Most of today's papers are reporting Yossi Benayoun's transfer to Liverpool as a 'done deal.' The Guardian state the player will sign a four-year contract with the Anfield club today, pending a medical. The Israel captain was on manager Rafael BenÃtez's wish list since impressing him playing for Racing Santander in La Liga and performing outstandingly against Liverpool in the 2006 FA Cup final. The go-ahead came after protracted negotiations following Benayoun's sudden refusal to sign a new contract he had earlier agreed with West Ham. Liverpool had offered £2million and then £4million for Benayoun before finally coming close to West Ham's valuation. The Merseyside club will pay the Hammers £5million and the midfielder is expect to earn around £50,000 a week. People close to the player said yesterday that "it was his childhood dream" to play for Liverpool. Benayoun's agent Ronen Katzav stated: "Everybody would be happy to play for Liverpool. West Ham will always be in his heart but he is looking to move up a level." The Daily Mail claim Benayoun resisted a last minute offer from Manchester City to seal his £5million move to Liverpool. The Israel midfielder accepted a four-year deal that will reward him with around £45,000 a week but still leave him £2million worse off than if he had responded to overtures from Manchester. The Telegraph insist the actual fee is nearer £4million but then they also think Benayoun is only 25-years-old so the veracity of this particular article can reasonably be questioned.
Elsewhere, Wigan's manager Chris Hutchings remains confident he can follow up Jason Koumas' £5.3million arrival at the club by securing the signature of the West Ham forward Marlon Harewood. According to a report in The Guardian, Hutchings wants to add Harewood to his new-look squad but as of yet the two clubs have been unable to reach an agreement. It is implied that West Ham are reluctant to sell to Wigan after 'Honest' Dave Whelan, the Wigan chairman, engineered a protest to deduct points from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano affair. Hutchings insists that episode is in the past and hopes a deal to sign Harewood could be concluded in the next few days. "We've shown an interest in Marlon and that is on-going," said Hutchings. "The size of the fee and all the other stuff is for the other people to sort out. What happened towards the end of last season is in the past. You can't look back. You have to give West Ham credit for the run they put together to stay up."
Another player looking hard at the exit door is Paul Konchesky. Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has confirmed his interest in the West Ham defender but admits the two clubs are “a bit apart” on the price — the Blues have made a bid in the region of £2million but it is understood the Hammers are looking for double that for the former England full-back. "It is not for me to talk about players — but, yes, Paul Konchesky is someone we are looking at. We put a bid in about three weeks ago and that hasn't changed. It is fair to say our valuations are a bit apart at the moment. But I'd like to bring in a bit of experience."
Sky Sports report that Stephen Appiah has requested that he is given permission to discuss a possible move to West Ham. The Fenerbahce midfielder has been a reported target for the club for several weeks and the 26-year-old Ghana captain feels he at least deserves the chance to consider a move over the summer. "If West Ham United have expressed strong interest in me then I think Fenerbahce will have to listen to their offer and other offers on the table for me," Appiah said. "It is public knowledge that I want to move to England in the interest of the education of my kids, who still live in Italy because of their education. At the start of last season I turned down several offers from top clubs in Europe just to help Fenerbahce lift the title because of my love for the team and fans. Even while I was injured I continued to play to secure the title so they should also take my interest into consideration and listen to the offers. It is only fair that having served them with all my heart they should also take my interest into consideration even though I understand I have a contract with this great Turkish club. I want my future to be sorted out soon so that I can make my future plans now."
Elsewhere, Wigan's manager Chris Hutchings remains confident he can follow up Jason Koumas' £5.3million arrival at the club by securing the signature of the West Ham forward Marlon Harewood. According to a report in The Guardian, Hutchings wants to add Harewood to his new-look squad but as of yet the two clubs have been unable to reach an agreement. It is implied that West Ham are reluctant to sell to Wigan after 'Honest' Dave Whelan, the Wigan chairman, engineered a protest to deduct points from West Ham over the Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano affair. Hutchings insists that episode is in the past and hopes a deal to sign Harewood could be concluded in the next few days. "We've shown an interest in Marlon and that is on-going," said Hutchings. "The size of the fee and all the other stuff is for the other people to sort out. What happened towards the end of last season is in the past. You can't look back. You have to give West Ham credit for the run they put together to stay up."
Another player looking hard at the exit door is Paul Konchesky. Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has confirmed his interest in the West Ham defender but admits the two clubs are “a bit apart” on the price — the Blues have made a bid in the region of £2million but it is understood the Hammers are looking for double that for the former England full-back. "It is not for me to talk about players — but, yes, Paul Konchesky is someone we are looking at. We put a bid in about three weeks ago and that hasn't changed. It is fair to say our valuations are a bit apart at the moment. But I'd like to bring in a bit of experience."
Sky Sports report that Stephen Appiah has requested that he is given permission to discuss a possible move to West Ham. The Fenerbahce midfielder has been a reported target for the club for several weeks and the 26-year-old Ghana captain feels he at least deserves the chance to consider a move over the summer. "If West Ham United have expressed strong interest in me then I think Fenerbahce will have to listen to their offer and other offers on the table for me," Appiah said. "It is public knowledge that I want to move to England in the interest of the education of my kids, who still live in Italy because of their education. At the start of last season I turned down several offers from top clubs in Europe just to help Fenerbahce lift the title because of my love for the team and fans. Even while I was injured I continued to play to secure the title so they should also take my interest into consideration and listen to the offers. It is only fair that having served them with all my heart they should also take my interest into consideration even though I understand I have a contract with this great Turkish club. I want my future to be sorted out soon so that I can make my future plans now."
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2 comments:
i think it can be a good buy if he plays to his potential. against liverpool in the facup final he was the best player on the pitch for west ham, and also towards the end of the season he has shined, however during the middle of the season he was very poor.
we shall have to wait and see
So Israeli E.T. lookalike Yossi Benayoun phones home to his Mamma and asks how she is. "Yossi, my boy" she replies, "things are bad back home. Your father has been taken hostage and they are threatening to behead him. The house was pelted last night by a stone throwing mob and your sister was gang raped on her way home from the synagogue." Mamma Benayoun sobs down the phone before continuing, "Yossi, why in the name of Abram did you move us to Liverpool?"
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