Queens Park Rangers boss Harry Redknapp has told Sky Sports that he can't see goalkeeper Julio Cesar staying at Loftus Road beyond the end of the summer, amid reports that West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is considering a swoop for the Brazil international.
"I don't see him playing here next season," Redknapp said today.
"Julio is not a player for the Championship- he has a World Cup coming up [next summer] so he needs to be playing. I think he is a player for a top Italian team, a top Spanish team or a top Premier League team. He is good enough to be playing anywhere."
Arsenal are also said to be interested in the former Inter Milan stopper, while Hammers' sources were yesterday quick to deny goalkeeping speculation, with Villa keeper Brad Guzan also being linked with a move to the Boleyn Ground this summer.
Current West Ham number 1 Jussi Jaaskelainen has recently signed a new one year deal at the club, but at the age of 38, manager Allardyce knows he has to build for the future. Reserve goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who signed from Portsmouth at the back end of last season, is not considered by the club to yet be ready to fill Jaaskelainen's boots and has spent most of this season on loan at Championship side Ipswich Town.
Hammers co-chairman David Gold stated last month the club's intentions to create a 'new look' side for next season, built around youth, rather than experience as it has been this season and so although the main focus for West Ham is strengthening their attack, there is a desire from within the club to bring what Gold describes as 'young, stronger players' into all areas of the team.
By Alex Shilling, News Editor
@alexshilling
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