Unrivalled Stupidity

Who needs Carlos Tevez when you have Dean Ashton? That is the question posed by Robert Green, who believes that Ashton’s return from injury after 11 months out with a broken ankle will more than compensate for the imminent departure of Tévez, who is expected to complete his complicated transfer to Manchester United this week. Speaking in The Times, Green said: "Carlos is a great player and if he’s here then great; if he’s not, then there are other great players, like Deano, who is a huge asset to the club. Hopefully, he can get through preseason, battle through any aches and pains, stay fit and play the whole season. I’ve not played in the same West Ham team with him, but when we were at Norwich he was the focal point of the attack, the player others would bounce off, and he would bring a lot of attributes to the side. Carlos is very different. He’s a spark, he’s a livewire and he gives you something else. The two players play in the same position but very differently and just as effectively."

Meanwhile, Marlon Harewood is set to continue the exodus from West Ham after holding talks with Wigan over the weekend and moving closer to a £4 million move to the JJB Stadium. The Hammers have already sold Nigel Reo-Coker, Yossi Benayoun, Tyrone Mears and Paul Konchesky for nearly £18million, while Teddy Sheringham and Roy Carroll have also left Upton Park on free transfers. John Ley, writing in The Telegraph, says Harewood is now expected to leave even though clear tensions still exist between the two clubs. The Mail have a different take on things and insist Martin O'Neill is about to hijack any proposed transfer. Although the striker held talks with Latics boss Chris Hutchings over the weekend, the article claims Harewood has agreed to join Aston Villa in a deal worth £4.5million. Harewood's agent Mick McGuire is quoted as saying tonight: "Marlon has been in talks with Villa and everything should be concluded soon. Villa have come in at the 11th hour to take him." If he completes the move then Harewood will join up with former team-mate Nigel Reo-Coker.

In other news, recent French recruit Julien Faubert has been branded "stupid" for moving to West Ham. The powerful winger joined the Hammers from Bordeaux for £6.1million earlier this month but France boss Raymond Domenech is furious with the player, who had just broken into the national side. The outspoken 55-year-old told le-mercato.com that Faubert's decision to move to Upton Park was 'unrivalled stupidity'. "When certain players call me to talk about their transfer I tell them it's okay to play for one of the top four clubs in England, Germany, Italy or Spain," he said. "But this is stupidity. What a pity when he is on the verge of the French team. I have trouble understanding it." The comments are reminiscent of those made by Argentina manager Alfio Basile when he criticized Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano shortly after their moves to East London last season.

Finally, the hushed rumour that Eidur Gudjohnsen could be ready to join the claret & blue revolution is starting to get a little louder. Well placed sources are suggesting a deal might just be getting closer after months of public denials and feigned indifference.