Like Schmeich: Irons want Foxes keeper

West Ham are eyeing yet another summer goalkeeping target, according to the Daily Mirror today. The Hammers have been linked with the likes of Jake Kean, Julio Cesar and Brad Guzan in recent weeks and are now reportedly sizing up a move for Leicester goalkeeper Kaspar Schmeichel- the son of legendary Manchester United and Denmark keeper Peter.

The 26 year old enjoyed a good season as the Foxes made the Championship play offs, losing out to Watford in the semis, and topped the season by making his international bow for Denmark against Macedonia in February.

The Irons will reportedly face competition from Swansea and newly promoted Hull for the former Manchester City stopper's signature.

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling

Pants! Irons target Pantilimon wants move to Italy

Reported West Ham target Costel Pantilimon has told Italian newspaper La Nazione that a move to Serie A would be a 'dream,' amid reported interest from Fiorentina.

The Hammers were linked with the giant Manchester City goalkeeper in March and the Romania international earlier this month stated his desire to leave the Etihad Stadium.

However, Pantilimon seems to be very much more geared towards a move to Italy, and praised what the club had done for his former City teammates David Pizarro and Stefan Savic.

"Getting in Serie A would be a dream and some national teammates spoke well about Florence. Let me say that I am happy that two players like Pizarro and Savic found their feet in Fiorentina. I met them here in City and here they were on the fringes whereas now they are at the centre of a project."

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling

Fab Ab wants City assurances or will push for move- Irons on red alert

Reported West Ham target Abdisalam Ibrahim wants assurances from Manchester City that he is a part of their future, or he will look for a way out of the club, the Daily Star report today.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is a long-term admirer of the man dubbed 'the next Patrick Vieira,' and was accredited with an interest in the 22 year old in March.

Big Sam will, however, have to fight off competition for Ibrahim if he wants to land the Norway U21 international, with Premier League rivals Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton, Swansea, Aston Villa, West Brom and Fulham and Championship promotion hopefuls Brighton all reportedly interested in the midfielder.

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling

Giant keeper after big move: Pantilimon set for City exit as Irons linked

Manchester City goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon has today told the Sun that he wants to leave the Etihad Stadium- and the word is that the Boleyn Ground could be his next destination.

Blowing Bubbles exclusively reported to you in March that West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was keen on the 6ft 8 Romania international and now the 26 year looks set for a move away from Manchester.

"I am happy here at City but it is normal that I want to play- I am only young," Pantilimon said today.

"Everyone knows that after the season is finished, I will leave but [that] discussion will only come after the season is finished."

"It is important for my country as well as my career, because every time I speak to my national team manager [Victor Piturca] he says 'please try to play more'. My agent will discuss it with the manager and we will see what happens."

Pantilimon is now the fourth goalkeeper to be linked with the Hammers in recent days, after reports yesterday and on Tuesday crediting Allardyce with an interest in Aston Villa's Brad Guzan, Queens Park Rangers' Julio Cesar and Blackburn's Jake Kean.

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling

We saw him first! Hammers face fight to land City starlet

West Ham will have to battle a whole host of Premier League clubs if they want to sign Manchester City midfielder Abdisalam Ibrahim this summer, according to Sky Sports.

The 21 year old, out of contract in the summer, was linked with the Irons in March, but now Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Swansea have all also been credited with an interest in the Norwegian U23 international, who has been earning rave reviews for his performances on loan at Stromsgodset in the Eliteserien.

With only one first team appearance to his name in three years at the Etihad Stadium, Ibrahim may well be tempted to move on this summer and definitely won't be short of suitors.

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling

Free Blowing Bubbles Issue#7 NOW online

What a brilliant result we had against Manchester City! I was absolutely delighted after the game and so proud of how our boys played.

I also thought had Nolan’s goal not been disallowed, we could have picked up three points against the reigning champions who I felt thought they would beat us easily and were already thinking about their “must win” Champions League clash against Ajax.

We welcome Stoke to Upton Park on Monday for yet another game in front of the cameras and this surely is a game we must be looking to secure maximum points from.

Don’t get me wrong, Tony Pulis’ side will be hard to beat but compared to the teams we are playing in the coming weeks, you would hope our boys will really push to get all three points and continue our good momentum.

Looking at this week’s issue, our upcoming clashes against London rivals Spurs and Manchester United have got our writers all excited.

We’ve got some brilliant pieces from the likes of Joell Mayoh (pages 14&15), Richard Johnson (pages 20&21), Lucy Woolford (pages 22&23), Andrew Hosie (pages 26&27) and Geoff Hillyer (page 35) on these games and I think they will bring back some good/bad memories. You might also find yourself either agreeing with what they’ve said or completely disagreeing, either way they are worth a read.

Leading the issue is an excellent piece by News Editor Alex Shilling (pages 4&5) on why we’ve got more firepower up top than just Andy Carroll and why people are foolish to think otherwise. Rik Moran puts his case forward on why a move to the Olympic Stadium should be welcomed (page 8) before Dave Clark (page 9) looks past our tough run in to Christmas and explains why our games in January and February will make or break our season.

We’ve also got a piece from the Meagher family (page 10) arguing who are our best wing pairing while Carl Bateson outlines Stoke’s strengths and weaknesses in his piece (page 13).

Finally we've got a cracking article from Neil Chatteron (pages 24&25) on Hurricane Sandy and the destruction it left behind over in NYC and some cracking Opposition View articles this week with Stoke, Spurs and Man Utd fans talking to us about our games against them and their view of the mighty Hammers.
We really hope you like this issue, click here to read it on your mobile, tablet and/or computer.

COME ON YOUR IRONS

DAVID BLACKMORE
Editor
Blowing Bubbles
Website: www.blowing-bubbles.co.uk
Twitter: @Bl0wingBubbles
E-mail: Editor@Blowing-Bubbles.co.uk
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