Faubert or Faux Pas?

Hands-up all those who have heard of Julian Faubert. In fact, hands-up (if you dare admit it) all those who actually read the Daily Express. According to this 'esteemed' publication the club are about to complete the £6million capture of the Bordeaux winger, having stolen the prospect from under the nose of Glasgow Rangers, Arsenal and Tottenham. A report yesterday claimed West Ham boss Alan Curbishley was preparing to fly to France and seal a deal within the next 24 hours. Bordeaux have been fighting for several weeks to keep their young star, who is under contract for another four years, but the signs were ominous when the player went on strike this week in a bid to secure a move away. Rangers had originally tabled a bid that fell considerably short of the French club's valuation and Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud confirmed that the Glasgow club had all but run out of time to submit a new bid for the 23-year-old midfielder. "I'm afraid they will be too late" he said. "We have now received another bid for the player. I'm not sure what Rangers want to do about it but if they want this player then they would be better to make their best offer immediately. It makes no sense to wait. Rangers have made one offer which we did not accept. They have not made a second offer. We now have one which is superior to the Rangers offer and we have given the player permission to speak to the club." Declining to name which club was now looking set to sign Faubert - Roma and Fiorentina have been linked - Triaud said: "As soon as we have agreement with the player and the club we will announce it. But the player will have to undergo his medical so it might have to wait until Monday." The article finishes with a quote from a source close to West Ham saying that "we've got Faubert and the deal could be signed and sealed this weekend." This story has not be reported anywhere else in the media so it would represent a significant coup for the paper if it turns out to be accurate.

The rest of the papers seem more concerned with the availability (or not) of Messrs Defoe and Tevez. The Guardian insist that little Jermain intends to start next season with Tottenham despite the possibility of being Martin Jol's fourth-choice striker. In an article bereft of any actual quotes, it is suggested Defoe has been assured he still has a future at White Hart Lane following the completion of Darren Bent's transfer from Charlton for a club record £16.5million. The Times think the situation has become so bleak for the diminutive hitman that Defoe has returned to his Catholic faith in pursuit of the mental strength required to elevate his position at the club. Even so, he remains adamant that he does not want to leave Tottenham, from where he could depart on a free transfer in two years’ time. The article also claims the player has already turned down the chance of a return to West Ham United, the club he left three years ago. Probably not the best time to mention the various rumours flying around the net that West Ham officially tabled a bid for the player late last night then.

The Independent have finally caught up with the rest of the football reporting world with the revelation West Ham striker Carlos Tevez will not make a decision over his future until after the Copa America. The BBC also has the story and quotes representative Kia Joorabchian as saying: "Carlos is playing in the Copa and that is where his prime focus is. It is a big competition and we intend talking more seriously about his future when the Copa is over. At the moment there is no development." The Copa America final is on 14 July.