West Ham United

[Mighty T.A.L.]

West Ham aim to trump Man City for Roque Cruz

West Ham United have made a move for Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Cruz.

The Mirror says the Hammers have made an audacious bid to snatch ?5 million-rated Santa Cruz away from Sven Goran Eriksson's Manchester City.

The Hammers will match any bid and beat City's wage offer as they try to land Cruz who hit a hat-trick in Paraguay's 5-0 Copa America win over Colombia.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

West Ham move for Portsmouth's Lualua

West Ham United are eyeing Portsmouth striker Lomana Lualua.

Lualua insists he's ready to fight for his place at Pompey following the arrivals of John Utaka and David Nugent, however he could be offered an escape route by West Ham, says The Times.

[BlackNess]

West Ham Refuse Tevez Medical

West Ham have refused Manchester United permission to give Carlos Tevez a medical as the stand-off between the two clubs goes on.



The Argentine ace returned to England following Sunday's Copa America final defeat and was expected to undergo a medical examination at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

However, after talks involving West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson and United lawyer Maurice Watkins in London today there was no resolution over the future of the 23-year-old, who has been the centre of so much controversy since his arrival from Corinthians 11 months ago.

A West Ham spokesman told PA Sport: "Meetings have taken place between the two clubs but no agreement has been reached in relation to Carlos Tevez."

Manchester United will have to wait for West Ham's approval before they are permitted to give Tevez a medical, but there is still plenty of confusion over who holds Tevez's registration.

West Ham insist they have ownership of the player having terminated all third-party agreements with his representative Kia Joorabchian, but the businessman still claims to own the economic rights to the player.

It is Joorabchian that has reached an agreement with Manchester United, but this will not please the Premier League, who appear to be under the belief that Tevez is owned by West Ham and if it is found that they are not they may be forced into issuing further punishment.

United's chief executive David Gill had earlier said: "Effectively, we are trying to work with four parties - the player, West Ham, the company who own Carlos' economic rights and the Premier League - in order to sort it out.

"The process is ongoing. The player will have a medical at some point this week, then we will take it from there.

"We still have to sort out the paperwork but we are confident that can be achieved in the course of the next week or so."

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Julien Faubert could be a doubt for the start of the new season after suffering an ankle injury.He was carried off in the 1-0 friendly defeat in Austria against Czechs Sigma Olomuc.

[darran]

http://www.football-italia.net

Lazio comfortably saw off West Ham 2-0 in today’s friendly, while Genoa, Napoli and Catania netted a mountain of goals.

The Biancocelesti continued their warm-up for the Champions League preliminary round in Austria with this prestigious victory over the Premier League side.

Defender Guglielmo Stendardo continued his reputation as an unexpected hitman with the opening goal after 13 minutes.

Macedonian Goran Pandev followed with the final strike straight after the restart.

Veteran goalkeeper Marco Ballotta showed 43 years have not slowed his reflexes, as he saved a Craig Bellamy penalty.

Lazio’s next opponents will also be English, as they travel to Southampton next Saturday.

This is getting better and better. Despite missing Mutarelli, Siviglia and Rocchi (75 mins), we still managed to get the goals. We have to keep improving nonetheless, these friendlies up ahead is very challenging for us, and it would no doubt get us into shape.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Eggert expects Tevez exit

West Ham chairman Eggert Magnusson has conceded he expects Carlos Tevez to leave Upton Park.

Manchester United have lined up a deal to sign the Argentine international, but the move has been held up over a wrangle over Tevez's ownership.

West Ham and Tevez's representatives are at loggerheads over the player's contract with United waiting to see if the forward can make the move to Old Trafford before the start of the season.

Fifa, the FA and the Premier League are due to meet to discuss Tevez's contract situation with West Ham and the player's representatives are keen for the issue to be resolved one way or the other.

West Ham have been resolute in their bid to keep Tevez, but Magnusson has now admitted the Argentine international looks set to move on.

"At the moment, he's our player but he wants to play in the Champions League," Magnusson told Swedish daily Aftonbladet.

"I think he will be leaving soon."

Source: Skysports

So why not sell him right away?Jerk!

[Jager]

Arsenal lose Ljungberg to West Ham

West Ham capture Arsenal prize.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

West Ham United are keen on Derby County midfielder Giles Barnes.

The Times says the Hammers have expressed an interest in Barnes, who was close to joining Tottenham Hotspur in January.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

West Ham go for Newcastle's Dyer after Faubert crock

West Ham United intend to bid for Newcastle United midfielder Kieron Dyer in the wake of Julien Faubert's injury.

Faubert, a £6.1million summer recruit, has been sidelined for six months with an Achilles tendon problem and boss Alan Curbishley is said to be eager to replace him with the 28-year-old England man, says The Times.

Dyer is believed to be chasing a fresh challenge after eight years on Tyneside and after reported talks with Sam Allardyce the Newcastle boss will not stand in his way as long as his Toon spending is allowed to continue.

Magpies new-boy Joey Barton will miss the start of the season with a broken foot, but that is unlikely to derail Dyer's St James' Park exit and Newcastle are apparently expecting some movement within the next 48 hours.

Manchester City and Tottenham are also believed to be keen on Dyer.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Hammers chasing Anelka

West Ham have bid a clubrecord £12million for Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka.

After failing to land Darren Bent and Andrew Johnson this summer, they are finally hoping to land the attacking spearhead to lead their ambitious assault on the top six.

They hope a £90,000-a-week salary will convince Anelka, 28, to join their growing band of Premiership diehards and, with the money they have offered Bolton, are confident of getting their man.

But after already landing fiery Craig Bellamy, the arrival of controversial Anelka — dubbed Le Sulk for his past behaviour — will concern some West Ham fans.

Source: The Daily Mail

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Knight hits West Ham as Bellamy loses his cool again

Craig Bellamy wasted no time in buffing up his controversial reputation as his first game for West Ham on UK soil ended in a shock 3-2 defeat at the new MK Dons Stadium.

It was only a pre-season friendly but £8million former Liverpool striker Bellamy, resplendent in bright yellow boots, was hauled aside to be severely dressed down by Rutland referee Trevor Kettle.

It was presumably for something he said after Kettle gave MK Dons a 50th-minute penalty for a Jon Spector push on Drewe Broughton, the spotkick being converted by Keith Andrews to make it 2-2.

Striker Leon Knight went on to grab victory for the League One side with an easy tap-in after 79 minutes.

Dons, of course, are managed by Paul Ince, a hate-figure above all other ex-West Ham players to their fans over a controversial exit to Manchester United 18 years ago.

But Ince's team shocked the Premiership side by taking a ninth-minute lead when former West Brom and QPR wide man Lloyd Dyer swapped passes with Broughton and centred from the left for Mark Wright to slide the ball in.

It took a mistake by home central defender Drissa Diallo to hand the Hammers an equaliser on 16 minutes when Luis Boa Morte centred from the left, leaving Hogan Ephraim with a simple tap into an empty net.

Two minutes later, West Ham led when Matthew Upson towered above the Dons defence to head home Boa Morte's free-kick from the right.

Keeper Luke Steele made a fine reaction save but defender Upson stabbed the rebound into the net.

It took 29 minutes for Bellamy to get a clear shooting chance from a move set up by Freddie Ljungberg, making an hour-long debut after a £2m move from Arsenal, and Christian Dailly but he drove wide of the right post to the jeers of the Dons fans.

MK Dons were without striker Izale McLeod sparking speculation that he will be joining Charlton in a £1.5m deal later this week.

Source: The Daily Mail

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Paris St Germain star Marcelo Gallardo is interesting West Ham.The Sun says Gallardo, 31, could be snapped up on the cheap as he has just a year left on his PSG deal.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Bolton has told West Ham they want £13M for Anelka.

[kennethlindheim]

West Ham are getting linked to absolutley every players. It's actually a little provoting.