-finals.
After a goalless draw with Singapore Cricket Club in their opener, the
Hammers took the lead in their next tie against HKFA U21s, but were pegged
back when the local side bagged a penalty. There was victory for those in
Claret and Blue in their final Group D match however, as they came up
against fellow English side Leicester City and were 2-0 winners. Taking time
to settle as a seven-a-side outfit, West Ham drew a blank in their first
encounter, and Lewis Page reflected: "It's tough because we're not used to
this. We had a few chances and we should have put them away, but we kept the
ball well. "We've just got to take our chances in the next two games and go
for it."
The young Hammers were keen to find the back of the net for the first time
in this year's competition in their next fixture though, and took the lead
against HKFA U21s when Alex Pike converted a penalty. However, the full-back
also missed from the spot and their opponents notched from 18-yards
themselves when Yu Pui Hong levelled the game. It finished 1-1, and West
Ham's Noha Sylvestre said: "In the game, I think the best player out there
was Grady Diangana for West Ham. We have to take our chances, be more
clinical and score goals."
It was therefore clear what the Hammers' objective would be in the final
group match against Leicester City, and their persistence duly paid off as
they were 2-0 winners. Pike was again on the scoresheet as he burst through
the Fox's lines to storm into the penalty area and finish calmly with his
weaker foot, giving the Londoners the initiative.
And Diangana, reproducing his form from the last fixture, put the result
beyond doubt as he cut inside onto his left foot before slotting past the
keeper. The result meant West Ham topped Group D, and head into the
quarter-finals on Sunday where they will play Eastern just before 11:30am
Hong Kong time. To stay updated on the Hammers' progress in the tournament,
follow our Twitter account @whufc_official and look out for a day round-up
on our official website.
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Hammers Qualify For Europe
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st May 2016
By: Staff Writer No.3
United are looking at a second consecutive season in the Europa League. The
Irons will enter the competition at the third qualifying round stage with
ties to be played on 28 July and 4 August 2016. Should the team progress
past that stage they would have to negotiate a play-off round on 18 & 25
August before progressing through to the group stage of the competition. In
other news, 10 man Manchester United won the FA Cup, coming from behind to
beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in today's Wembley final.
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West Ham in Europe, Payet scoops award
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Dimitri Payet's wonder free kick against Manchester United in the quarter
finals of the FA Cup at Old Trafford has been named as the FA Cup Goal of
the Season.
Payet's stunning 35-yard free kick - which was also voted by KUMB readers as
their runner-up Goal of the Season - beat off the challenge of seven other
sublime finishes to win the award, as voted for by BBC viewers throughout
the day.
There was further good news for the Hammers today following Manchester
United's 2-1 extra time Wembley win, for it guaranteed the club passage into
the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
That's the same stage at which West Ham were knocked out by Romanian
champions Astra Guirgiu last season.
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Hammers trailing in key US market
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 21st May 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United may be about to move into the Olympic Stadium - but they
still trail most Premier League clubs in the key US market.
A table, released yesterday revealed how West Ham were only the 16th
most-watched Premier League team on the NBC Network in the United States
last season.
The Hammers - whose matches were broadcast live by NBC on 22 occasions -
scored an average of just 353,045 viewers per game across the country, which
has a population of 319 million people.
That was higher than just four other BPL teams - namely Newcastle Utd
(350k), Norwich City (319k), Sunderland (304k) and Crystal Palace (278k).
The top four clubs - Manchester Utd (588k), Manchester City (562k), Chelsea
(510k) and Arsenal (493k) - were all shown live on 32 or more occasions from
a total of 231 live matches broadcast, or 61 per cent of all Premier League
fixtures.
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West Ham qualify for Europa League after Man Utd FA Cup win
By Nick Lustig
Last Updated: 21/05/16 8:46pm
SSN
West Ham have qualified for next season's UEFA Europa League as a result of
Manchester United's FA Cup triumph. United, who had already qualified for
the Europa League by finishing fifth in the Premier League, defeated Crystal
Palace 2-1 at Wembley to win the FA Cup for a record-equalling 12th time.
The Europa League place on offer to the FA Cup winners has been passed down
to the Hammers, who ended the season in seventh place.
West Ham will enter the competition in the third qualifying round, with the
first leg scheduled to take place on July 28 and the second leg a week later
on August 4. Slaven Bilic's side join United and Southampton as England's
representatives in next season's Europa League. Southampton, who finished
the season in sixth place, will enter the competition at the group stage
along with United. West Ham had missed out on securing European
qualification via the Premier League on the final day of the season, losing
2-1 away at Stoke.
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Man United want £10million West Ham kid Reece Oxford but managerial
uncertainty could scupper bid
22:30, 21 MAY 2016
BY SIMON MULLOCK
United have spent the last month putting together a £10million bid for the
17-year-old defender but might not get him
The Mirror
Manchester United risk missing out on West Ham whizz-kid Reece Oxford
because of the uncertainty over who will be manager at Old Trafford next
season. United have spent the last month putting together a £10million bid
for the brilliant 17-year-old defender. They were expected to make their
move for Oxford as soon as the Premier League season finished, but official
contact with the Hammers has yet to be made. Sunday Mirror Sport understands
that an impasse has developed in recent days as United's executive
vice-chairman Ed Woodward and the American owners agonise over the future of
beleaguered boss Louis van Gaal. Woodward's resolve to allow the Dutchman to
work the final year of his contract next season is being severely tested by
United's failure to qualify for the Champions League. And signing off on new
players has been put on hold. But that has left Oxford in limbo – and West
Ham are now cranking up the pressure on him to sign a new contract to stay
in London. Oxford wants his future sorted before he reports for England
Under-19 duty next week. The Young Lions are travelling to South America for
a double header against Mexico as they step up their preparations for next
month's Euros in Germany. Oxford would welcome the chance to work with Van
Gaal because of the Dutchman's willingness to put his trust in young
players. The Edmonton-born centre-back – who because the youngest player in
West Ham's history when he made his debut against FC Lusitanos last July –
would have a difficult decision to make if United replace Van Gaal with Jose
Mourinho because of the Portuguese's reluctance to give young players a
chance. Oxford believes he is good enough to be a regular Premier League
starter.
Manchester City are also interested – and would match West Ham's asking
price. But City already have Vincent Kompany, Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim
Mangala and will welcome back Jason Denayer from a loan spell with
Galatasaray. That has opened the door for United, but time is running out.
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Exclusive: DS on European qualification
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Sullivan is overjoyed the club has returned to Europe. The co chairman
and chief shareholder – speaking exclusively to ClaretandHugh this morning
(Sun) – described Europa Cup qualification as "fantastic." David has been
consistent in his belief that all things were possible last season and next
including European football and the arrival in the competition truly is the
icing on the cake of a great season. He said: "I think its fantastic to have
European football two years in a row. We enter at the same round we went out
in last year. "Let's hope we go a lot further this year. It's such a pity we
didn't beat Stoke as we'd have been in the 'league' stage already, two
rounds further than where we enter.
"I think its 19 games up to and including the final from where we are
entering !" Now that's what we call serious optimism – Come on You Irons
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DG makes a Europa League pledge
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
David Gold has promised the funds will be made available to compete well in
Europe. The co chairman – delighted that Manchester United provided a route
into the Europa League for the Irons – declared: "We will build a squad to
cope with the Premier League and Europe. "We will find the money to ensure
that we have a squad deep enough to cope on all levels. These are great days
for the club and we are looking forward to Europe with great expectation. "I
know there will be some who say we haven't the strength in depth but we will
do what's required to deepen the squad "We also have some very good young
players who may well be used in the early stages and we will do what's
required to help the manager with his requirements. We are grateful to
Manchester United for doing us a favour by winning the FA Cup Final – now
everything is back in our hands."
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Valencia returns to Ecuador
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Enner Valencia has returned to Ecuador. He was pictured in the building of
the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) working hard in the gym on his
physical fitness in preparation for Copa America Cup. Valencia will
represent Ecuador as they face Brazil on June 4th, Peru on June 8th and
Haiti on 12th June. Enner Valencia says he is pleased to return to Ecuador,
after an intense season in the Premier League with West Ham. Ecuador told
the media "the physical part is fine, it's true that I lost some pace in the
team, but I feel very good."
On his preparations for Copa America cup, the Hammers striker said: "We do
not want to be left behind, we want to join those who have won the cup, we
need to believe that we can achieve, we had a good start in the qualifiers
and that motivates us, "
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Irons may face fixture reshuffle
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 22, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham face a possible re-scheduling of early season following last
night's entry into Europe. And the first change may be the date of the
prestige friendly against Juventus – the curtain raiser to life in our new
home. David Gold admitted to Claret and Hugh last night that although the
club hadn't had had time to look closely at the situation "certain
readjustments may have to be made." With the whole club excited at the
prospect of watching us take off on a European schedule he declared: "There
may be one or two little issues as far as fixtures are concerned but none of
them will prove insurmountable. "We will be taking a look at things over the
next few days and make whatever arrangements need to be made."
And this morning he responded to an absurd tweet which read: "Juventus is
now not the 1st game as advertised, Lots will send their tickets back, me
included." The co chairman said: "We made clear that the date for the
opening fixture might change dependent on our qualification for Europe. dg"
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, May 22
Saturday, May 21
Daily WHUFC News - 21st May 2016
Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Hello everybody,
It's been a great season for us, obviously. All the years I've been here,
we've always been looking over our shoulder, if you like, but this time
around it was nice to be looking at how high we could finish. It's
unfortunate we lost the last game, but seventh in the Premier League is not
too bad. Wherever you finish and whatever you do, you always think you could
have finished higher in the table, but I think if you'd been told before the
season that we'd finish seventh, we'd have taken it. It was disappointing to
finish the season how we did, but it's something to build on next year.
Personally, it was a little bit frustrating not to play a bigger part in the
final few games. I wanted to get back in and play and thought I might have
had a chance, but that's football and I'm old enough to realise that the
boys in the team had been doing well. Overall, I think it was my best season
for West Ham, and certainly the season in which I've had the least amount of
injuries, which was good at my age.
Now, I'll go away with Wales and hopefully my mid-season form for West Ham
might see me get a starting spot. I can't wait for the European Championship
finals. I had a chat with Mark Hughes at Stoke and for all us Welsh lads,
it's a new experience that he and so many other great Wales players never
had, for one reason or another. We're going into it blind, because none of
us really know what to expect, but we're full of excitement. We've got three
games to play and we'll be looking to qualify out of our group, and I think
we've got every chance. We meet up in Cardiff on Monday and have a week in
the sun in Portugal, then we get our heads on it for a friendly against
Sweden and then straight to France for the tournament. We have got Slovakia
first and I think that's a must-win for us. We need to go there and get
three points there to kick us off nicely. I think a win and a draw will see
us through, so that's what we're looking to do and we're confident we can.
I've had a little bit of ribbing from the English lads about the England
game, but it's more requests for tickets – they're going through the roof!
We've got Slovakia to look forward to first, then a massive game with
England. It's a huge game if we play England in a friendly, but to be
playing them in a major tournament is even bigger, but everyone's looking
forward to it.
Enjoy the Euros!
Ginge
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Winger Powell turns pro at beloved Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that pacey winger Joe Powell has
signed a new three year contract with the Club. The seventeen-year-old, an
avid Hammer himself, proved to play a crucial part of the U18s successful
season as they qualified for the top group of the play offs. Having pledged
his future to his beloved Hammers, a delighted Powell said: "It's a great
feeling to sign the big contract that you always dreamt about as a kid and
it's a bonus for me as it's for the club I love. "A lot of hard work has
gone into this moment, the older you get, the harder and the more serious it
gets and you have to compete with other players for your place. Of course,
my family are very proud of me, especially as they are all big West Ham
supporters! "When I first found out, I was over the moon and the support and
praise from everyone was amazing."
This term, despite suffering injury which limited his game time, the
attacker, a set-play specialist, made 15 appearances for the U18s, as well
as featuring for the Development Squad. He reflected: "This season has had
its highs and lows. I had a good few games with the U18s, and then got
called over to Chadwell to train with the first team. "I trained really well
over there and then made an appearance for the U21s against Brighton.
Unfortunately later that week had a scan on my back and got told I would be
out for the next three months which was gutting. But now I believe I've come
back to the game as a more intelligent, stronger player."
Having achieved one of his boyhood dreams, Powell is well aware that the
hard work is only just beginning, yet he is looking forward to the
challenge. And with the club's imminent move to the new stadium just around
the corner, what better time to continue his development at the club he
loves? He finished by saying: "It's a fantastic year for me to be signing as
we move into the new stadium which is very exciting. From the first team
down, the club has done very well this year and I'm very privileged to be a
part of that. "I'm really looking forward to exploiting the opportunity my
new contract has given me and I'm hoping to make my way into the first team
within the year or two. It would be an absolute pleasure to make my debut at
the new stadium and hopefully establish my position in the first team
squad."
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From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
This has been a fantastic season for West Ham United and we will always
remember the final ever game at the Boleyn Ground. Whenever we beat
Manchester United it always memorable, but to do it in our final home game
and the emotions that surrounded the whole night makes it even more special.
It will live long in the memory for years to come. Unfortunately we could
not follow it up with another victory on the final day against Stoke and we
snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. How on earth did we not come away
with anything when we dominated the game and had so many chances? We had the
ball kicked off the line and Diafra Sakho had a great chance to make it 2-0
when he only had the keeper to beat and it turned out to be one of those
days. I was driving home disappointed and I could not get my head around how
we lost the game. We are now relying on Manchester United to do us a big
favour in the FA Cup Final on Saturday and we will become United fans for
the day. We all want to finish the season going into Europe and we will
better equipped going into the tournament if we can qualify for the Europa
League again.
The players who had the experience performing in the early rounds at the
start of the season will be a year older and more experienced. We will also
have new players coming in and we will have a much stronger squad. We have
already made our first signing of the summer with the arrival of Havard
Nordtveit. I am sure our supporters will say we have a very special player
when they see him play. I have watched games of him in action and he is a
very good player. I know the fans will take to him and he is just the first
of our new signings. We can trust Slaven and David Sullivan to get the best
transfers for the football club and they have negotiated great deals. We
will also look at the possibility of doing some loan deals and they have
proved to be great moves for the football club. You only have to look at
Manuel Lanzini who arrived last summer and we didn't know how he would
adjust. A year later he has been a fantastic signing for the Club. Some of
our players are now joining up with their countries ahead of the European
Championship Finals and I wish all of them the best of luck. I hope they all
enjoy a successful tournament and come back to West Ham at the start of the
season brimming with confidence.
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Bidding in the West Ham auction? Check the small print!
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Supporters currently bidding for items in West Ham United FC's auction are
being warned to check the small print in the terms and conditions provided
by the club.
With offers already reaching crazy levels for even the most basic of items,
bidders should be awar that each item is subject to fees that will raise
tohe toal price of each item by around 40 PER CENT.
The auctions T&C, which may be found here, state that TWO premiums will be
added to each sale price. "All lots are subject to buyer's premium and VAT,"
it states.
"The buyer's premium is 16 per cent and this will be added to the winning
bid price. VAT at 20 per cent will also be added to the winning bid price
and the buyer's premium."
By way of an example, the current highest bid for the toilet sign above is
£275. Adding VAT at 20 per cent (£55) raises the price to £330.
Meanwhile the buyer's premium equates to £44, which with VAT (£8.80) becomes
£52.80. By our reckoning, the final sale price for a £275 item is therefore
actually £382.80 - a vast difference from the listed price.
* Thanks to KUMB member erifles for spotting this one.
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Veli happy where I am, says Besiktas star
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Besiktas midfielder Veli Kavlak has scotched reports suggesting that he is
on the verge of joining West Ham United. Turkish media suggested earlier
this week that the Austrian international, who has been with his current
club since moving from Rapid Wien in 2011 was on his way to London in order
to join the Hammers. However the 27-year-old - who is also reported to have
been interesting fellow Premier League side Everton - has revealed that as
things stand, he intends to stay with the Black Eagles. "I want to win the
league again with Besiktas next season," Kavlak - who signed an extended
four-year contract in January 2015 - told Fotospor. "We have not discussed
severing ties."
The West Ham link is believed to have emerged after Kavlak recently
expressed his admiration for former boss Slaven Bilic, who was in charge at
Besiktas between 2013 and 2015 - although he was first linked with a move to
London last summer. Speaking previously, the Vienna-born midfielder said:
"He [Bilic] was like a father for me. He always supported me and gave me
freedom to express myself."
Despite the links with Kavlak, Bilic's number one target from his previous
club is winger Gokham Tore. The current Hammers boss signed Tore from
Russian side Rubin Kazan in 2013.
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Lacazette one for the future, says France boss
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Didier Deschamps says that West Ham's top transfer target Alexandre
Lacazette could be a French international for years to come - despite hvaing
been left out of the squad for Euro 16.
Deschamp, who has placed the Lyon striker on a seven-man reserve list
admitted that Lacazette - who was the target of a £25million bid from West
Ham earlier this week - could have made the squad had his form been more
consistent for his club side during the 2015/16 season. And he also
expressed the view that the goalscorer would be a success wherever he chose
to play - be that Ligue 1, the Premier League or even La Liga. "Alexander
was much better in the second half of the season and more efficient," said
Deschamp. "He was at home, in Lyon, at a club he knows by heart. "Should he
stay, or should he go? It's up to him to make the right decision. And before
he decided, [Lyon] President Jean-Michel Aulas must also agree to let him
go. "But Alex has all the qualities to play in any of Europe's top
leagues." Lacazette, who hasn't featured for Deschamps and the French
national team since last October scored 23 goals for Lyon in Ligue 1 last
season - with 11 coming in his last ten outings
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Mendy? That'd be Nice
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
German website Liga Insider reports that West Ham are one of a number of
clubs to have expressed an interest in Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy. The
23-year-old defensive midfielder, who has been compared to former French
legend Claude Makelele joined Les Aiglons in 2013 but is thought to be set
for a move this summer, with several Premier League clubs said to be
monitoring his situation. In addition to West Ham, champions Leicester City,
Sam Allardyce's Sunderland and Southampton have both been cited as potential
destinations for Mendy, who is eligible to play for France having been born
in La Seyne-sur-Mer despite having Senegalese parents, as has Bundesliga
side Wolfsburg. Despite not having featured for Didier Deschamps' France
yet, Mendy has appeared at all levels from Under 18 to Under 21 for his
country.
* In other transfer news, West Ham are reported to have made a move for
Argentinian striker, Jonathan Calleri. The goalscorer is currently on loan
with Brazilian side Sao Paulo but negotiations are said to be at an advanced
stage.
* Juventus Roberto Pereyra is like to be leaving the Old Lady this summer
and West Ham are said to have expressed an interest in taking the player,
according to Talksport. The Argentine midfielder, who is rated around the
£9million mark made 16 appearances for the Serie A champions.
* Reports emanating from France suggest that Slaven Bilic is poised to
launch a bid for Arsenal's reserve right back Mathieu Debuchy. The
30-year-old made 17 appearances last season for the Gunners and Bordeaux,
with whom he spent the latter half of the 2015/16 campaign.
* West Ham's interest in Gregory van der Wiel has intensified after PSG
revealed that the Diutch international would be allowed to leave on a free
transfer after four years at the club. Manchester United are also rumoured
to be interested in taking the right back on a free.
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Vardy seeking six-figure wage
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Jamie Vardy is understood to have told potential suitors that they will need
to pay him in excess of £100,000-per-week in order to lure him from
Leicester. Vardy, who our resident ITK 'Jinxed' exclusively revealed via the
KUMB Forum earlier this month was a serious transfer target for the Hammers,
recently extended his contract with the Foxes. However the England
international, who is expected to lead the line for the Three Lions in
France at this summer's Euro 16 tournament could yet still leave the King
Power stadium - if the right offer is made.
Now 29, Vardy is also seeking a deal lasting at least four years, as he
seeks to capitalise on a fantastic season in which he has been crowned a
Premier League winner and established England international.
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Benteke hots up as Irons cool off
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Christian Benteke has again raised the issue of his future with West Ham
reportedly a target. The Belgian is known to have been unhappy with his
Liverpool season but has now widened his issue to claim that not only he but
others will be on their way to Jurgen Klopp's office for talks this summer.
H's reported this morning as saying he and others want to see the manager's
plans for next season and that the others too want to know what's going to
happen." He said: "I signed for five years – not one – but now I needs to
see the manager and discuss his plan."
It's all a bit off putting because the manager's plan was surely not to see
him fail in goal so regularly and finish up with nine from 43 appearances
and probably double that missed. He did cost £32 million after all!
ClaretandHugh can reveal, however, that he has slipped down the Hammersl
wanted list with one insider declaring: "Slaven half fancies him but there
are several other names in the frame. "Liverpoolare a very tough club with
which to do business. The players are on a lot of money and that makes
things hard when there are equally and perhaps more attractive propositions
elsewhere."
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West Ham Kitman wanted Apply within
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are looking to recruit a full time Assistant Kitman/woman.
Reporting to the First Team Kitman after the retirement of Pete Williams at
the end of this season. West Ham say the successful applicant will be based
at the First Team Training Ground at Rush Green, Romford, and will assist
with the provision of a full kit service to the First Team Squad, working
within a small team in an often highly pressurised environment.
The role will require the ability to travel between Club locations and to
away fixtures. You will need to be flexible with your working hours and days
as the working pattern can be different from one week to the next. You will
be expected to work weekends and this can include long trips that on some
occasions mean staying away on the night previous to the fixture. Some
fixtures during the season may be played in midweek with an evening kick off
and you will be required to work these games. Due to the busy nature of the
job and industry you will be working in holiday time during the season is
very limited.
The post holder will assist in preparing kit requirements for both match-day
and training and will include being in charge of preparing the match-day
kits from Reserve to First Team level.
This involves making sure that all the kit is sufficiently washed, dried and
folded ready to go out for matches. Key Responsibilities include: To assist
in managing the club's kit requirements, ensuring that all day to day duties
are completed. To deal with the First Team management and staff's kit
requirements and attend staff meetings that requires the kit department to
have an input into the day-to-day running of the Training Ground. To
organise kit distribution.
To apply please send your cover letter and CV to hr@westhamunited.co.uk
before Monday 23rd May
The job plays London Living Wage currently £9.40 per hour on a 40 hours week
which works out as £19,552 per year.
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Irons striker chase: Vardy wants a fortune
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham's hopes are of landing Jamie Vardy are likely to be scuppered by
what ClaretandHugh is led to believe are some hefty wage hopes. The strong
word is that he is after between £125k and £150k a week which on a four year
package could cost the Irons approaching £30 million. Beyond blowing the
club's wage structure out of the water the Irons would be taking a huge
chance on a player who at 29 years is probably at the peak of his powers.
They may have considered a deal at around £100k a week but there is no
chance of a deal being done if the £125k to £150k figure is correct which
well informed sources are claiming. With Paris St Germain now favourites to
sign Alexandre Lacazette the Irons are widening their options on the striker
front although the club hasn't given up altogether on the Frenchman. They
are still hopeful things could change but they have no chance of competing
with PSG if their interest hardens up.
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West Ham face potential Europa League headache as Olympic Stadium won't be
ready in time for qualifying round tie
West Ham qualify for Europa League if Manchester United win FA Cup
Irons finished seventh in Premier League but United were fifth
Should West Ham make Europa League, opening fixture will be July 28
Fixture would come before completion of new Olympic Stadium
By ADAM SHERGOLD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 16:21, 20 May 2016 | UPDATED: 16:45, 20 May 2016
West Ham face a potential logistical headache if they qualify for next
season's UEFA Europa League. Slaven Bilic's side finished seventh in the
Premier League but will play in Europe if Manchester United beat Crystal
Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley. United have already earned
their place in the Europa League by finishing fifth in the league, so the FA
Cup place would pass down to seventh. The Hammers would enter the
competition in the third qualifying round, with the first leg scheduled for
July 28 and the second leg pencilled in for August 4. The potential
complication lies in West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium, which wouldn't
be ready in time if they are required to play at home in the first leg. The
60,000-seater stadium is only due to be handed over by UK Athletics to West
Ham on August 1 after the London Anniversary Games on July 23. It takes
seven days to convert the stadium from an athletics arena to a football
venue.
It means the club may either have to request permission from UEFA to switch
the home tie to the second leg after the handover, or play the match at an
alternative venue. The draw is set to be made on July 15, giving West Ham
less than a fortnight to confirm the arrangements. A prestige friendly match
with Juventus has been scheduled for August 7 but that would no longer be
the curtain-raiser if West Ham make it into Europe. The Hammers made it into
the Europa League via the Fair Play table this season but were eliminated in
the third qualifying round but lost to Romanian side Astra after knocking
out Lusitans of Andorra and Birkirkara of Malta. A West Ham spokesman said
plans would be put in place when the outcome of the Cup final is known.
Palace would also enter at the group stage if they beat United on Saturday.
If United win, Southampton would be upgraded to a start in the Europa League
group stage, with West Ham taking what was their place in the third
qualifying round.
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West Ham eye transfer of Leicester's Jamie Vardy as summer striker search
takes a new twist
22:30, 19 MAY 2016
BY JOHN CROSS
Hammers chief David Sullivan has also confirmed interest in Liverpool's
Benteke, had Lacazette bid rejected by Lyon and been linked with Batshuayi
of Marseille
The Mirror
West Ham are considering making an ambitious move for Jamie Vardy. Leicester
striker Vardy has enjoyed the season of his life as the 5,000-1 outsider
Foxes won the title, and that has made the 29-year-old one of the most
sought-after properties in English football. Several Premier League clubs
have been sounded out about the England international, and the Hammers are
understood to have shown an interest. West Ham are desperate for a striker
as they prepare to move into the Olympic Stadium for next season, and
co-chairman David Sullivan confirmed back in March that they would like to
bring in Liverpool's Christian Benteke. Lyon hitman Alexandre Lacazette and
Marseille's Michy Batshuayi are also on the radar, with the Hammers having
already made bids for both men. They have also been eyeing Manchester City's
Wilfried Bony . But if Vardy has a buy-out clause after signing a new
contract in February , then West Ham are ready to explore a move. It could
be difficult to lure him away from Leicester after he signed that new deal,
and with Champions League football to look forward to with the Foxes next
season when the Hammers could, at best, offer Europa League . But Vardy's
age and getting into top-level football late means that clubs may feel they
might be able to tempt him with an even bigger deal.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A definitive update for West Ham fans on Alexandre Lacazette
Date: 20th May 2016 at 5:30 am
Written by: Gareth McKnight
foreverwestham.com
Alexandre Lacazette's brother has admitted that the Lyon forward wants to
sort out his future in the near future, which could give West Ham a clear
indication of whether they can land him or not. The Hammers have made a club
record bid for the France international who continues to score at will in
his homeland. With Slaven Bilic's men eager to sign a number nine to fire
them into a new age at the Olympic Stadium, Lacazette would be an exciting
and able arrival. Lyon rejected West Ham's initial bid and are seemingly
keen to keep their attacking talisman at the Stade De Gerland this summer.
However, Lacazette's brother Benedict has stated that the hotshot forward is
keen to sort out his future before Euro 2016 and that the attacker was open
to leaving his current club. "Lyon will play in the Champions League,"
Lacazette told L'Equipe. "Until the end of May, French or foreign clubs who
are interested are allowed to contact Alexandre's agent. He doesn't want to
leave for the sake of leaving. Things will be determined when he is finished
with France. "Paris was already apparent last year. With the departure of
Zlatan, they seek to strengthen that position. It is not impossible that
Alexandre could go there, but it is not a certainty. There is no door closed
for now." West Ham look set to splash the cash on at least one striker this
summer, but will have to up their offer if they are to land Lacazette.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham transfer news: West Brom plan shock move for Enner Valencia
John Percy
19 MAY 2016 • 10:30PM
Telegraph.co.uk
Tony Pulis is considering an ambitious move for West Ham striker Enner
Valencia. Pulis has added Valencia, the Ecuador international, to his list
of forward targets for the summer as he bids to bring in more firepower.
Valencia, 25, endured a frustrating season under Slaven Bilic after
struggling with a persistent ankle injury and then finding first-team
opportunities limited on his return. The £12 million signing could plunge
even further down the pecking order if Bilic manages to sign another forward
this summer, with Callum Wilson, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi
understood to be targets. Pulis is assessing striker options and Valencia
has been identified as a potential signing due to his relatively low wages
of around £25,000 a week. West Brom are reluctant to pay a huge fee, after
spending £12 million to sign Salomon Rondon last summer, but would be
interested in a cut-price deal or loan arrangement. Pulis wants at least
one striker ahead of next season and the future of Saido Berahino remains
uncertain, with Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City still interested.
Albion are likely to demand a fee approaching £20 million for the
22-year-old, even though he has only a year left on his contract. Pulis
said: "I've told Saido to come back for pre-season as fit as anybody to make
sure, whether he stays, he plays at the level that everyone knows he can
play at. If not, and he leaves, then he is in good health for another club.
"The most important thing is we get Saido prepared and let it play out. "As
long as he is playing and focussed then if someone comes along and pays the
money that Jeremy [Peace, the chairman] accepts then fine."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Hello everybody,
It's been a great season for us, obviously. All the years I've been here,
we've always been looking over our shoulder, if you like, but this time
around it was nice to be looking at how high we could finish. It's
unfortunate we lost the last game, but seventh in the Premier League is not
too bad. Wherever you finish and whatever you do, you always think you could
have finished higher in the table, but I think if you'd been told before the
season that we'd finish seventh, we'd have taken it. It was disappointing to
finish the season how we did, but it's something to build on next year.
Personally, it was a little bit frustrating not to play a bigger part in the
final few games. I wanted to get back in and play and thought I might have
had a chance, but that's football and I'm old enough to realise that the
boys in the team had been doing well. Overall, I think it was my best season
for West Ham, and certainly the season in which I've had the least amount of
injuries, which was good at my age.
Now, I'll go away with Wales and hopefully my mid-season form for West Ham
might see me get a starting spot. I can't wait for the European Championship
finals. I had a chat with Mark Hughes at Stoke and for all us Welsh lads,
it's a new experience that he and so many other great Wales players never
had, for one reason or another. We're going into it blind, because none of
us really know what to expect, but we're full of excitement. We've got three
games to play and we'll be looking to qualify out of our group, and I think
we've got every chance. We meet up in Cardiff on Monday and have a week in
the sun in Portugal, then we get our heads on it for a friendly against
Sweden and then straight to France for the tournament. We have got Slovakia
first and I think that's a must-win for us. We need to go there and get
three points there to kick us off nicely. I think a win and a draw will see
us through, so that's what we're looking to do and we're confident we can.
I've had a little bit of ribbing from the English lads about the England
game, but it's more requests for tickets – they're going through the roof!
We've got Slovakia to look forward to first, then a massive game with
England. It's a huge game if we play England in a friendly, but to be
playing them in a major tournament is even bigger, but everyone's looking
forward to it.
Enjoy the Euros!
Ginge
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Winger Powell turns pro at beloved Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that pacey winger Joe Powell has
signed a new three year contract with the Club. The seventeen-year-old, an
avid Hammer himself, proved to play a crucial part of the U18s successful
season as they qualified for the top group of the play offs. Having pledged
his future to his beloved Hammers, a delighted Powell said: "It's a great
feeling to sign the big contract that you always dreamt about as a kid and
it's a bonus for me as it's for the club I love. "A lot of hard work has
gone into this moment, the older you get, the harder and the more serious it
gets and you have to compete with other players for your place. Of course,
my family are very proud of me, especially as they are all big West Ham
supporters! "When I first found out, I was over the moon and the support and
praise from everyone was amazing."
This term, despite suffering injury which limited his game time, the
attacker, a set-play specialist, made 15 appearances for the U18s, as well
as featuring for the Development Squad. He reflected: "This season has had
its highs and lows. I had a good few games with the U18s, and then got
called over to Chadwell to train with the first team. "I trained really well
over there and then made an appearance for the U21s against Brighton.
Unfortunately later that week had a scan on my back and got told I would be
out for the next three months which was gutting. But now I believe I've come
back to the game as a more intelligent, stronger player."
Having achieved one of his boyhood dreams, Powell is well aware that the
hard work is only just beginning, yet he is looking forward to the
challenge. And with the club's imminent move to the new stadium just around
the corner, what better time to continue his development at the club he
loves? He finished by saying: "It's a fantastic year for me to be signing as
we move into the new stadium which is very exciting. From the first team
down, the club has done very well this year and I'm very privileged to be a
part of that. "I'm really looking forward to exploiting the opportunity my
new contract has given me and I'm hoping to make my way into the first team
within the year or two. It would be an absolute pleasure to make my debut at
the new stadium and hopefully establish my position in the first team
squad."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From the Boardroom - David Gold
WHUFC.com
This has been a fantastic season for West Ham United and we will always
remember the final ever game at the Boleyn Ground. Whenever we beat
Manchester United it always memorable, but to do it in our final home game
and the emotions that surrounded the whole night makes it even more special.
It will live long in the memory for years to come. Unfortunately we could
not follow it up with another victory on the final day against Stoke and we
snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. How on earth did we not come away
with anything when we dominated the game and had so many chances? We had the
ball kicked off the line and Diafra Sakho had a great chance to make it 2-0
when he only had the keeper to beat and it turned out to be one of those
days. I was driving home disappointed and I could not get my head around how
we lost the game. We are now relying on Manchester United to do us a big
favour in the FA Cup Final on Saturday and we will become United fans for
the day. We all want to finish the season going into Europe and we will
better equipped going into the tournament if we can qualify for the Europa
League again.
The players who had the experience performing in the early rounds at the
start of the season will be a year older and more experienced. We will also
have new players coming in and we will have a much stronger squad. We have
already made our first signing of the summer with the arrival of Havard
Nordtveit. I am sure our supporters will say we have a very special player
when they see him play. I have watched games of him in action and he is a
very good player. I know the fans will take to him and he is just the first
of our new signings. We can trust Slaven and David Sullivan to get the best
transfers for the football club and they have negotiated great deals. We
will also look at the possibility of doing some loan deals and they have
proved to be great moves for the football club. You only have to look at
Manuel Lanzini who arrived last summer and we didn't know how he would
adjust. A year later he has been a fantastic signing for the Club. Some of
our players are now joining up with their countries ahead of the European
Championship Finals and I wish all of them the best of luck. I hope they all
enjoy a successful tournament and come back to West Ham at the start of the
season brimming with confidence.
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Bidding in the West Ham auction? Check the small print!
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Supporters currently bidding for items in West Ham United FC's auction are
being warned to check the small print in the terms and conditions provided
by the club.
With offers already reaching crazy levels for even the most basic of items,
bidders should be awar that each item is subject to fees that will raise
tohe toal price of each item by around 40 PER CENT.
The auctions T&C, which may be found here, state that TWO premiums will be
added to each sale price. "All lots are subject to buyer's premium and VAT,"
it states.
"The buyer's premium is 16 per cent and this will be added to the winning
bid price. VAT at 20 per cent will also be added to the winning bid price
and the buyer's premium."
By way of an example, the current highest bid for the toilet sign above is
£275. Adding VAT at 20 per cent (£55) raises the price to £330.
Meanwhile the buyer's premium equates to £44, which with VAT (£8.80) becomes
£52.80. By our reckoning, the final sale price for a £275 item is therefore
actually £382.80 - a vast difference from the listed price.
* Thanks to KUMB member erifles for spotting this one.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Veli happy where I am, says Besiktas star
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Besiktas midfielder Veli Kavlak has scotched reports suggesting that he is
on the verge of joining West Ham United. Turkish media suggested earlier
this week that the Austrian international, who has been with his current
club since moving from Rapid Wien in 2011 was on his way to London in order
to join the Hammers. However the 27-year-old - who is also reported to have
been interesting fellow Premier League side Everton - has revealed that as
things stand, he intends to stay with the Black Eagles. "I want to win the
league again with Besiktas next season," Kavlak - who signed an extended
four-year contract in January 2015 - told Fotospor. "We have not discussed
severing ties."
The West Ham link is believed to have emerged after Kavlak recently
expressed his admiration for former boss Slaven Bilic, who was in charge at
Besiktas between 2013 and 2015 - although he was first linked with a move to
London last summer. Speaking previously, the Vienna-born midfielder said:
"He [Bilic] was like a father for me. He always supported me and gave me
freedom to express myself."
Despite the links with Kavlak, Bilic's number one target from his previous
club is winger Gokham Tore. The current Hammers boss signed Tore from
Russian side Rubin Kazan in 2013.
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Lacazette one for the future, says France boss
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Didier Deschamps says that West Ham's top transfer target Alexandre
Lacazette could be a French international for years to come - despite hvaing
been left out of the squad for Euro 16.
Deschamp, who has placed the Lyon striker on a seven-man reserve list
admitted that Lacazette - who was the target of a £25million bid from West
Ham earlier this week - could have made the squad had his form been more
consistent for his club side during the 2015/16 season. And he also
expressed the view that the goalscorer would be a success wherever he chose
to play - be that Ligue 1, the Premier League or even La Liga. "Alexander
was much better in the second half of the season and more efficient," said
Deschamp. "He was at home, in Lyon, at a club he knows by heart. "Should he
stay, or should he go? It's up to him to make the right decision. And before
he decided, [Lyon] President Jean-Michel Aulas must also agree to let him
go. "But Alex has all the qualities to play in any of Europe's top
leagues." Lacazette, who hasn't featured for Deschamps and the French
national team since last October scored 23 goals for Lyon in Ligue 1 last
season - with 11 coming in his last ten outings
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mendy? That'd be Nice
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
German website Liga Insider reports that West Ham are one of a number of
clubs to have expressed an interest in Nice midfielder Nampalys Mendy. The
23-year-old defensive midfielder, who has been compared to former French
legend Claude Makelele joined Les Aiglons in 2013 but is thought to be set
for a move this summer, with several Premier League clubs said to be
monitoring his situation. In addition to West Ham, champions Leicester City,
Sam Allardyce's Sunderland and Southampton have both been cited as potential
destinations for Mendy, who is eligible to play for France having been born
in La Seyne-sur-Mer despite having Senegalese parents, as has Bundesliga
side Wolfsburg. Despite not having featured for Didier Deschamps' France
yet, Mendy has appeared at all levels from Under 18 to Under 21 for his
country.
* In other transfer news, West Ham are reported to have made a move for
Argentinian striker, Jonathan Calleri. The goalscorer is currently on loan
with Brazilian side Sao Paulo but negotiations are said to be at an advanced
stage.
* Juventus Roberto Pereyra is like to be leaving the Old Lady this summer
and West Ham are said to have expressed an interest in taking the player,
according to Talksport. The Argentine midfielder, who is rated around the
£9million mark made 16 appearances for the Serie A champions.
* Reports emanating from France suggest that Slaven Bilic is poised to
launch a bid for Arsenal's reserve right back Mathieu Debuchy. The
30-year-old made 17 appearances last season for the Gunners and Bordeaux,
with whom he spent the latter half of the 2015/16 campaign.
* West Ham's interest in Gregory van der Wiel has intensified after PSG
revealed that the Diutch international would be allowed to leave on a free
transfer after four years at the club. Manchester United are also rumoured
to be interested in taking the right back on a free.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Vardy seeking six-figure wage
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 20th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Jamie Vardy is understood to have told potential suitors that they will need
to pay him in excess of £100,000-per-week in order to lure him from
Leicester. Vardy, who our resident ITK 'Jinxed' exclusively revealed via the
KUMB Forum earlier this month was a serious transfer target for the Hammers,
recently extended his contract with the Foxes. However the England
international, who is expected to lead the line for the Three Lions in
France at this summer's Euro 16 tournament could yet still leave the King
Power stadium - if the right offer is made.
Now 29, Vardy is also seeking a deal lasting at least four years, as he
seeks to capitalise on a fantastic season in which he has been crowned a
Premier League winner and established England international.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Benteke hots up as Irons cool off
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Christian Benteke has again raised the issue of his future with West Ham
reportedly a target. The Belgian is known to have been unhappy with his
Liverpool season but has now widened his issue to claim that not only he but
others will be on their way to Jurgen Klopp's office for talks this summer.
H's reported this morning as saying he and others want to see the manager's
plans for next season and that the others too want to know what's going to
happen." He said: "I signed for five years – not one – but now I needs to
see the manager and discuss his plan."
It's all a bit off putting because the manager's plan was surely not to see
him fail in goal so regularly and finish up with nine from 43 appearances
and probably double that missed. He did cost £32 million after all!
ClaretandHugh can reveal, however, that he has slipped down the Hammersl
wanted list with one insider declaring: "Slaven half fancies him but there
are several other names in the frame. "Liverpoolare a very tough club with
which to do business. The players are on a lot of money and that makes
things hard when there are equally and perhaps more attractive propositions
elsewhere."
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Kitman wanted Apply within
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are looking to recruit a full time Assistant Kitman/woman.
Reporting to the First Team Kitman after the retirement of Pete Williams at
the end of this season. West Ham say the successful applicant will be based
at the First Team Training Ground at Rush Green, Romford, and will assist
with the provision of a full kit service to the First Team Squad, working
within a small team in an often highly pressurised environment.
The role will require the ability to travel between Club locations and to
away fixtures. You will need to be flexible with your working hours and days
as the working pattern can be different from one week to the next. You will
be expected to work weekends and this can include long trips that on some
occasions mean staying away on the night previous to the fixture. Some
fixtures during the season may be played in midweek with an evening kick off
and you will be required to work these games. Due to the busy nature of the
job and industry you will be working in holiday time during the season is
very limited.
The post holder will assist in preparing kit requirements for both match-day
and training and will include being in charge of preparing the match-day
kits from Reserve to First Team level.
This involves making sure that all the kit is sufficiently washed, dried and
folded ready to go out for matches. Key Responsibilities include: To assist
in managing the club's kit requirements, ensuring that all day to day duties
are completed. To deal with the First Team management and staff's kit
requirements and attend staff meetings that requires the kit department to
have an input into the day-to-day running of the Training Ground. To
organise kit distribution.
To apply please send your cover letter and CV to hr@westhamunited.co.uk
before Monday 23rd May
The job plays London Living Wage currently £9.40 per hour on a 40 hours week
which works out as £19,552 per year.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Irons striker chase: Vardy wants a fortune
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2016 in Fans Forum, News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham's hopes are of landing Jamie Vardy are likely to be scuppered by
what ClaretandHugh is led to believe are some hefty wage hopes. The strong
word is that he is after between £125k and £150k a week which on a four year
package could cost the Irons approaching £30 million. Beyond blowing the
club's wage structure out of the water the Irons would be taking a huge
chance on a player who at 29 years is probably at the peak of his powers.
They may have considered a deal at around £100k a week but there is no
chance of a deal being done if the £125k to £150k figure is correct which
well informed sources are claiming. With Paris St Germain now favourites to
sign Alexandre Lacazette the Irons are widening their options on the striker
front although the club hasn't given up altogether on the Frenchman. They
are still hopeful things could change but they have no chance of competing
with PSG if their interest hardens up.
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West Ham face potential Europa League headache as Olympic Stadium won't be
ready in time for qualifying round tie
West Ham qualify for Europa League if Manchester United win FA Cup
Irons finished seventh in Premier League but United were fifth
Should West Ham make Europa League, opening fixture will be July 28
Fixture would come before completion of new Olympic Stadium
By ADAM SHERGOLD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 16:21, 20 May 2016 | UPDATED: 16:45, 20 May 2016
West Ham face a potential logistical headache if they qualify for next
season's UEFA Europa League. Slaven Bilic's side finished seventh in the
Premier League but will play in Europe if Manchester United beat Crystal
Palace in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley. United have already earned
their place in the Europa League by finishing fifth in the league, so the FA
Cup place would pass down to seventh. The Hammers would enter the
competition in the third qualifying round, with the first leg scheduled for
July 28 and the second leg pencilled in for August 4. The potential
complication lies in West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium, which wouldn't
be ready in time if they are required to play at home in the first leg. The
60,000-seater stadium is only due to be handed over by UK Athletics to West
Ham on August 1 after the London Anniversary Games on July 23. It takes
seven days to convert the stadium from an athletics arena to a football
venue.
It means the club may either have to request permission from UEFA to switch
the home tie to the second leg after the handover, or play the match at an
alternative venue. The draw is set to be made on July 15, giving West Ham
less than a fortnight to confirm the arrangements. A prestige friendly match
with Juventus has been scheduled for August 7 but that would no longer be
the curtain-raiser if West Ham make it into Europe. The Hammers made it into
the Europa League via the Fair Play table this season but were eliminated in
the third qualifying round but lost to Romanian side Astra after knocking
out Lusitans of Andorra and Birkirkara of Malta. A West Ham spokesman said
plans would be put in place when the outcome of the Cup final is known.
Palace would also enter at the group stage if they beat United on Saturday.
If United win, Southampton would be upgraded to a start in the Europa League
group stage, with West Ham taking what was their place in the third
qualifying round.
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West Ham eye transfer of Leicester's Jamie Vardy as summer striker search
takes a new twist
22:30, 19 MAY 2016
BY JOHN CROSS
Hammers chief David Sullivan has also confirmed interest in Liverpool's
Benteke, had Lacazette bid rejected by Lyon and been linked with Batshuayi
of Marseille
The Mirror
West Ham are considering making an ambitious move for Jamie Vardy. Leicester
striker Vardy has enjoyed the season of his life as the 5,000-1 outsider
Foxes won the title, and that has made the 29-year-old one of the most
sought-after properties in English football. Several Premier League clubs
have been sounded out about the England international, and the Hammers are
understood to have shown an interest. West Ham are desperate for a striker
as they prepare to move into the Olympic Stadium for next season, and
co-chairman David Sullivan confirmed back in March that they would like to
bring in Liverpool's Christian Benteke. Lyon hitman Alexandre Lacazette and
Marseille's Michy Batshuayi are also on the radar, with the Hammers having
already made bids for both men. They have also been eyeing Manchester City's
Wilfried Bony . But if Vardy has a buy-out clause after signing a new
contract in February , then West Ham are ready to explore a move. It could
be difficult to lure him away from Leicester after he signed that new deal,
and with Champions League football to look forward to with the Foxes next
season when the Hammers could, at best, offer Europa League . But Vardy's
age and getting into top-level football late means that clubs may feel they
might be able to tempt him with an even bigger deal.
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A definitive update for West Ham fans on Alexandre Lacazette
Date: 20th May 2016 at 5:30 am
Written by: Gareth McKnight
foreverwestham.com
Alexandre Lacazette's brother has admitted that the Lyon forward wants to
sort out his future in the near future, which could give West Ham a clear
indication of whether they can land him or not. The Hammers have made a club
record bid for the France international who continues to score at will in
his homeland. With Slaven Bilic's men eager to sign a number nine to fire
them into a new age at the Olympic Stadium, Lacazette would be an exciting
and able arrival. Lyon rejected West Ham's initial bid and are seemingly
keen to keep their attacking talisman at the Stade De Gerland this summer.
However, Lacazette's brother Benedict has stated that the hotshot forward is
keen to sort out his future before Euro 2016 and that the attacker was open
to leaving his current club. "Lyon will play in the Champions League,"
Lacazette told L'Equipe. "Until the end of May, French or foreign clubs who
are interested are allowed to contact Alexandre's agent. He doesn't want to
leave for the sake of leaving. Things will be determined when he is finished
with France. "Paris was already apparent last year. With the departure of
Zlatan, they seek to strengthen that position. It is not impossible that
Alexandre could go there, but it is not a certainty. There is no door closed
for now." West Ham look set to splash the cash on at least one striker this
summer, but will have to up their offer if they are to land Lacazette.
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West Ham transfer news: West Brom plan shock move for Enner Valencia
John Percy
19 MAY 2016 • 10:30PM
Telegraph.co.uk
Tony Pulis is considering an ambitious move for West Ham striker Enner
Valencia. Pulis has added Valencia, the Ecuador international, to his list
of forward targets for the summer as he bids to bring in more firepower.
Valencia, 25, endured a frustrating season under Slaven Bilic after
struggling with a persistent ankle injury and then finding first-team
opportunities limited on his return. The £12 million signing could plunge
even further down the pecking order if Bilic manages to sign another forward
this summer, with Callum Wilson, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi
understood to be targets. Pulis is assessing striker options and Valencia
has been identified as a potential signing due to his relatively low wages
of around £25,000 a week. West Brom are reluctant to pay a huge fee, after
spending £12 million to sign Salomon Rondon last summer, but would be
interested in a cut-price deal or loan arrangement. Pulis wants at least
one striker ahead of next season and the future of Saido Berahino remains
uncertain, with Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City still interested.
Albion are likely to demand a fee approaching £20 million for the
22-year-old, even though he has only a year left on his contract. Pulis
said: "I've told Saido to come back for pre-season as fit as anybody to make
sure, whether he stays, he plays at the level that everyone knows he can
play at. If not, and he leaves, then he is in good health for another club.
"The most important thing is we get Saido prepared and let it play out. "As
long as he is playing and focussed then if someone comes along and pays the
money that Jeremy [Peace, the chairman] accepts then fine."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, May 20
Daily WHUFC News - 20th May 2016
Super-striker signs new contract
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that super striker Jahmal Hector-Ingram has signed a new three year contract at the club. Initially a scholarship, the England youth international will turn professional on his 18th birthday. Having earned his new contract, a delighted Hector-Ingram said: "It feels amazing, it really does! It's been a dream from a young age to get a contract at this club and I'm very proud that I've managed to accomplish one of my dreams. "The next dream is me playing in the first team. However, I'm not getting too excited; I know I have to work even harder! This is only the start."
Having praised his teammates and coaches alike for all their support, the young striker paid special tribute to his family: "After losing my Nan this year, this is even more special for me, as I'm doing all this for her too. "it's definitely a proud moment for my family, like I said before, my Mum and my Nan especially has been my inspiration and has also been the reason why I've got so far, so I'm very grateful. "Not forgetting my brothers either, my family as a whole is very happy at this moment in time!"
Having initially struggled with injuries at the start of the campaign, Hector-Ingram recovered and found his goalscoring touch, netting five times for the U18s in 13 starts. His form saw him feature in the Development Squad's cup running, playing in both the semi-final win over Liverpool and first leg victory over Hull City. Reflecting on the past 12 months, he continued: "This season has been a rollercoaster for me, as I was injured again. But for the second part of the season, I've stayed fit and managed to score some goals too. "Personally, I've got three highlights: scoring against Southampton the day after my nan died, for me that was a special moment and I shall never forget that. My Mum and the family encouraged me to play and I managed to score the winner which I was very delightful with. "My second is scoring my first goal for the U21s against Aston Villa, at Villa Park. I was extremely happy to score my first U21 goal. "Overall, my main highlight is winning the U21 Premier League Cup. That feeling was indescribable really; if that's what it feels like to win then I most definitely want to be winning more often!"
Currently out in Hong Kong representing the Hammers in the annual Soccer Sevens tournament, Hector-Ingram finished by looking ahead to what could well be a very bright future. He stated: "My aim is to make my debut in the new stadium in the up and coming years. It will be the biggest dream come through if I made my debut for West Ham and it will be even more special if I made it at the new stadium. Hopefully I can reach my aims as soon as possible. "It's most definitely a special time to be committing to the club. To know that the new stadium is very local to my childhood background is even more exciting, I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead."
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First and Last - Mark Noble
WHUFC.com
As West Ham United conclude the final season at the Boleyn Ground, we've asked the players for some memorable firsts and lasts from their careers and lives. Tonight, Mark Noble goes under the spotlight…
FIRSTS
Who would be the first player you would call up for a pub quiz at your local?
Quite surprisingly Andy Carroll knows a lot but I don't think I would call him up because he would probably annoy me! I would probably go for Joey O'Brien. He thinks he knows more than he does but he does know quite a lot!
Who would be the first player you would vote off the X-Factor?
I don't hear a lot of people sing but I would have to go for Adrian. He sings all the Spanish songs and they are terrible!
What was the first car you owned?
The first car I had was a Golf. I bought it before I passed my test and I failed my first test so it was just sat on my driveway. It was terrible as it was like having a piece of chocolate that you are not allowed to eat! I used to go outside and just sit in the car and turn the lights on. I thought it was a big deal. I passed the second time and had the car for years. Up until now it was my favourite car.
What is the first CD you bought?
I think it was Billie Piper. I had a bit of a crush on her when I was a kid for some mad reason.
Can you remember your first goal in professional football for West Ham?
It was against Brighton in the FA Cup. Carlos Tevez chested the ball down for me and I volleyed it into the bottom of the goal.
LASTS
What was the last sporting event you paid to watch?
It was the Anthony Joshua fight at the O2 Arena when he beat Charles Martin to become the new IBF heavyweight champion. It was a great night.
What was the last concert you went to?
Adele at the O2. She was phenomenal and I love her. I liked her that much that I went to see her twice in concert.
Which of your team-mates is the last you would like to be stuck in a lift with?
I will go for Emmanuel Emenike. You never know if he is being serious or not and he does say a lot of things which I just don't believe!
What was the last video you looked at on YouTube?
It was some guy catching a shark in Florida and I was trying to get some tips. It was massive and I think it was a bull shark.
What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
I took the kids to see Jurassic Park in 3D. It was actually quite good. I had the glasses on and the kids loved it.
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Academy season not over yet!
WHUFC.com
The season may be approaching its conclusion, but there is still plenty of football being played by the Academy of Football. West Ham United's outstanding youngsters returned from a successful weekend at the ICGT tournament in the Netherlands, where a squad featuring Reece Oxford, Martin Samuelsen and new boy Toni Martinez finished as runners-up. The young Hammers beat host club FC Uitgeest 2-0, fellow Dutchmen AZ by a single goal and Brazilians Cruzeiro by the same scoreline to reach the semi-finals. There, West Ham drew 1-1 with Panathinaikos of Greece before going through on penalties. The final saw the Londoners hold Atletico Paranense of Brazil to a goalless draw before the South American's edged the shootout 6-5 in sudden-death.
This coming weekend, a similarly promising group will take part in the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong, where they will hope to go one better than last year's final defeat by Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Academy Director and Head of Coaching Player Development Terry Westley said he was proud of the way the players had approached both tournaments at the end of a long season. "We had a successful trip to Holland, with Reece Oxford, Martin Samuelsen and debutant Toni Martinez all playing a full part," Westley began. "We went through the group stage without conceding a goal, with Toni scoring at the other end, and then won a keenly-contested semi-final with Panathinaikos. We just ran out of legs in the final, but we still pushed the Brazilian team to penalties. "Reece took part in all the matches and played very well, despite the distraction of incorrect stories being published about his contract. The fact is that no contract has been turned down. "The boy himself is looking to go on and establish himself as a West Ham player. Speculation is not helpful for any young player, especially as all Reece wants to do is go out and play as much football as he can. "It is credit to Reece and his professionalism that he committed himself 100 per cent to the tournament at the end of a season during which he has made great strides and eleven first-team appearances, despite being in the first-year scholar age-group. "Now, he and a number of our other young players have international duty to look forward to – Reece and Sam Howes have been called up by England U19s, while Martin has been called up by Norway U21s. "I was also really pleased with Toni, who scored some goals and was a constant threat. It was great for him to have time with the squad and get used to what we do. He will be an asset to the Development Squad."
This weekend, a ten-strong squad has travelled to the Far East for the prestigious HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens competition, where their group-stage opponents will include Leicester City.
"This is a very well-run tournament, with a good level of football, and we are always very well looked after during our stay in Hong Kong," Westley explained. "Mark Phillips has taken the squad out there with the likes of Alex Pike and Lewis Page ending a season which began with first-team debuts in the UEFA Europa League. "Moses Makasi, Gradi Diangana, Tunji Akinola and Jahmal Hector-Ingram are also in the squad after signing new contracts with the Club, so we hope they will continue their development in what is a challenging environment. "We look forward to seeing how the boys perform."
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Former Player Blog - Glen Johnson
WHUFC.com
Glen Johnson will never forget his breakthrough into the West Ham first-team when he was just 18-years-old and the chance he was given to play at the highest level in the Premier League. Johnson was fortunate enough to come through the Club's famous Academy and says it helped him produce his best form when he went on to make big money moves to Chelsea and Liverpool. The 31-year-old is now playing for Stoke but he still has a lot of good friends at the east London Club and will be keeping a close eye on the Hammers when they move into the new Stadium during the summer....
I had a lot of happy times at West Ham United and I have said over the years it was where I spent the majority of my young years and it set the foundations for me. The Club has always meant a lot to me and it always will do. I hope they can move onto the next level when they move into the new Stadium during the summer. Obviously I have got a lot of friends there both inside and outside of the football Club and they have a big fan base. I'm sure the fans will fill it and they will have a great time there. It has been a great year for West Ham and they have got some very good players. It has never been easy to play against West Ham and now it is harder as they have slightly better players. They have a very good side and were unlucky not to break into the top four last season. Hopefully the team will get into the Europe and the fans deserve it. It will be great for the football Club. I had a lot of great memories at the Boleyn Ground but my standout memory would have to be my debut. You work so hard from such a young age to achieve that and I have a lot of friends who didn't make it so that will stay close to my heart.
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Oxford slams fake headline claims
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Reece Oxford has slammed reports about him in the Sun Newspaper this morning calling them fake. The Sun reported that Reece Oxford wants £40,000 a week and a £1million signing-on fee to commit his long term future to West Ham. It adds the defender and the club are at a stand-off over a new three-year contract, although the England Under-19s star denies he has rejected any firm deal.
It adds "West Ham are holding out on meeting Oxford's demands in full but have made offered him a significant pay rise.Oxford, 17, has two years to run on his contract and is one of the most talked-about young English players in the Premier League and has been linked with £8m moves to Manchester City and Manchester United."
However Oxford's response to these reports was one of humour "Lol what am I seeing now #fake"
Yesterday, ClaretandHugh contacted its top source at the club as the speculation intensified and was immediately assured there "is nothing in any of this at all." He added: "There have been no inquiries from anywhere but the time of year always sees a certain train of events get underway and there's always a legion of agents and middlemen ready to start rumours through the media. We are talking all the time and monitoring things and there is nothing to be concerned about."
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Right back duo linked with Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
According to reports in the French media, West Ham are interested in both Gregory van der Wiel and Mathieu Debuchy as they search to find an experienced right-back this summer. Arsenal's Frenchman Mathieu Debuchy spent the second half of last season on loan at Bordeaux after losing his place to Hector Bellerin at the Emirates and it is claimed Arsene Wenger has no plans to keep him on next season. Debuchy's still has three years to run on his contract with the Gunners but Arsenal are willing to put the former Newcastle man up for sale on the cheap. According to France Football, Lyon are leading the chase for Debuchy and are preparing a bid of around £5m for the 30-year-old. greg-van-der-wiel-gsj-5-1280x0-c-defaultGregory van der Wiel will leave Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain after the Coupe de France final against Marseille on Saturday. The Netherlands international was expected to call time on his four-year spell in the French capital at the end of the season, when his contract is due to expire. And PSG announced on Tuesday that the 28-year-old will depart the club after their clash with Marseille at the Stade de France. "After four seasons with the club, Netherlands international defender Gregory van der Wiel will leave Paris Saint-Germain," the club said on their official website as part of a lengthy tribute to his performances for the club. Van der Wiel, who joined from Ajax in 2012, has won four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de la Ligue trophies and the Coupe de France during his time in France. He has been linked with a move to Serie A champions Juventus, as well as AC Milan and Inter.
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Argentinian striker linked with Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Argentinian striker, Jonathan Calleri is in advanced talks with West Ham over a possible season long loan deal or an outright purchase claims the Brazilian media. The former Boca Juniors striker's rights were acquired for €11m by an investment group who registered him with Uruguaian side, Deportivo Maldonado. He is currently on loan to Brazilian team, São Paulo with 8 goals in 9 Copa Libertadores games.
The report on the Brazilian football website Lance.com.br says: "Calleri, is closer to move to England than Italy. Adding that the group of investors who own the rights to the striker are negotiating to move him to English football, more precisely at West Ham .The negotiations are at an advanced stage although there is a supposed agreement with Inter Milan. His preference is for Italian football. His family has roots are in the Latin country and the striker believes that is where his style of play can develop better"
Calleri should be granted an Italian passport this summer – he qualifies via his grandparents – which will mean he can move to the Premier League without any need for a work permit. He would be unlikley to get a work permit on the grounds That may be difficult as he is yet to be capped at full level by Argentina.
It should come as no surprise that Spurs have also been linked with the 22 year player with Mauricio Pochettino recommending him to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. The striker was previously linked with West Ham in the January transfer window.
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Hammers look for big fee as defender hunted
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
James Tomkins has had a £7 million fee slapped on him by West Ham who expect interest from both Sunderland and Crystal Palace this summer. The central defender is fancied strongly by Sam Alladyce and Alan Pardew with Slaven Bilic is ready to listen to offers in that area. Tomkins had a very in and and out season at Upton Park last term with injuries but despite being fully recovered towards the end of the campaign remained on the sidelines with Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid being used whenever possible. And despite performing reasonably well at right back Michail Antonio was preferred as Tomkins was forced to sweat it out on the bench. The manager is a big fan of James Collins and has been looking in the direction of Reece Burke after an outstanding season on loan at Bradford. And with speculation swirling around Reece Oxford's head he too could be in line for promotion from the fringes. He is also expected to blood Sam Byram in the full back role next term. Thus, Tomkins, along with Enner Valencia, is set to find himself very much on the wanted list this summer and may be forced to make up his mind whether he will be reunited with Allardyce – who rates him highly – or stay in London at Palace. A well placed Irons source told ClaretandHugh: "We always listen to offers for players but nobody will be sold on the cheap. There's not a first team member we rate lower than £7 million."
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Report: West Ham prepare bid for Turkish winger
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are preparing a move for Besiktas star Gokhan Tore according to the Turkish media. The Hammers have been closely linked with Tore all season and head coach Slaven Bilic has previously confirmed that the Turkish international is one of his transfer targets. Speaking to Turkish sports newspaper Fanatik in a recent interview Bilic said: "Everyone knows how much I like Tore he is an excellent player and I want him at West Ham." The former Besiktas manager also said that West Ham were not in direct talks which raised the question of whether negotiations are being being carried out through intermediaries. "We are not in direct talks with Tore," he added. Tore has six goals and nine assists in all competitions for the Istanbul giants this season and played an important role in Besiktas winning the league title.The 23-year-old winger also earned himself a call-up to the Turkish national side ahead of the European.
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West Ham transfer news: Hammers eyeing £9m deal for unwanted Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Thursday, May 19, 2016
West Ham have been put on alert to the possible availability of Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra. The Italian champions are planning on a summer spending spree but first need to raise cash to boost their transfer war chest. According to Tuttosport, the Old Lady are prepared to put Pereyra in the shop window, with the Argentine only considered a bit-part player by manager Massimiliano Allegri. West Ham have been monitoring Pereyra's progress for some time but have yet to make up their minds on whether to submit a bid due to concerns over the player's fitness. Pereyra made just 16 appearances for Juve last season, making it difficult for scouts at West Ham to make a conclusive judgement on whether to go for him this summer.
However, after hearing Pererya will be put up for sale, the Hammers are now seriously considering a swoop, and a fee of around £9m will be enough to broker a deal between themselves and Juve.
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West Ham transfer news: Slaven Bilic planning shock deal for Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Thursday, May 19, 2016
West Ham are preparing a shock move for Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy, according to reports in France. The right-back has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates and is now playing second fiddle to Hector Bellerin. Debuchy spent the second half of this season on loan at Bordeaux and talkSPORT told you on Tuesday that the Frenchman is eager for a move in the summer. That, according to M365, has sparked interest from West Ham and they are now considering making an approach. The Hammers are on the hunt for a right-back this summer after being forced to use Michail Antonio in that position for much of this season. Gregory van der Wiel is another player being monitored by West Ham, but Debuchy is reportedly top of their list of targets.
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WHY WE SHOULD SHARE THE OS WITH CHELSEA.
By Blind Hammer 19 May 2016 at 08:00
WTID
Blind Hammer looks at the case for ground sharing the OS.
The initial reaction of many of us, myself included, was to feel possessive hackles rising at the news that Chelsea are looking at possibly using the Olympic Stadium to stage some of their matches. Chelsea has already been in discussion with the London Legacy Olympic Development Corporation but it is understood that West ham's agreement will have to be sought for the plans to proceed.
On reflection though I am increasingly persuaded that we should encourage the move. Chelsea have their own plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge but would need to relocate doing the 2018 season whilst this work is done.
It is inconceivable that we would have extended this courtesy to Tottenham during their own Stadium redevelopment, so why should we consider extending an invitation to Chelsea?
It is worth remembering that not all rivalries are the same. Whilst we have a rivalry with Chelsea this has not plunged to the acrimonious depths of our current relationship with Tottenham.
So why are Tottenham different? Whether we like it or not the dominant teams in London during the Premiership era have been Arsenal and Chelsea, with Tottenham making attempts to hang onto their coat tails. Tottenham have been reasonably secure in their assumption that they were the third biggest financial force in London with ambitions to achieve more. As soon as the possibility of West Ham occupying the Olympic Stadium became a reality this comfortable world view started to come under some threat. Tottenham cast, for the first time in years, anxious eyes eastwards. This manifested itself in their tooth and nail attempt to disrupt and spoil any ambitions by West Ham to enter the Olympic Stadium, including the submission of a spoiling bid to delay West Ham's entry. A bid based on simply demolishing the Stadium was never likely to win but that was never the point in my view. It was to delay and upset West Ham's development. Daniel Levy's comfort was disturbed by the prospect of having to financially compete with West Ham as well as Chelsea and Arsenal.
Tottenham had already seen their position as London's second side unsettled by Chelsea's emergence under the patronage of Abramovich's billions since 2003. Now they are facing the prospect of dropping to fourth behind West Ham in the financial league table. Tottenham's reaction to their perception of the threat that West Ham now posed led them to take the extraordinary step of employing Spies to try and disrupt West Ham's bid for the Stadium. See HERE.
Even after a move to the OS, West Ham will not overtake Tottenham's revenues in the immediate or short term. However, it is clear that Levy sees a threat in the longer term as the club develops at the OS. This has been reflected in the acrimonious relationships in transfer dealings over the last 18 months or so. Levy seems determined not to sell any players to West Ham and it seems likely that the reverse is now true.
The point though is that none of this applies to Chelsea. For the time being Chelsea do not see West Ham as a threat in the same way as Tottenham do. Despite their under-achievement this season, they are still comforted by access to Abramovich's incredible wealth. Relations between the clubs are relatively normal. We were able to access one of their players, Victor Moses, for a season long loan, It is inconceivable that a similar arrangement would be made with Tottenham.
I believe this offers some opportunities for a deal with Chelsea at the OS. Whilst this proposal is described as a ground share, in my view this does not describe accurately the likely terms of occupation. When all is said and done Chelsea would be playing their games for the season of 2018 only. They would have no rights to alter or reverse the West Hamification of the stadium. They would, as far as I can tell, have no accommodation in the stadium itself, no club shop and no offices. They would be at best lodgers, sleeping on the sofa for a time whilst they sorted out their own home.
The financial benefits of such an arrangement would be low, West Ham would receive a 50% rebate in their rent but as this is relatively small anyway this is unlikely to be the determining factor.
The real benefits of allowing Chelsea to play at the OS are in politics. It helps to nail down once and for all, some of the misapprehensions that West Ham have an unfair deal. West Ham supporters are probably familiar with the tenancy agreement and the benefit that it provides for the tax payer. Basically West Ham have committed to providing an occupancy of the stadium for 99 years, which in turn should deliver 99 years of profit, producing a revenue stream, far surpassing any investment in the stadium.
However jealousies and rivalries will not be particularly concerned with any facts and resentments will grumble on with the small minded.
Why should we be concerned about this? Well if we were talking about our core support, it probably does not matter, most of who simply feel smug that we have got such a fantastic deal with the stadium. However the aim of the OS Project should be to grow our commercial and supporter base. It is the prospect not of our present capacities which strikes fear and anger into the hearts of the Tottenham Board, but our potential for commercial growth.
In that context Public Relations do matter. If we want to make people feel comfortable about adopting the mantle and heritage of our great club then making the public discourse positive and favourable does become a consideration. We want to continue our traditions as an inclusive, family orientated club. To that extent showing that we are open and generous enough to extend a helping hand to one of our rivals, in Chelsea, may ironically allow us to, in the future, become genuine competitors with them.
COYI
David Griffith
PS I am off to Northumberland/Scotland for a couple of weeks so hopefully normal service will be resumed in June.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce that super striker Jahmal Hector-Ingram has signed a new three year contract at the club. Initially a scholarship, the England youth international will turn professional on his 18th birthday. Having earned his new contract, a delighted Hector-Ingram said: "It feels amazing, it really does! It's been a dream from a young age to get a contract at this club and I'm very proud that I've managed to accomplish one of my dreams. "The next dream is me playing in the first team. However, I'm not getting too excited; I know I have to work even harder! This is only the start."
Having praised his teammates and coaches alike for all their support, the young striker paid special tribute to his family: "After losing my Nan this year, this is even more special for me, as I'm doing all this for her too. "it's definitely a proud moment for my family, like I said before, my Mum and my Nan especially has been my inspiration and has also been the reason why I've got so far, so I'm very grateful. "Not forgetting my brothers either, my family as a whole is very happy at this moment in time!"
Having initially struggled with injuries at the start of the campaign, Hector-Ingram recovered and found his goalscoring touch, netting five times for the U18s in 13 starts. His form saw him feature in the Development Squad's cup running, playing in both the semi-final win over Liverpool and first leg victory over Hull City. Reflecting on the past 12 months, he continued: "This season has been a rollercoaster for me, as I was injured again. But for the second part of the season, I've stayed fit and managed to score some goals too. "Personally, I've got three highlights: scoring against Southampton the day after my nan died, for me that was a special moment and I shall never forget that. My Mum and the family encouraged me to play and I managed to score the winner which I was very delightful with. "My second is scoring my first goal for the U21s against Aston Villa, at Villa Park. I was extremely happy to score my first U21 goal. "Overall, my main highlight is winning the U21 Premier League Cup. That feeling was indescribable really; if that's what it feels like to win then I most definitely want to be winning more often!"
Currently out in Hong Kong representing the Hammers in the annual Soccer Sevens tournament, Hector-Ingram finished by looking ahead to what could well be a very bright future. He stated: "My aim is to make my debut in the new stadium in the up and coming years. It will be the biggest dream come through if I made my debut for West Ham and it will be even more special if I made it at the new stadium. Hopefully I can reach my aims as soon as possible. "It's most definitely a special time to be committing to the club. To know that the new stadium is very local to my childhood background is even more exciting, I'm looking forward to the challenge ahead."
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First and Last - Mark Noble
WHUFC.com
As West Ham United conclude the final season at the Boleyn Ground, we've asked the players for some memorable firsts and lasts from their careers and lives. Tonight, Mark Noble goes under the spotlight…
FIRSTS
Who would be the first player you would call up for a pub quiz at your local?
Quite surprisingly Andy Carroll knows a lot but I don't think I would call him up because he would probably annoy me! I would probably go for Joey O'Brien. He thinks he knows more than he does but he does know quite a lot!
Who would be the first player you would vote off the X-Factor?
I don't hear a lot of people sing but I would have to go for Adrian. He sings all the Spanish songs and they are terrible!
What was the first car you owned?
The first car I had was a Golf. I bought it before I passed my test and I failed my first test so it was just sat on my driveway. It was terrible as it was like having a piece of chocolate that you are not allowed to eat! I used to go outside and just sit in the car and turn the lights on. I thought it was a big deal. I passed the second time and had the car for years. Up until now it was my favourite car.
What is the first CD you bought?
I think it was Billie Piper. I had a bit of a crush on her when I was a kid for some mad reason.
Can you remember your first goal in professional football for West Ham?
It was against Brighton in the FA Cup. Carlos Tevez chested the ball down for me and I volleyed it into the bottom of the goal.
LASTS
What was the last sporting event you paid to watch?
It was the Anthony Joshua fight at the O2 Arena when he beat Charles Martin to become the new IBF heavyweight champion. It was a great night.
What was the last concert you went to?
Adele at the O2. She was phenomenal and I love her. I liked her that much that I went to see her twice in concert.
Which of your team-mates is the last you would like to be stuck in a lift with?
I will go for Emmanuel Emenike. You never know if he is being serious or not and he does say a lot of things which I just don't believe!
What was the last video you looked at on YouTube?
It was some guy catching a shark in Florida and I was trying to get some tips. It was massive and I think it was a bull shark.
What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
I took the kids to see Jurassic Park in 3D. It was actually quite good. I had the glasses on and the kids loved it.
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Academy season not over yet!
WHUFC.com
The season may be approaching its conclusion, but there is still plenty of football being played by the Academy of Football. West Ham United's outstanding youngsters returned from a successful weekend at the ICGT tournament in the Netherlands, where a squad featuring Reece Oxford, Martin Samuelsen and new boy Toni Martinez finished as runners-up. The young Hammers beat host club FC Uitgeest 2-0, fellow Dutchmen AZ by a single goal and Brazilians Cruzeiro by the same scoreline to reach the semi-finals. There, West Ham drew 1-1 with Panathinaikos of Greece before going through on penalties. The final saw the Londoners hold Atletico Paranense of Brazil to a goalless draw before the South American's edged the shootout 6-5 in sudden-death.
This coming weekend, a similarly promising group will take part in the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong, where they will hope to go one better than last year's final defeat by Spanish side Atletico Madrid. Academy Director and Head of Coaching Player Development Terry Westley said he was proud of the way the players had approached both tournaments at the end of a long season. "We had a successful trip to Holland, with Reece Oxford, Martin Samuelsen and debutant Toni Martinez all playing a full part," Westley began. "We went through the group stage without conceding a goal, with Toni scoring at the other end, and then won a keenly-contested semi-final with Panathinaikos. We just ran out of legs in the final, but we still pushed the Brazilian team to penalties. "Reece took part in all the matches and played very well, despite the distraction of incorrect stories being published about his contract. The fact is that no contract has been turned down. "The boy himself is looking to go on and establish himself as a West Ham player. Speculation is not helpful for any young player, especially as all Reece wants to do is go out and play as much football as he can. "It is credit to Reece and his professionalism that he committed himself 100 per cent to the tournament at the end of a season during which he has made great strides and eleven first-team appearances, despite being in the first-year scholar age-group. "Now, he and a number of our other young players have international duty to look forward to – Reece and Sam Howes have been called up by England U19s, while Martin has been called up by Norway U21s. "I was also really pleased with Toni, who scored some goals and was a constant threat. It was great for him to have time with the squad and get used to what we do. He will be an asset to the Development Squad."
This weekend, a ten-strong squad has travelled to the Far East for the prestigious HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens competition, where their group-stage opponents will include Leicester City.
"This is a very well-run tournament, with a good level of football, and we are always very well looked after during our stay in Hong Kong," Westley explained. "Mark Phillips has taken the squad out there with the likes of Alex Pike and Lewis Page ending a season which began with first-team debuts in the UEFA Europa League. "Moses Makasi, Gradi Diangana, Tunji Akinola and Jahmal Hector-Ingram are also in the squad after signing new contracts with the Club, so we hope they will continue their development in what is a challenging environment. "We look forward to seeing how the boys perform."
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Former Player Blog - Glen Johnson
WHUFC.com
Glen Johnson will never forget his breakthrough into the West Ham first-team when he was just 18-years-old and the chance he was given to play at the highest level in the Premier League. Johnson was fortunate enough to come through the Club's famous Academy and says it helped him produce his best form when he went on to make big money moves to Chelsea and Liverpool. The 31-year-old is now playing for Stoke but he still has a lot of good friends at the east London Club and will be keeping a close eye on the Hammers when they move into the new Stadium during the summer....
I had a lot of happy times at West Ham United and I have said over the years it was where I spent the majority of my young years and it set the foundations for me. The Club has always meant a lot to me and it always will do. I hope they can move onto the next level when they move into the new Stadium during the summer. Obviously I have got a lot of friends there both inside and outside of the football Club and they have a big fan base. I'm sure the fans will fill it and they will have a great time there. It has been a great year for West Ham and they have got some very good players. It has never been easy to play against West Ham and now it is harder as they have slightly better players. They have a very good side and were unlucky not to break into the top four last season. Hopefully the team will get into the Europe and the fans deserve it. It will be great for the football Club. I had a lot of great memories at the Boleyn Ground but my standout memory would have to be my debut. You work so hard from such a young age to achieve that and I have a lot of friends who didn't make it so that will stay close to my heart.
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Oxford slams fake headline claims
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Reece Oxford has slammed reports about him in the Sun Newspaper this morning calling them fake. The Sun reported that Reece Oxford wants £40,000 a week and a £1million signing-on fee to commit his long term future to West Ham. It adds the defender and the club are at a stand-off over a new three-year contract, although the England Under-19s star denies he has rejected any firm deal.
It adds "West Ham are holding out on meeting Oxford's demands in full but have made offered him a significant pay rise.Oxford, 17, has two years to run on his contract and is one of the most talked-about young English players in the Premier League and has been linked with £8m moves to Manchester City and Manchester United."
However Oxford's response to these reports was one of humour "Lol what am I seeing now #fake"
Yesterday, ClaretandHugh contacted its top source at the club as the speculation intensified and was immediately assured there "is nothing in any of this at all." He added: "There have been no inquiries from anywhere but the time of year always sees a certain train of events get underway and there's always a legion of agents and middlemen ready to start rumours through the media. We are talking all the time and monitoring things and there is nothing to be concerned about."
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Right back duo linked with Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
According to reports in the French media, West Ham are interested in both Gregory van der Wiel and Mathieu Debuchy as they search to find an experienced right-back this summer. Arsenal's Frenchman Mathieu Debuchy spent the second half of last season on loan at Bordeaux after losing his place to Hector Bellerin at the Emirates and it is claimed Arsene Wenger has no plans to keep him on next season. Debuchy's still has three years to run on his contract with the Gunners but Arsenal are willing to put the former Newcastle man up for sale on the cheap. According to France Football, Lyon are leading the chase for Debuchy and are preparing a bid of around £5m for the 30-year-old. greg-van-der-wiel-gsj-5-1280x0-c-defaultGregory van der Wiel will leave Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain after the Coupe de France final against Marseille on Saturday. The Netherlands international was expected to call time on his four-year spell in the French capital at the end of the season, when his contract is due to expire. And PSG announced on Tuesday that the 28-year-old will depart the club after their clash with Marseille at the Stade de France. "After four seasons with the club, Netherlands international defender Gregory van der Wiel will leave Paris Saint-Germain," the club said on their official website as part of a lengthy tribute to his performances for the club. Van der Wiel, who joined from Ajax in 2012, has won four Ligue 1 titles, three Coupe de la Ligue trophies and the Coupe de France during his time in France. He has been linked with a move to Serie A champions Juventus, as well as AC Milan and Inter.
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Argentinian striker linked with Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Argentinian striker, Jonathan Calleri is in advanced talks with West Ham over a possible season long loan deal or an outright purchase claims the Brazilian media. The former Boca Juniors striker's rights were acquired for €11m by an investment group who registered him with Uruguaian side, Deportivo Maldonado. He is currently on loan to Brazilian team, São Paulo with 8 goals in 9 Copa Libertadores games.
The report on the Brazilian football website Lance.com.br says: "Calleri, is closer to move to England than Italy. Adding that the group of investors who own the rights to the striker are negotiating to move him to English football, more precisely at West Ham .The negotiations are at an advanced stage although there is a supposed agreement with Inter Milan. His preference is for Italian football. His family has roots are in the Latin country and the striker believes that is where his style of play can develop better"
Calleri should be granted an Italian passport this summer – he qualifies via his grandparents – which will mean he can move to the Premier League without any need for a work permit. He would be unlikley to get a work permit on the grounds That may be difficult as he is yet to be capped at full level by Argentina.
It should come as no surprise that Spurs have also been linked with the 22 year player with Mauricio Pochettino recommending him to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy. The striker was previously linked with West Ham in the January transfer window.
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Hammers look for big fee as defender hunted
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
James Tomkins has had a £7 million fee slapped on him by West Ham who expect interest from both Sunderland and Crystal Palace this summer. The central defender is fancied strongly by Sam Alladyce and Alan Pardew with Slaven Bilic is ready to listen to offers in that area. Tomkins had a very in and and out season at Upton Park last term with injuries but despite being fully recovered towards the end of the campaign remained on the sidelines with Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid being used whenever possible. And despite performing reasonably well at right back Michail Antonio was preferred as Tomkins was forced to sweat it out on the bench. The manager is a big fan of James Collins and has been looking in the direction of Reece Burke after an outstanding season on loan at Bradford. And with speculation swirling around Reece Oxford's head he too could be in line for promotion from the fringes. He is also expected to blood Sam Byram in the full back role next term. Thus, Tomkins, along with Enner Valencia, is set to find himself very much on the wanted list this summer and may be forced to make up his mind whether he will be reunited with Allardyce – who rates him highly – or stay in London at Palace. A well placed Irons source told ClaretandHugh: "We always listen to offers for players but nobody will be sold on the cheap. There's not a first team member we rate lower than £7 million."
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Report: West Ham prepare bid for Turkish winger
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are preparing a move for Besiktas star Gokhan Tore according to the Turkish media. The Hammers have been closely linked with Tore all season and head coach Slaven Bilic has previously confirmed that the Turkish international is one of his transfer targets. Speaking to Turkish sports newspaper Fanatik in a recent interview Bilic said: "Everyone knows how much I like Tore he is an excellent player and I want him at West Ham." The former Besiktas manager also said that West Ham were not in direct talks which raised the question of whether negotiations are being being carried out through intermediaries. "We are not in direct talks with Tore," he added. Tore has six goals and nine assists in all competitions for the Istanbul giants this season and played an important role in Besiktas winning the league title.The 23-year-old winger also earned himself a call-up to the Turkish national side ahead of the European.
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West Ham transfer news: Hammers eyeing £9m deal for unwanted Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Thursday, May 19, 2016
West Ham have been put on alert to the possible availability of Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra. The Italian champions are planning on a summer spending spree but first need to raise cash to boost their transfer war chest. According to Tuttosport, the Old Lady are prepared to put Pereyra in the shop window, with the Argentine only considered a bit-part player by manager Massimiliano Allegri. West Ham have been monitoring Pereyra's progress for some time but have yet to make up their minds on whether to submit a bid due to concerns over the player's fitness. Pereyra made just 16 appearances for Juve last season, making it difficult for scouts at West Ham to make a conclusive judgement on whether to go for him this summer.
However, after hearing Pererya will be put up for sale, the Hammers are now seriously considering a swoop, and a fee of around £9m will be enough to broker a deal between themselves and Juve.
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West Ham transfer news: Slaven Bilic planning shock deal for Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Thursday, May 19, 2016
West Ham are preparing a shock move for Arsenal defender Mathieu Debuchy, according to reports in France. The right-back has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates and is now playing second fiddle to Hector Bellerin. Debuchy spent the second half of this season on loan at Bordeaux and talkSPORT told you on Tuesday that the Frenchman is eager for a move in the summer. That, according to M365, has sparked interest from West Ham and they are now considering making an approach. The Hammers are on the hunt for a right-back this summer after being forced to use Michail Antonio in that position for much of this season. Gregory van der Wiel is another player being monitored by West Ham, but Debuchy is reportedly top of their list of targets.
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WHY WE SHOULD SHARE THE OS WITH CHELSEA.
By Blind Hammer 19 May 2016 at 08:00
WTID
Blind Hammer looks at the case for ground sharing the OS.
The initial reaction of many of us, myself included, was to feel possessive hackles rising at the news that Chelsea are looking at possibly using the Olympic Stadium to stage some of their matches. Chelsea has already been in discussion with the London Legacy Olympic Development Corporation but it is understood that West ham's agreement will have to be sought for the plans to proceed.
On reflection though I am increasingly persuaded that we should encourage the move. Chelsea have their own plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge but would need to relocate doing the 2018 season whilst this work is done.
It is inconceivable that we would have extended this courtesy to Tottenham during their own Stadium redevelopment, so why should we consider extending an invitation to Chelsea?
It is worth remembering that not all rivalries are the same. Whilst we have a rivalry with Chelsea this has not plunged to the acrimonious depths of our current relationship with Tottenham.
So why are Tottenham different? Whether we like it or not the dominant teams in London during the Premiership era have been Arsenal and Chelsea, with Tottenham making attempts to hang onto their coat tails. Tottenham have been reasonably secure in their assumption that they were the third biggest financial force in London with ambitions to achieve more. As soon as the possibility of West Ham occupying the Olympic Stadium became a reality this comfortable world view started to come under some threat. Tottenham cast, for the first time in years, anxious eyes eastwards. This manifested itself in their tooth and nail attempt to disrupt and spoil any ambitions by West Ham to enter the Olympic Stadium, including the submission of a spoiling bid to delay West Ham's entry. A bid based on simply demolishing the Stadium was never likely to win but that was never the point in my view. It was to delay and upset West Ham's development. Daniel Levy's comfort was disturbed by the prospect of having to financially compete with West Ham as well as Chelsea and Arsenal.
Tottenham had already seen their position as London's second side unsettled by Chelsea's emergence under the patronage of Abramovich's billions since 2003. Now they are facing the prospect of dropping to fourth behind West Ham in the financial league table. Tottenham's reaction to their perception of the threat that West Ham now posed led them to take the extraordinary step of employing Spies to try and disrupt West Ham's bid for the Stadium. See HERE.
Even after a move to the OS, West Ham will not overtake Tottenham's revenues in the immediate or short term. However, it is clear that Levy sees a threat in the longer term as the club develops at the OS. This has been reflected in the acrimonious relationships in transfer dealings over the last 18 months or so. Levy seems determined not to sell any players to West Ham and it seems likely that the reverse is now true.
The point though is that none of this applies to Chelsea. For the time being Chelsea do not see West Ham as a threat in the same way as Tottenham do. Despite their under-achievement this season, they are still comforted by access to Abramovich's incredible wealth. Relations between the clubs are relatively normal. We were able to access one of their players, Victor Moses, for a season long loan, It is inconceivable that a similar arrangement would be made with Tottenham.
I believe this offers some opportunities for a deal with Chelsea at the OS. Whilst this proposal is described as a ground share, in my view this does not describe accurately the likely terms of occupation. When all is said and done Chelsea would be playing their games for the season of 2018 only. They would have no rights to alter or reverse the West Hamification of the stadium. They would, as far as I can tell, have no accommodation in the stadium itself, no club shop and no offices. They would be at best lodgers, sleeping on the sofa for a time whilst they sorted out their own home.
The financial benefits of such an arrangement would be low, West Ham would receive a 50% rebate in their rent but as this is relatively small anyway this is unlikely to be the determining factor.
The real benefits of allowing Chelsea to play at the OS are in politics. It helps to nail down once and for all, some of the misapprehensions that West Ham have an unfair deal. West Ham supporters are probably familiar with the tenancy agreement and the benefit that it provides for the tax payer. Basically West Ham have committed to providing an occupancy of the stadium for 99 years, which in turn should deliver 99 years of profit, producing a revenue stream, far surpassing any investment in the stadium.
However jealousies and rivalries will not be particularly concerned with any facts and resentments will grumble on with the small minded.
Why should we be concerned about this? Well if we were talking about our core support, it probably does not matter, most of who simply feel smug that we have got such a fantastic deal with the stadium. However the aim of the OS Project should be to grow our commercial and supporter base. It is the prospect not of our present capacities which strikes fear and anger into the hearts of the Tottenham Board, but our potential for commercial growth.
In that context Public Relations do matter. If we want to make people feel comfortable about adopting the mantle and heritage of our great club then making the public discourse positive and favourable does become a consideration. We want to continue our traditions as an inclusive, family orientated club. To that extent showing that we are open and generous enough to extend a helping hand to one of our rivals, in Chelsea, may ironically allow us to, in the future, become genuine competitors with them.
COYI
David Griffith
PS I am off to Northumberland/Scotland for a couple of weeks so hopefully normal service will be resumed in June.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, May 19
Daily WHUFC News - 19th May 2016
Academy of Football's Akinola turns pro
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce highly rated defender Olatunji Akinola has signed a professional contract with the club. The 17-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most promising players coming through the ranks at the prestigious Academy of Football. Having signed a three year contract, a delighted Akinola said: "It's a great feeling for me and my family, a very proud day. Its feels great that the club have shown faith in me to give me another three years to help develop myself as a footballer. "I've been here since I was eight so it's been nine years of hard work. But I'm playing football for a top Premier League academy so I'm definitely enjoying it as well."
This season, Akinola established himself as a regular in the U18 side which qualified for the elite group of the Play Offs. Making 21 starts, he also scored twice, in what has been another year of steady progress for the youngster. He continued: "I have known for a while know but my instant reaction was pleasantly surprised. It's a big thing as all my family are football fans as well so we were all celebrating when we found out. "I feel this has been a strong season for me particularly. I have put in some solid performances in the 18's and worked to get some opportunities in the U21s which I just want to carry on next season. "Ending the season with some successful tours is also nice; getting to the final in Zurich and Holland."
Having got another successful year under his belt, the ball-playing centre-back is currently in Hong Kong preparing for the Soccer Sevens tournament. Now with at least three more years to look forward to, Akinola is daring to dream big: "Making my first team debut at the new stadium would be a beautiful moment and nice reward for the work I have put in. "That would be the beginning of many hopes and dreams I plan to achieve with West Ham. The club is going forwards and i want to go forwards with all the Hammers fans! "The club is really on the up right now with the new stadium, new exciting players and potential Europa League football. It's great for us youngsters to be surrounded by this as it gives us motivation to go on and succeed at this great club."
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The Insider
WHUFC.com
The Insider brings you exclusive insight into the behind-the-scenes goings on at West Ham United...
The Premier League season has only just finished but the speculation has now intensified over which new signings will be arriving at West Ham United. I, The Insider will be breaking news throughout the summer and giving you the very latest updates on which players are heading in and out of the Club. There have been a lot of rumours surrounding a possible move for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette. My sources have told me that a £31million offer has been made for the prolific forward but the French club turned it down and the Club will now move on. It is my understanding that the Club have made £20million bids for UK based players this week and they hope to sign the first of two strikers in the next few weeks. It has been made clear to me that fans should not be concerned if bids are being turned down. The Premier League season has only just finished and these things happen early on in the transfer window. I have been told that the Club are determined to get value for money and could bid for a number of players as they look to buy three or four key players. Fans should be excited by the plans that the Board have this summer and should stay tuned to whufc.com for all the latest news. There has also been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of talented youngster Reece Oxford. It is my understanding that Oxford has a contract until 2018 and cannot sign a longer term deal until he is 18. Negotiations are still ongoing and he has not turned down any offers.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
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Ogbonna - It's been a great season
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna says his first season in England could hardly have gone better – even if he was left to reflect on a frustrating final day defeat at Stoke City on Sunday. The 27-year-old defender was a summer 2015 arrival from Juventus and established himself as a regular starter for Slaven Bilic's side – playing in 27 Barclays Premier League games. He scored a dramatic winner in the FA Cup tie with Liverpool and is targeting more success – and hopefully European football – in 2016/17. He said: "Sunday's result was really disappointing for us, but it was still a fantastic season. We will have to focus on the new season now, and we have to start really well – like we did this season. "We deserved to win the game against Stoke, but the season is finished and we will look forward to next year and enjoy it. "First we will be concentrating on the television on Saturday, so hopefully we can be lucky and go to Europe! "I'm really happy with my first season in England. I'm really happy because I scored against Liverpool and that was an amazing moment for us. "We have to be proud about this season and maybe next season we can do better!"
Ogbonna's season isn't over yet – he has linked up with Italy for a training camp ahead of Euro 2016 and is hoping to make the final cut.
He added: "I'm still hoping [to be called up]. Maybe I will have a chance to go to the Euros, but it doesn't depend on me – it's the manager's decision."
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Cresswell - It was a great team performance
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell played his part in another memorable campaign for West Ham United as they secured their highest Premier League finish since 2002.
Cresswell has enjoyed a number of memorable moments but feels one of the standout memories was the 3-2 victory over Everton back in March.
The 26-year-old will never forget the impressive comeback after his side were trailing by two goals but showed their fighting qualities to score three goals in the second half and come away with all three points. Cresswell played his part in the winning goal when his pin-point cross picked out Andy Carroll who headed the ball into Diafra Sakho and his clever flick fell to Dimitri Payet who made no mistake striking the ball into the corner of the net. The result was one of many famous victories on the road this season, but it was voted the best team performance at the end of season Player Awards and Cresswell feels it showed the amazing team spirit they have in the squad. Cresswell said: "We were delighted to pick up the award. We were obviously 2-0 down and we needed the three points at the time. "It is never easy going to Goodison Park and when we went two goals down it was made even harder but I remember Nobes putting the ball in for Antonio to get us back in the game and then Sakho scored the equaliser. "I then played the ball into Andy who had been shouting to put a few diagonal balls into him in the final few minutes and he has flicked it into Dimi who scored the winner and there is no better feeling that doing that in the final minute. "In the Premier League it is not easy to go two goals behind, especially at Goodison Park with the crowd. It was a great result for us and won us the Performance of the Season."
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Ladies game update
WHUFC.com
The proposed game between West Ham Ladies and a West Ham 'All Stars' team scheduled for Sunday June 5 has been cancelled.
The Club has taken the decision to call off the match in response to direct comments from supporters, a poll conducted on the official website and fan feedback on social media.
West Ham Ladies played under the lights at the Boleyn Ground back in March when they faced Tottenham Ladies and dialogue remains open between West Ham Ladies and the Club with regards to the hosting of future fixtures.
West Ham Ladies Joint-Chairman Stephen Hunt said: "Obviously the Ladies are disappointed but myself and Jack Sullivan will get together over the summer to see what else we can do in the future."
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Battle of wits to determine Lacazette future
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
The club says it's off, his representative says it's still on. So where exactly does that leave Alexandre Lacazette? Possibly on the way to Paris St Germain, according to trusted outlet L'Equipe this afternoon - who r\n with a story linking the Ligue 1 champions with a move for the keenly-sought 24-year-old striker, who they see as the ideal replacement for the outgoing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. However what is in no doubt is that West Ham saw a bid - varying from £23million to £31million, depending on your source of choice - rejected by Lyon yesterday, following months of speculation linking Lacazette with a move to the Olympix Stadium.
News of the bid being rejected by Lyon was swiftly followed up by claims from within West Ham - or to be more precise, Jason Burt and the resurgent 'Club Insider' via West Ham's own website - insisting that the deal was dead.
But "nonsense!" cried FIFA-registered agent Vincent Rodríguez, who denied that the deal was off, claiming instead that the transfer had reached a stalemate over the terms of payment, rather than the fee itself.
Vincent Rodríguez @VRodriguezlaw
It is the payment structure that has been rejected not the amount as such. #Facts https://twitter.com/skysportsnewshq/status/732662515176484867 … 9:43 PM - 17 May 2016
Ensuring that he cannot be accused of sticking all his eggs in one basket, co-owner David Sullivan is busy chasing several potential deals with view to landing at least one or two deals before the squad returns for pre-season in early July.
Christian Benteke, Gohkan Tore, Callum Wilson and Marseille's Michy Batshuayi are all on the club's list of attacking targets as West Ham seek to
re-build a squad inherited last summer by Slaven Bilic.
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Young agent seeking London club
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Ashley Young's agent is understood to have contacted West Ham with view to finding his player a club in London. The 30-year-old Manchester United winger signed a new three-year contract at Old Trafford last year but is reported to be unsettled in the North West and seeking a return south.
At this stage there is no indication that West Ham are interested in bringing the former England international to the Olympic Stadium, but as a winger - who can also play in a more advanced role - Young could be viewed as a suitable replacement for Enner Valencia, who is widely tipped to leave West Ham this summer.
The Hammers previously attempted to sign Young in the 2007 winter transfer window but an £8million bid was rejected by Watford, his club at the time. Days later, a £10million bid was accepted - but Young refused to make the move to Upton Park, choosing to sign for Aston VIlla instead. He joined Manchester United in 2011, following three seasons at Villa Park.
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Ladies match cancelled
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham Ladies' plans to play one final time at the Boleyn Ground have been shelved. West Ham United announced this lunchtime that the mooted clash between the Ladies and a West Ham All Star XI, which was scheduled to take place at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, 5 June has been cancelled. According to the club, "the decision to call off the match has been taken in response to direct comments from supporters, a poll conducted on the club's website and fan feedback on social media." A number of supporters spoke out against the game as they felt the final match featuring a West Ham team and staged at the club's home of 122 years should be a first team fixture. It is also thought that the club harboured concerns due to the condition of the Boleyn Ground - which is slowly being stripped of its contents - and the question of stewards and security, who would have required to police the fixture. Ladies co-Chairman Stephen Hunt told whufc.com "Obviously the Ladies are disappointed but myself and Jack Sullivan will get together over the summer to see what else we can do in the future."
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Club record bid rejected
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United are reported to have had a £26million bid for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette rejected. Sky Sports reported tonight that the 24-year-old goalscorer, who has long been linked with a summer move to the Olympic Stadium was the subject of a failed bid earlier today. Lacazette, who is not involved with the provisional French squad that will compete in this summer's European Championships has also been interesting the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool in recent months. West Ham had been considered front-runners to sign the highly-rated forward but Jason Burt reported later that the record-breaking offer was the second rejected by Lyon, adding that the Hammers were unlikely to return with a third bid. West Ham's current transfer record fee stands at £15million, paid to Liverpool for Andy Carroll in 2013. News of the club's interest in Lacazette comes hot on the heels of yesterday's story regarding a £25million double-bid for Bournemouth duo Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson, who scored a hat-trick at the Boleyn Ground at the beginning of last season in the Cherries' 4-3 win.
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Oxford responds to transfer rumours
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford has laughed off a story linking him with a move away from West Ham United. Sky Sports reported last night that the talented 17-year-old, who is rated as one of the country's brightest young prospects had rejected a new contract offer from West Ham. It was also suggested that Oxford, who is under contract at West Ham for another two years might be available for "a bid in excess of £10million" - a figure that may lead "the Hammers to consider selling".
However Oxford, posting on his Twitter account in reply to the ensuing furore gave no indication that he is seeking to leave the club when he wrote "rumours will be rumours!" The England youth international, who made his first team debut at the age of 16 against Lusitans in the Europa League last summer made a total of 12 appearances during the 2015/16 campaign for the Hammers.
* Oxford was named as the KUMB Readers' Young Player of the Year at Tuesday night's Awards show, beating Martin Samuelsen (third) and Reece Burke (runner-up and last year's winner).
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Hammers speak for first time on Bournemouth bid
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are unapologetic over making a bid for Bournemouth pair Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie claiming they never made it public! The club has exclusively revealed to ClaretandHugh this morning (Wed) that they did indeed make a bid but are clearly taken aback that the world now knows about it after it made a couple of pars initially in the media. They have explained that the offer for the pair was a private Matt Ritchie Bournemouthaffair and that there was never intention – nor did they ever have any intention of – making the bid public. That Eddie Howe – one of the quietest managers in the League- to have complained in his post match press conference about it – was indeed very strange however and smacks of mountains and molehills.
The Cherries boss had said: "We had a bid yesterday evening and the disappointment from our perspective is why the bid came in the day before our last game of the season when you have the whole summer to bid for players. "The two players were in our squad and due to play in this game with a lot of speculation about their future. Bizarre." "The bid was rejected and we don't need to sell. We want to improve our squad, not weaken it. Our biggest challenge is to keep ends the players we already have. Yes, it was West Ham and no it wasn't £25 million."
However, West Ham were quick to point out that at no stage did they as a club made the bid public and are clearly surprised that it has become a major issue. Our top insider – said: "We put the bids in and they were rejected. We think somebody at Bournemouth or a player's agents made the bids public, as we certainly didn't."
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Rugby World Cup OS agreement revealed
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
The venue hire agreement between Olympic Stadium owners E20 LLP and England Rugby 2015 Limited has been the latest contract published under Freedom of information laws this week. There has been a domino effect of publication of previously confidential agreements since a coalition of football supporters fought for the publication of West Ham's rental agreement with the stadium owner. Last week, saw the fine details of the sweet deal enjoyed by UK Athletics in hiring the Olympic Stadium with a base £35,000 maintained fee for a 45 day exclusive summer rental window. The Olympic Stadium saw five matches at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 including the bronze final on October 30th but group pool matches included France v Romania (September 23rd) New Zealand v Namibia (September 24th), Ireland v Italy (October 4th) and South Africa v United States on (October 7th). Although details about corporate hospitality, catering and naming rights have all been revealed, the actual amount Rugby organisers paid has been blacked out. Stadium owners were forced to reveal West Ham are paying £2.5m in rent plus performance bonuses but the Rugby World Cup rent is being kept secret.
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Come on Eddie Howe – time to man up mate
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
C and H
Not quite sure what got into Eddie Howe's head as he launched his bizarre outburst against West Ham following Bournemouth's defeat against Manchester United last night (Tues). He chose to make it clear that the Irons had bid for pair of players and even explained that it wasn't the reported £25 million. Maybe being Bournemouth he's not used to seeing his players command two pars in the tabloids suggesting there's been a bid so without any irony let me explain – Eddie it happens! :-). And should it be a match day and you are asked about it in the post-match press conference the best way to handle it is to say "no comment" or merely explain there has been a bid but that it's not acceptable. End of. Instead he chose to go into a mini rant about the timing of the offer and suggestion that West Ham are out of order to do so…err No. West Ham didn't release the news and as was suggested by ClaretandHugh's senior insider the news could easily have been leaked to the press at the Cherries end or via an agent. Unless Mr Howe has some firm evidence the Hammers were responsible he should perhaps keep quiet rather than trying to blame those who have denied being responsible. I can only believe a 3-1 drubbing by an average United team had – as it's bound to – a very distressing effect but oi Eddie that's down to you and your players – NOT US. Man up buddy!
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Hammers end rumours over defender
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham have shrugged off all suggestions that Reece Oxford is being hunted by any club. Sky Sources suggested yesterday (Tues) that the Hammers would be ready to entertain bids of around £10 million for the youngster rather than face picking up compensation of much less in 18 months time. They also implied that he has refused to sign a new deal and although the club want to tie him down to a new deal there is absolutely no concern inside the club over the new round of rumours. ClaretandHugh contacted its top source at the club as the speculation intensified and was immediately assured there "is nothing in any of this at all." He added: "There have been no inquiries from anywhere but the time of year always sees a certain train of events get underway and there's always a legion of agents and middlemen ready to start rumours through the media. "We are talking all the time and monitoring things and there is nothing to be concerned about."
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West Ham's James Tomkins a transfer target for Crystal Palace and Sunderland
22:30, 18 MAY 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The 27-year-old Academy product who can play centre-half or right-back would be reluctant to go, but the Hammers' squad is in line for a summer shake-up
The Mirror
Crystal Palace are interested in West Ham's James Tomkins. Sunderland are also big fans of the 27-year-old defender, who can play as a centre-back or right-back. A product of the West Ham youth academy, Tomkins is hugely popular with the club's fans and would be reluctant to leave. West Ham are set to shake up their squad this summer, however, following their failure to sustain their shock Champions League bid. It also comes on the back of a final-day defeat at Stoke which left them pinning their Europa League qualification hopes , ironically, on Manchester United beating Palace in Saturday's FA Cup Final.
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Di Canio recommends player to Slav
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Former Hammer Paolo Di Canio is believed to have personally recommended Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie to Slaven Bilic. A source close tpo the club told us: "Paolo knows the player well having managed him at Swindon and recommended him strongly to the boss." Ritchie signed for Bournemouth at the beginning of 2013 on a three-and-a-half year deal for a reported £400,000 fee. After leaving Swindon Ritchie said he was a "heavy hearted" at moving on with Di Canio insisting the club sold him behind his back. Less a month after the sale Paolo Di Canio has resigned as manager of League One side Swindon and cited the sale of Ritchie as one of the factors in his decision. The same source also claimed Slaven became a big admirer of Callum Wilson since he scored a hat trick over West Ham in Bournemouth's 4-3 win over the Hammers last August. The Hammers admitted today they had made a bid for the pair following Cherries boss Eddie Howe's angry outburst that the we had been out of order in doing so during his post match press conference following the defeat at Old Trafford last night (Tues).
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Man Utd can boost Irons Lacazette hopes
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
West Ham are hoping that Manchester United can give them a last chance helping hand to land their No 1 striking target Alexandre Lacazette.
Despite adopting a public stance which claims they have given up the chase for the striker after seeing a 31 million euro bid rejected, they remain in the game. Lacazette is keen to play Champions League football next season but the Hammers believe that should they find themselves in the Europa Cup via a Manchester United FA Cup Final victory then they are back in with a chance of landing their man. ClaretandHugh reported last night that the player is calling the shots on his future and that whilst Lyon are ready to let him go they will not pressure him into a club against his better judgement. The Hammers have shown the player how much they want him by launching their biggest ever bid and are set to renew their efforts should United strengthen their hand at Wembley. A top source told us: "Obviously that situation is still very much in play and our interest cannot be entirely at an end as a result. It's all a case of keeping the powder dry at this stage."
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Alexandre Lacazette: The Lyon striker on Premier League radars
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 18/05/16 1:43pm
SSN
After scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 this season, Alexandre Lacazette appears to have caught the attentions of several clubs around Europe. West Ham have shown their intent, with a £31m bid rejected on Tuesday, while there have been reports that Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested. But what would the 24-year-old bring to the Premier League and how much is it likely to cost to lure him away from Lyon? We look at some of the key questions...
Why all the fuss?
Lacazette's profile has increased significantly over the last couple of years. From scoring 23 league goals combined in his first three seasons as a regular starter, in 2014/15 he notched 27 times to finish as top scorer in France, and also won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award. He started slow this season, only scoring five times in the first 15 games, but finished strongly to end up second behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the scoring charts. At 5ft 9in, he is not as strong in the air as Ibrahimovic and far less of a target man. Instead, he likes to get involved with play, linking up with fellow forwards - mainly Maxwel Cornet and Rachid Ghezzal this season - and helping create opportunities in and around the box. He created 43 chances in the league this season, had a shot accuracy of 57 per cent, and in 2014/15 he had the best chance conversion rate in Ligue 1 (35 per cent). While that has dropped off this year, only three players in France contributed to a bigger percentage of their team goals than Lacazette (32 per cent). He was also rated as the second best striker in Ligue 1 by whoscored.com, behind Ibrahimovic, with an average of 7.36.
So is Lacazette new on the scene?
Not really. He will turn 25 on May 28 and made his first-team debut with Lyon six years ago. Since then he has made more than 200 appearances for the club, including playing in the last-32 of the Champions League and quarter-finals of the Europa League. In this season's Champions League, he scored against Zenit St Petersburg and Valencia as Lyon finished bottom of their group.
They should play Champions League and play good football, passing the ball and not just hitting it from box to box. Not kick and rush. It would not work for me. He has also been capped 10 times by France but has not been included in their squad for Euro 2016, with Anthony Martial, Olivier Giroud and Andre-Pierre Gignac preferred up front. Lyon head coach Bruno Genesio said he was "very disappointed" that Lacazette did not make the squad.
Does he want to move to the Premier League?
There have been mixed messages. His agent said in March that he expects to be at Lyon next season but, more recently, there was not quite such commitment from the player himself.
"Will I still be in Ligue 1 next season? I will think about it," Lacazette told Canal+. "I need to take good decisions. I am very happy at the club. If there is better elsewhere, then I will see. I am happy at the club, but we will think about it."
In January he told the Daily Telegraph that the Premier League is "very attractive" while outlining his criteria for a team he would join. "They should play Champions League and play good football, passing the ball and not just hitting it from box to box. Not kick and rush. It would not work for me," he said.
Do Lyon want/need to sell?
Their president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has been known to strike a hard bargain in the past - think Michael Essien's prolonged transfer to Chelsea. He has said that he wants Lacazette to stay and in March went so far as to say that the striker leaving this summer would be "simply impossible". But a larger offer than the one put forward by West Ham could test Lyon's resolve, with reports suggesting they might sell for around £39.1million. Lyon's position is strengthened by the fact the striker signed a new deal until 2019 and they can offer Champions League football next season after finishing second in Ligue 1.
Is there other interest aside from the Premier League?
There has also been reported interest from Spain, with La Liga champions Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among the clubs said to be keen on Lacazette. Paris Saint-Germain have also been mentioned as potential suitors as they look for a replacement for Ibrahimovic. Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso said his team-mate could "adapt to many clubs" but his head coach, Genesio, believes it would be in his best interests to stay. "For me, the correct choice would be to stay at Lyon."
Whether Lacazette heeds that advice remains to be seen.
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Report: Lacazette deal is dead
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
C and H
Jason Burt from the Telegraph reports that the Lacazette deal is now dead and West Ham has now walked away unwilling to make a third offer. Burt claims the latest offer was 33 million Euros (£25.8m) and not the reported £31m by the Sun and Sky Sports News. Speaking on his personal twitter when the news broke on Sky last night Burt said "So.. West Ham have failed in a bid of 33m euros (£25.8m) for Alexandre Lacazette and I'm told the deal is now dead. I had hoped the Lacazette story would wait until tomorrow as I was still checking but West Ham have failed in two bids and now walked away.."
Burt later described the deal as "Dead as a dodo. Two bids rejected and it's over." and answering to one supporter on twitter who questioned Burt on whether West Ham would make a third offer "No, it's a decent offer. But Lyon are a difficult club to deal with. The negotiations were always very clear." Meanwhile, L'Equipe in France suggest PSG has now entered the race to sign Lacazette with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaving the club this summer.
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West Ham transfer news: Paris Saint-Germain ready to hijack Hammers' pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette with £40m bid
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Paris Saint-Germain have muscled in on West Ham's pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette. The Hammers had a £31m bid rejected by Lyon on Tuesday but are expected to return with a better offer later on in the summer. However, after hearing about West Ham's approach, PSG have now rekindled their interest in the forward and are willing to stump up £40m. The French champions are on the hunt for a new striker this summer following the departure of the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And Lacazette, who netted 23 goals in 44 appearances for Lyon last term, now appears to be the club's No.1 target. Lyon would prefer to keep hold of their star man but a bid in excess of £35m is likely to tempt them into selling.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce highly rated defender Olatunji Akinola has signed a professional contract with the club. The 17-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most promising players coming through the ranks at the prestigious Academy of Football. Having signed a three year contract, a delighted Akinola said: "It's a great feeling for me and my family, a very proud day. Its feels great that the club have shown faith in me to give me another three years to help develop myself as a footballer. "I've been here since I was eight so it's been nine years of hard work. But I'm playing football for a top Premier League academy so I'm definitely enjoying it as well."
This season, Akinola established himself as a regular in the U18 side which qualified for the elite group of the Play Offs. Making 21 starts, he also scored twice, in what has been another year of steady progress for the youngster. He continued: "I have known for a while know but my instant reaction was pleasantly surprised. It's a big thing as all my family are football fans as well so we were all celebrating when we found out. "I feel this has been a strong season for me particularly. I have put in some solid performances in the 18's and worked to get some opportunities in the U21s which I just want to carry on next season. "Ending the season with some successful tours is also nice; getting to the final in Zurich and Holland."
Having got another successful year under his belt, the ball-playing centre-back is currently in Hong Kong preparing for the Soccer Sevens tournament. Now with at least three more years to look forward to, Akinola is daring to dream big: "Making my first team debut at the new stadium would be a beautiful moment and nice reward for the work I have put in. "That would be the beginning of many hopes and dreams I plan to achieve with West Ham. The club is going forwards and i want to go forwards with all the Hammers fans! "The club is really on the up right now with the new stadium, new exciting players and potential Europa League football. It's great for us youngsters to be surrounded by this as it gives us motivation to go on and succeed at this great club."
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The Insider
WHUFC.com
The Insider brings you exclusive insight into the behind-the-scenes goings on at West Ham United...
The Premier League season has only just finished but the speculation has now intensified over which new signings will be arriving at West Ham United. I, The Insider will be breaking news throughout the summer and giving you the very latest updates on which players are heading in and out of the Club. There have been a lot of rumours surrounding a possible move for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette. My sources have told me that a £31million offer has been made for the prolific forward but the French club turned it down and the Club will now move on. It is my understanding that the Club have made £20million bids for UK based players this week and they hope to sign the first of two strikers in the next few weeks. It has been made clear to me that fans should not be concerned if bids are being turned down. The Premier League season has only just finished and these things happen early on in the transfer window. I have been told that the Club are determined to get value for money and could bid for a number of players as they look to buy three or four key players. Fans should be excited by the plans that the Board have this summer and should stay tuned to whufc.com for all the latest news. There has also been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of talented youngster Reece Oxford. It is my understanding that Oxford has a contract until 2018 and cannot sign a longer term deal until he is 18. Negotiations are still ongoing and he has not turned down any offers.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
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Ogbonna - It's been a great season
WHUFC.com
Angelo Ogbonna says his first season in England could hardly have gone better – even if he was left to reflect on a frustrating final day defeat at Stoke City on Sunday. The 27-year-old defender was a summer 2015 arrival from Juventus and established himself as a regular starter for Slaven Bilic's side – playing in 27 Barclays Premier League games. He scored a dramatic winner in the FA Cup tie with Liverpool and is targeting more success – and hopefully European football – in 2016/17. He said: "Sunday's result was really disappointing for us, but it was still a fantastic season. We will have to focus on the new season now, and we have to start really well – like we did this season. "We deserved to win the game against Stoke, but the season is finished and we will look forward to next year and enjoy it. "First we will be concentrating on the television on Saturday, so hopefully we can be lucky and go to Europe! "I'm really happy with my first season in England. I'm really happy because I scored against Liverpool and that was an amazing moment for us. "We have to be proud about this season and maybe next season we can do better!"
Ogbonna's season isn't over yet – he has linked up with Italy for a training camp ahead of Euro 2016 and is hoping to make the final cut.
He added: "I'm still hoping [to be called up]. Maybe I will have a chance to go to the Euros, but it doesn't depend on me – it's the manager's decision."
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Cresswell - It was a great team performance
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell played his part in another memorable campaign for West Ham United as they secured their highest Premier League finish since 2002.
Cresswell has enjoyed a number of memorable moments but feels one of the standout memories was the 3-2 victory over Everton back in March.
The 26-year-old will never forget the impressive comeback after his side were trailing by two goals but showed their fighting qualities to score three goals in the second half and come away with all three points. Cresswell played his part in the winning goal when his pin-point cross picked out Andy Carroll who headed the ball into Diafra Sakho and his clever flick fell to Dimitri Payet who made no mistake striking the ball into the corner of the net. The result was one of many famous victories on the road this season, but it was voted the best team performance at the end of season Player Awards and Cresswell feels it showed the amazing team spirit they have in the squad. Cresswell said: "We were delighted to pick up the award. We were obviously 2-0 down and we needed the three points at the time. "It is never easy going to Goodison Park and when we went two goals down it was made even harder but I remember Nobes putting the ball in for Antonio to get us back in the game and then Sakho scored the equaliser. "I then played the ball into Andy who had been shouting to put a few diagonal balls into him in the final few minutes and he has flicked it into Dimi who scored the winner and there is no better feeling that doing that in the final minute. "In the Premier League it is not easy to go two goals behind, especially at Goodison Park with the crowd. It was a great result for us and won us the Performance of the Season."
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Ladies game update
WHUFC.com
The proposed game between West Ham Ladies and a West Ham 'All Stars' team scheduled for Sunday June 5 has been cancelled.
The Club has taken the decision to call off the match in response to direct comments from supporters, a poll conducted on the official website and fan feedback on social media.
West Ham Ladies played under the lights at the Boleyn Ground back in March when they faced Tottenham Ladies and dialogue remains open between West Ham Ladies and the Club with regards to the hosting of future fixtures.
West Ham Ladies Joint-Chairman Stephen Hunt said: "Obviously the Ladies are disappointed but myself and Jack Sullivan will get together over the summer to see what else we can do in the future."
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Battle of wits to determine Lacazette future
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
The club says it's off, his representative says it's still on. So where exactly does that leave Alexandre Lacazette? Possibly on the way to Paris St Germain, according to trusted outlet L'Equipe this afternoon - who r\n with a story linking the Ligue 1 champions with a move for the keenly-sought 24-year-old striker, who they see as the ideal replacement for the outgoing Zlatan Ibrahimovic. However what is in no doubt is that West Ham saw a bid - varying from £23million to £31million, depending on your source of choice - rejected by Lyon yesterday, following months of speculation linking Lacazette with a move to the Olympix Stadium.
News of the bid being rejected by Lyon was swiftly followed up by claims from within West Ham - or to be more precise, Jason Burt and the resurgent 'Club Insider' via West Ham's own website - insisting that the deal was dead.
But "nonsense!" cried FIFA-registered agent Vincent Rodríguez, who denied that the deal was off, claiming instead that the transfer had reached a stalemate over the terms of payment, rather than the fee itself.
Vincent Rodríguez @VRodriguezlaw
It is the payment structure that has been rejected not the amount as such. #Facts https://twitter.com/skysportsnewshq/status/732662515176484867 … 9:43 PM - 17 May 2016
Ensuring that he cannot be accused of sticking all his eggs in one basket, co-owner David Sullivan is busy chasing several potential deals with view to landing at least one or two deals before the squad returns for pre-season in early July.
Christian Benteke, Gohkan Tore, Callum Wilson and Marseille's Michy Batshuayi are all on the club's list of attacking targets as West Ham seek to
re-build a squad inherited last summer by Slaven Bilic.
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Young agent seeking London club
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Ashley Young's agent is understood to have contacted West Ham with view to finding his player a club in London. The 30-year-old Manchester United winger signed a new three-year contract at Old Trafford last year but is reported to be unsettled in the North West and seeking a return south.
At this stage there is no indication that West Ham are interested in bringing the former England international to the Olympic Stadium, but as a winger - who can also play in a more advanced role - Young could be viewed as a suitable replacement for Enner Valencia, who is widely tipped to leave West Ham this summer.
The Hammers previously attempted to sign Young in the 2007 winter transfer window but an £8million bid was rejected by Watford, his club at the time. Days later, a £10million bid was accepted - but Young refused to make the move to Upton Park, choosing to sign for Aston VIlla instead. He joined Manchester United in 2011, following three seasons at Villa Park.
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Ladies match cancelled
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham Ladies' plans to play one final time at the Boleyn Ground have been shelved. West Ham United announced this lunchtime that the mooted clash between the Ladies and a West Ham All Star XI, which was scheduled to take place at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday, 5 June has been cancelled. According to the club, "the decision to call off the match has been taken in response to direct comments from supporters, a poll conducted on the club's website and fan feedback on social media." A number of supporters spoke out against the game as they felt the final match featuring a West Ham team and staged at the club's home of 122 years should be a first team fixture. It is also thought that the club harboured concerns due to the condition of the Boleyn Ground - which is slowly being stripped of its contents - and the question of stewards and security, who would have required to police the fixture. Ladies co-Chairman Stephen Hunt told whufc.com "Obviously the Ladies are disappointed but myself and Jack Sullivan will get together over the summer to see what else we can do in the future."
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Club record bid rejected
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United are reported to have had a £26million bid for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette rejected. Sky Sports reported tonight that the 24-year-old goalscorer, who has long been linked with a summer move to the Olympic Stadium was the subject of a failed bid earlier today. Lacazette, who is not involved with the provisional French squad that will compete in this summer's European Championships has also been interesting the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool in recent months. West Ham had been considered front-runners to sign the highly-rated forward but Jason Burt reported later that the record-breaking offer was the second rejected by Lyon, adding that the Hammers were unlikely to return with a third bid. West Ham's current transfer record fee stands at £15million, paid to Liverpool for Andy Carroll in 2013. News of the club's interest in Lacazette comes hot on the heels of yesterday's story regarding a £25million double-bid for Bournemouth duo Matt Ritchie and Callum Wilson, who scored a hat-trick at the Boleyn Ground at the beginning of last season in the Cherries' 4-3 win.
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Oxford responds to transfer rumours
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th May 2016
By: Staff Writer
Reece Oxford has laughed off a story linking him with a move away from West Ham United. Sky Sports reported last night that the talented 17-year-old, who is rated as one of the country's brightest young prospects had rejected a new contract offer from West Ham. It was also suggested that Oxford, who is under contract at West Ham for another two years might be available for "a bid in excess of £10million" - a figure that may lead "the Hammers to consider selling".
However Oxford, posting on his Twitter account in reply to the ensuing furore gave no indication that he is seeking to leave the club when he wrote "rumours will be rumours!" The England youth international, who made his first team debut at the age of 16 against Lusitans in the Europa League last summer made a total of 12 appearances during the 2015/16 campaign for the Hammers.
* Oxford was named as the KUMB Readers' Young Player of the Year at Tuesday night's Awards show, beating Martin Samuelsen (third) and Reece Burke (runner-up and last year's winner).
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Hammers speak for first time on Bournemouth bid
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham are unapologetic over making a bid for Bournemouth pair Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie claiming they never made it public! The club has exclusively revealed to ClaretandHugh this morning (Wed) that they did indeed make a bid but are clearly taken aback that the world now knows about it after it made a couple of pars initially in the media. They have explained that the offer for the pair was a private Matt Ritchie Bournemouthaffair and that there was never intention – nor did they ever have any intention of – making the bid public. That Eddie Howe – one of the quietest managers in the League- to have complained in his post match press conference about it – was indeed very strange however and smacks of mountains and molehills.
The Cherries boss had said: "We had a bid yesterday evening and the disappointment from our perspective is why the bid came in the day before our last game of the season when you have the whole summer to bid for players. "The two players were in our squad and due to play in this game with a lot of speculation about their future. Bizarre." "The bid was rejected and we don't need to sell. We want to improve our squad, not weaken it. Our biggest challenge is to keep ends the players we already have. Yes, it was West Ham and no it wasn't £25 million."
However, West Ham were quick to point out that at no stage did they as a club made the bid public and are clearly surprised that it has become a major issue. Our top insider – said: "We put the bids in and they were rejected. We think somebody at Bournemouth or a player's agents made the bids public, as we certainly didn't."
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Rugby World Cup OS agreement revealed
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
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The venue hire agreement between Olympic Stadium owners E20 LLP and England Rugby 2015 Limited has been the latest contract published under Freedom of information laws this week. There has been a domino effect of publication of previously confidential agreements since a coalition of football supporters fought for the publication of West Ham's rental agreement with the stadium owner. Last week, saw the fine details of the sweet deal enjoyed by UK Athletics in hiring the Olympic Stadium with a base £35,000 maintained fee for a 45 day exclusive summer rental window. The Olympic Stadium saw five matches at the Rugby World Cup in 2015 including the bronze final on October 30th but group pool matches included France v Romania (September 23rd) New Zealand v Namibia (September 24th), Ireland v Italy (October 4th) and South Africa v United States on (October 7th). Although details about corporate hospitality, catering and naming rights have all been revealed, the actual amount Rugby organisers paid has been blacked out. Stadium owners were forced to reveal West Ham are paying £2.5m in rent plus performance bonuses but the Rugby World Cup rent is being kept secret.
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Come on Eddie Howe – time to man up mate
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in Hugh's Blogs, News, Whispers
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Not quite sure what got into Eddie Howe's head as he launched his bizarre outburst against West Ham following Bournemouth's defeat against Manchester United last night (Tues). He chose to make it clear that the Irons had bid for pair of players and even explained that it wasn't the reported £25 million. Maybe being Bournemouth he's not used to seeing his players command two pars in the tabloids suggesting there's been a bid so without any irony let me explain – Eddie it happens! :-). And should it be a match day and you are asked about it in the post-match press conference the best way to handle it is to say "no comment" or merely explain there has been a bid but that it's not acceptable. End of. Instead he chose to go into a mini rant about the timing of the offer and suggestion that West Ham are out of order to do so…err No. West Ham didn't release the news and as was suggested by ClaretandHugh's senior insider the news could easily have been leaked to the press at the Cherries end or via an agent. Unless Mr Howe has some firm evidence the Hammers were responsible he should perhaps keep quiet rather than trying to blame those who have denied being responsible. I can only believe a 3-1 drubbing by an average United team had – as it's bound to – a very distressing effect but oi Eddie that's down to you and your players – NOT US. Man up buddy!
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Hammers end rumours over defender
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham have shrugged off all suggestions that Reece Oxford is being hunted by any club. Sky Sources suggested yesterday (Tues) that the Hammers would be ready to entertain bids of around £10 million for the youngster rather than face picking up compensation of much less in 18 months time. They also implied that he has refused to sign a new deal and although the club want to tie him down to a new deal there is absolutely no concern inside the club over the new round of rumours. ClaretandHugh contacted its top source at the club as the speculation intensified and was immediately assured there "is nothing in any of this at all." He added: "There have been no inquiries from anywhere but the time of year always sees a certain train of events get underway and there's always a legion of agents and middlemen ready to start rumours through the media. "We are talking all the time and monitoring things and there is nothing to be concerned about."
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West Ham's James Tomkins a transfer target for Crystal Palace and Sunderland
22:30, 18 MAY 2016
BY DARREN LEWIS
The 27-year-old Academy product who can play centre-half or right-back would be reluctant to go, but the Hammers' squad is in line for a summer shake-up
The Mirror
Crystal Palace are interested in West Ham's James Tomkins. Sunderland are also big fans of the 27-year-old defender, who can play as a centre-back or right-back. A product of the West Ham youth academy, Tomkins is hugely popular with the club's fans and would be reluctant to leave. West Ham are set to shake up their squad this summer, however, following their failure to sustain their shock Champions League bid. It also comes on the back of a final-day defeat at Stoke which left them pinning their Europa League qualification hopes , ironically, on Manchester United beating Palace in Saturday's FA Cup Final.
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Di Canio recommends player to Slav
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Former Hammer Paolo Di Canio is believed to have personally recommended Bournemouth's Matt Ritchie to Slaven Bilic. A source close tpo the club told us: "Paolo knows the player well having managed him at Swindon and recommended him strongly to the boss." Ritchie signed for Bournemouth at the beginning of 2013 on a three-and-a-half year deal for a reported £400,000 fee. After leaving Swindon Ritchie said he was a "heavy hearted" at moving on with Di Canio insisting the club sold him behind his back. Less a month after the sale Paolo Di Canio has resigned as manager of League One side Swindon and cited the sale of Ritchie as one of the factors in his decision. The same source also claimed Slaven became a big admirer of Callum Wilson since he scored a hat trick over West Ham in Bournemouth's 4-3 win over the Hammers last August. The Hammers admitted today they had made a bid for the pair following Cherries boss Eddie Howe's angry outburst that the we had been out of order in doing so during his post match press conference following the defeat at Old Trafford last night (Tues).
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Man Utd can boost Irons Lacazette hopes
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
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West Ham are hoping that Manchester United can give them a last chance helping hand to land their No 1 striking target Alexandre Lacazette.
Despite adopting a public stance which claims they have given up the chase for the striker after seeing a 31 million euro bid rejected, they remain in the game. Lacazette is keen to play Champions League football next season but the Hammers believe that should they find themselves in the Europa Cup via a Manchester United FA Cup Final victory then they are back in with a chance of landing their man. ClaretandHugh reported last night that the player is calling the shots on his future and that whilst Lyon are ready to let him go they will not pressure him into a club against his better judgement. The Hammers have shown the player how much they want him by launching their biggest ever bid and are set to renew their efforts should United strengthen their hand at Wembley. A top source told us: "Obviously that situation is still very much in play and our interest cannot be entirely at an end as a result. It's all a case of keeping the powder dry at this stage."
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Alexandre Lacazette: The Lyon striker on Premier League radars
By James Walker-Roberts
Last Updated: 18/05/16 1:43pm
SSN
After scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 this season, Alexandre Lacazette appears to have caught the attentions of several clubs around Europe. West Ham have shown their intent, with a £31m bid rejected on Tuesday, while there have been reports that Manchester United and Liverpool are also interested. But what would the 24-year-old bring to the Premier League and how much is it likely to cost to lure him away from Lyon? We look at some of the key questions...
Why all the fuss?
Lacazette's profile has increased significantly over the last couple of years. From scoring 23 league goals combined in his first three seasons as a regular starter, in 2014/15 he notched 27 times to finish as top scorer in France, and also won the Ligue 1 Player of the Year award. He started slow this season, only scoring five times in the first 15 games, but finished strongly to end up second behind Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the scoring charts. At 5ft 9in, he is not as strong in the air as Ibrahimovic and far less of a target man. Instead, he likes to get involved with play, linking up with fellow forwards - mainly Maxwel Cornet and Rachid Ghezzal this season - and helping create opportunities in and around the box. He created 43 chances in the league this season, had a shot accuracy of 57 per cent, and in 2014/15 he had the best chance conversion rate in Ligue 1 (35 per cent). While that has dropped off this year, only three players in France contributed to a bigger percentage of their team goals than Lacazette (32 per cent). He was also rated as the second best striker in Ligue 1 by whoscored.com, behind Ibrahimovic, with an average of 7.36.
So is Lacazette new on the scene?
Not really. He will turn 25 on May 28 and made his first-team debut with Lyon six years ago. Since then he has made more than 200 appearances for the club, including playing in the last-32 of the Champions League and quarter-finals of the Europa League. In this season's Champions League, he scored against Zenit St Petersburg and Valencia as Lyon finished bottom of their group.
They should play Champions League and play good football, passing the ball and not just hitting it from box to box. Not kick and rush. It would not work for me. He has also been capped 10 times by France but has not been included in their squad for Euro 2016, with Anthony Martial, Olivier Giroud and Andre-Pierre Gignac preferred up front. Lyon head coach Bruno Genesio said he was "very disappointed" that Lacazette did not make the squad.
Does he want to move to the Premier League?
There have been mixed messages. His agent said in March that he expects to be at Lyon next season but, more recently, there was not quite such commitment from the player himself.
"Will I still be in Ligue 1 next season? I will think about it," Lacazette told Canal+. "I need to take good decisions. I am very happy at the club. If there is better elsewhere, then I will see. I am happy at the club, but we will think about it."
In January he told the Daily Telegraph that the Premier League is "very attractive" while outlining his criteria for a team he would join. "They should play Champions League and play good football, passing the ball and not just hitting it from box to box. Not kick and rush. It would not work for me," he said.
Do Lyon want/need to sell?
Their president, Jean-Michel Aulas, has been known to strike a hard bargain in the past - think Michael Essien's prolonged transfer to Chelsea. He has said that he wants Lacazette to stay and in March went so far as to say that the striker leaving this summer would be "simply impossible". But a larger offer than the one put forward by West Ham could test Lyon's resolve, with reports suggesting they might sell for around £39.1million. Lyon's position is strengthened by the fact the striker signed a new deal until 2019 and they can offer Champions League football next season after finishing second in Ligue 1.
Is there other interest aside from the Premier League?
There has also been reported interest from Spain, with La Liga champions Barcelona and Atletico Madrid among the clubs said to be keen on Lacazette. Paris Saint-Germain have also been mentioned as potential suitors as they look for a replacement for Ibrahimovic. Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso said his team-mate could "adapt to many clubs" but his head coach, Genesio, believes it would be in his best interests to stay. "For me, the correct choice would be to stay at Lyon."
Whether Lacazette heeds that advice remains to be seen.
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Report: Lacazette deal is dead
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 18, 2016 in News, Whispers
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Jason Burt from the Telegraph reports that the Lacazette deal is now dead and West Ham has now walked away unwilling to make a third offer. Burt claims the latest offer was 33 million Euros (£25.8m) and not the reported £31m by the Sun and Sky Sports News. Speaking on his personal twitter when the news broke on Sky last night Burt said "So.. West Ham have failed in a bid of 33m euros (£25.8m) for Alexandre Lacazette and I'm told the deal is now dead. I had hoped the Lacazette story would wait until tomorrow as I was still checking but West Ham have failed in two bids and now walked away.."
Burt later described the deal as "Dead as a dodo. Two bids rejected and it's over." and answering to one supporter on twitter who questioned Burt on whether West Ham would make a third offer "No, it's a decent offer. But Lyon are a difficult club to deal with. The negotiations were always very clear." Meanwhile, L'Equipe in France suggest PSG has now entered the race to sign Lacazette with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaving the club this summer.
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West Ham transfer news: Paris Saint-Germain ready to hijack Hammers' pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette with £40m bid
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Paris Saint-Germain have muscled in on West Ham's pursuit of Alexandre Lacazette. The Hammers had a £31m bid rejected by Lyon on Tuesday but are expected to return with a better offer later on in the summer. However, after hearing about West Ham's approach, PSG have now rekindled their interest in the forward and are willing to stump up £40m. The French champions are on the hunt for a new striker this summer following the departure of the talismanic Zlatan Ibrahimovic. And Lacazette, who netted 23 goals in 44 appearances for Lyon last term, now appears to be the club's No.1 target. Lyon would prefer to keep hold of their star man but a bid in excess of £35m is likely to tempt them into selling.
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