Nicky, A Shore Thing?

The Independent is not usually a paper for spurious transfer tittle-tattle and this morning they claim West Ham United are closing in on the signing of Reading's Nicky Shorey, with the intention of announcing a £6million deal for the left-back as early as next week. Jason Burt states that Shorey has two years left on his present contract at the Madejski Stadium but has been promised that he can re-negotiate it and become one of the club's highest-earners. With Reading's strict wage structure that would see him earn around £20,000 a week, although West Ham are prepared to offer far more. Shorey, who has been a virtual ever-present since signing from Leyton Orient for just £25,000 in 2001, has also interested Newcastle United but it is thought that West Ham are favourites to secure him should he decide to move on. The Hammers have a long-standing interest in the player and have grown increasingly confident that a deal could be struck. Hayden Mullins is central to any move as he is a Reading target and would be a makeweight in any proposed transfer. The article also claims that Craig Bellamy and Shaun Wright-Phillips are still very much on Alan Curbishley's shopping list.

The Sun has a different take on the West Ham left-back situation. According to Andrew Dillon, West Ham management have now targeted Wayne Bridge after growing frustrated in their pursuit of Reading's Shorey. Bridge, 26, has overcome two major hurdles to establish himself in the team at Stamford Bridge, having battled back after eight months out with a broken ankle. Although holding his own against Ashley Cole in the fight for a first-team place, the ex-Southampton defender privately admits Cole is Jose Mourinho’s first-choice. Dillon speculates that Bridge’s £26,000-a-week wages would easily fit in with the Hammers’ pay structure.

Elsewhere, The Mirror have become the first to spark the 'Tevez to Arsenal' speculation in the wake of Thierry Henry's belated decision to join Barcelona. Darren Lewis claims Arsene Wenger will now turn to Tevez as he has become one of the most sought-after strikers in European football following his success in almost 'single-handedly' dragging West Ham to Premiership safety from the jaws of relegation. At 23 Tevez - who plays in next week's Copa America for Argentina - would be a sound long-term investment for the Gunners who have registered their interest with the player's advisors. Lewis states Manchester United and Inter Milan are also interested in the pint-sized hitman, who recently admitted he would be more than happy to stay at Upton Park if the right package could be put together, but Arsenal's need now appears greatest. The Gunners are desperate to prove to their fans that there is life after Thierry Henry.

Finally, it wouldn't be Saturday without the regular piece of anti-West Ham bluster from the Daily Mail. Today it is the 'explosive' news that Sheffield United are closing in on 'new explosive evidence' which threatens to 'explode' the Carlos Tevez affair wide open again like a very big 'explosion'. According to Sportsmail there are three contracts are in existence which prove that Kia Joorabchian and MSI maintained third-party 'influence' over Tevez — even after West Ham had been fined £5.5million having pleaded guilty to not holding exclusive ownership of the Argentina striker. Lawyers working on behalf of Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe are, even as I type this, supposedly pressurising lawyers of Joorabchian to make the documents available to the Premier League. Rather meekly, the article adds the caveat that these three contracts cannot actually influence the decision of the arbitration tribunal as no new evidence is now admissible. However, claim the Mail, the League will be under pressure to act if these documents are made public and prove West Ham continued to play Tevez illegally.