West Ham will face a straight fight with Queens Park Rangers to sign Celtic striker Gary Hooper, according to the Daily Express today.
The 25 year old was the subject of three failed bids by Norwich in January, but with only a year left on Hooper's contract, the Bhoys have reportedly resigned themselves to selling their prize asset this summer rather than risk him leaving for free next summer.
The Hammers and QPR were both linked with a move for the striker earlier this week and R's boss Harry Redknapp is believed to be ready to fork out the £6m fee Celtic want for the former Scunthorpe man.
However, Hooper himself is unsurprisingly more open to a move to the Premier League than the Championship, so matching QPR's bid should be enough for West Ham to land the Essex-born hitman.
By Alex Shilling, News Editor
@alexshilling
Showing posts with label Queens Park Rangers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Queens Park Rangers. Show all posts
Friday, 17 May 2013
Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Golden Bhoy Gary to swap Hoops for Hammers?
Rumour has it this morning that Celtic striker Gary Hooper is primed to make a summer switch to the Boleyn Ground.
The former Scunthorpe star turned out alongside Hammers stars Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Matt Jarvis on the Cole XI in a memorial game for Irons academy graduate Mitchell Cole and now the powerful 25 year old is being strongly linked with a move to the Boleyn Ground, after a hugely prolific season in Scotland where the former Hereford loanee amassed 29 goals in all competitions.
West Ham's Premier League rivals Norwich made three unsuccessful bids to sign the well-travelled forward in January, and Tottenham have been linked with Hooper in the past. However, with Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas turning his attention to Athletico Madrid's Falcao, the North London side look likely to drop out of the race to prise Hooper away from Celtic Park.
Should the Hammers want to bring the Celtic hitman to East London, their main competition would likely come from newly-relegated Queens Park Rangers, with R's boss Harry Redknapp ready to splash out £6m on the striker this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
By Alex Shilling, News Editor
@alexshilling
The former Scunthorpe star turned out alongside Hammers stars Kevin Nolan, Andy Carroll and Matt Jarvis on the Cole XI in a memorial game for Irons academy graduate Mitchell Cole and now the powerful 25 year old is being strongly linked with a move to the Boleyn Ground, after a hugely prolific season in Scotland where the former Hereford loanee amassed 29 goals in all competitions.
Should the Hammers want to bring the Celtic hitman to East London, their main competition would likely come from newly-relegated Queens Park Rangers, with R's boss Harry Redknapp ready to splash out £6m on the striker this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.
By Alex Shilling, News Editor
@alexshilling
Thursday, 9 May 2013
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
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
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Cesar will leave this summe,r says Redknapp as Hammers circle Brazil keeper
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
"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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