West Ham thread
Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce plans talks with Kieron Dyer after the midfielder was linked with a move to West Ham.
After the Hammers lost new signing Julien Faubert for six months with a ruptured Achilles earlier this week, there was talk Dyer was on their hitlist.
Allardyce insists the 28-year-old remains part of his plans at St James' Park but said: "I suppose I will have to have a chat with Kieron to see if he thinks there is anything in it and if there is, we will discuss it privately from there.
"But at the moment, there is no bid from West Ham, so until Alan Curbishley rings me or the chief executive rings (chief operating officer) Russell Cushing, then there would be no discussion.
"It has been rumoured in the papers and sometimes there is no smoke without fire.
"But if there's a bid going to come in, I would probably expect a phone call over the weekend because they have lost one of their new players.
"Whether there is some interest there now, I don't know. Kieron Dyer is not a player I would particularly want to lose, but one never knows at this stage of the season what's going to happen."
I didn't know that Faubert was out for six months until I read this article. Thats just f**king typical, we get Ashton back and now we're without our RM for 6 months. And Matthew Upson got injured as soon as he signed for us too. Whoever does the medicals at Upton Park needs to be shot (ok, probably a bit harsh).
A shame your 'team' is on the way to United............
West Ham will reportedly sign Freddie Ljungberg this week, while they are also being heavily linked with a move for Lomana LuaLua.
The People claim Ljungberg is ready to put pen to paper at Upton Park after agreeing personal terms worth around �60,000 a week in a deal that will net Arsenal �3million.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has told the Swede he is no longer part of his plans and West Ham now appear to have jumped ahead of Fiorentina in the race for the 30-year-old midfielder.
But Hammers boss Alan Curbishley's summer activity looks unlikely to stop with the signing of Ljungberg, as several of Sunday's newspapers claim LuaLua is the next man on his hitlist.
The Portsmouth striker faces renewed competition at Fratton Park following the arrivals of David Nugent and John Utaka.
And Curbishley reckons he can lure the DR Congo frontman to join Craig Bellamy in a newly-strengthened frontline.
If we can get Ljungberg - what a signing. If he stays fit throughout the season then he will be a cool head in the midfield which is probably what we need.
West Ham have completed the signing of Frederik Ljungberg from Arsenal for a fee which could rise to �3million.
The Sweden captain has signed a four-year deal at Upton Park after passing a medical and is ending a nine-year association with the club he joined from Halmstads for the same fee in 1998.
And the 30-year-old claimed it was Henry's decision to leave the Emirates that had a direct bearing on his own future.
Ljungberg declared: "When Thierry left it felt like the end. I had a lot of clubs in for me in the summer but always stayed loyal.
"Of course the decision tugged at my heart strings because I had been at Arsenal almost 10 years. It was a big thing for me.
"I felt Arsenal had let a lot of players go. When Thierry left I felt it was time for me to do something different and challenging."
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley was delighted with his latest acquisition who follows Craig Bellamy from Liverpool, Scott Parker from Newcastle and the now-injured Julien Faubert from Bordeaux.
Curbishley declared: "It's the right time for Freddie to come here. He's been at Arsenal for almost 10 years - it's a long while. He needs a challenge and I think we are the right club for him.
"We spoke to Freddie over the last week and we tried to sell him the club and what we're about. He's seen players come in and push us forward.
"He brings a few things, Champions League experience, captain of Sweden, he's versatile.
"There's a hunger there. He wants to come and push West Ham on and be partly responsible for that.
"He's joining another terrific club and that's the way he's got to see it.
"He understands the passion of the club and the passion of the fans and I'm sure he'll be a big hit here."
Chairman Eggert Magnusson was happy to have landed the Swede who was on their target list last Christmas.
Magnusson added: "He is a great player and not only that but captain of Sweden. He is a player we are very excited to have in West Ham's colours."
Magnusson also refused to rule out more players joining the Upton Park revolution as Curbishley looks to strengthen his squad further.
Magnusson declared: "If great players are available, we are always looking to make our team better.
"We have an open wallet if there are great players around."
Look this guys already bought his Ljungberg shirt....
The move is worth 3m-ish and frees up 60k a week for Arsene too. ;)
Arsenal2007-07-24 10:36:50
didn't someone from Leeds make a similar statement
I know we're not a top 4 club but for West ham to sign someone like him is massive.
If you look at who we have signed this summer and the experience they bring, you can understand my excitement...
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.
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
"I got the feeling this wasn�t a move that Freddie would have made out of ambition, more out of a realisation that his chances at Arsenal next season were limited and he was no longer anywhere near a first choice player. It must sting a bit when you�ve been integral for so long but now they�re happy for you to leave and the club du jour is one that just about cheated relegation last season. However much you want to talk about parting shots and being ambitious, joining a club in West Ham�s position is not a step forward."
http://www.arseblog.com/WP/index.php
I guess those words roll off the tongue a little easier when you've struggled to get a start.
Arsenal2007-07-25 08:23:26
Several of Tuesday morning's papers have linked the Icelandic ace with a move to Upton Park this summer as the Hammers continue their search for new faces.
The arrival of Thierry Henry at Barcelona has left Gudjohnsen well down the pecking order and he's now highly expected to make a return to the Premier League, where he last played for Chelsea.
West Ham's approach for the 28-year-old forward has been held up by the ongoing transfer saga of Carlos Tevez but with his exit now in sight, chief executive Scott Duxbury can now turn his full attention to the club's new target.
According to the Daily Star, Gudjohnsen would cost around �7m but the Daily Mirror and Daily Express suggest the fee could be as much as �10m.
Gudjohsen's father and agent Arnor, said on Monday: "West Ham would be something Eidur would consider, as there are some Icelanders there with the owners.
"Barcelona have always told him it is up to him what he wants to do, and they will not stand in his way if he wants to go."
Manager Sam Allardyce had earlier insisted a reported �4million bid for the England international was well below Newcastle's valuation.
Dyer is understood to be keen to move south to be closer to his family.
Reports today claimed Dyer has been subjected to abuse from some Magpies fans since it became clear he was hoping to leave.
Chairman Chris Mort has expressed his concern at the effect that could have on attempts to overhaul the squad.
Dyer was booed during the weekend's friendly win over Juventus and it has been alleged that his house has been targeted by an egg-throwing mob.
Mort warned: "We have to make all our current players and potential new signings see Newcastle as a great place to live.
"It would be disastrous for this sort of behaviour to be repeated."
Great - another injured player.
In no way can you say Arsenal struggled into fourth in the 2006/07 season. We were never challenged for 4th, had 8 points on Spurs and could have obtained 3rd in the last match had we won instead of drawing. "It is naive to think anything else".
In no way can you say Arsenal struggled into fourth in the 2006/07 season. We were never challenged for 4th, had 8 points on Spurs and could have obtained 3rd in the last match had we won instead of drawing. "It is naive to think anything else".