| West Ham bid 'being prepared' by London financiers Intermarket • Intermarket to submit bid for Hammers on Monday• CB Holding to consider offer on behalf of StraumurA London-based financial services company has said that it is preparing to make a takeover bid for West Ham. Intermarket are believed to have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Rothschild, the bank which is acting on behalf of West Ham's parent company, CB Holding, to secure investment in the club.David Byrne, Intermarket's company secretary and joint founding director, told the Telegraph: "We'll be making a bid on Monday". He added that Intermarket expected to hear back soon whether the offer is viewed favourably by CB Holding, the company formed by creditors and headed by the Icelandic bank Straumur which runs West Ham.Intermarket is thought to value the club at close to £100m, taking into account debts said to be in the region of £49m and payments owed to Sheffield United over the Carlos Tevez affair, as well as other outstanding transfer-related instalments.Straumur has already turned down an approach from the former Birmingham City co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold, and the bank is said to be in no hurry to complete a deal having been granted a moratorium on its debts until September 2010.The continuing uncertainty may however force the manager, Gianfranco Zola, to offload some of his star names in the January transfer window, in order to generate funds for new players.West Ham UnitedPremier LeagueAlan Gardnerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Chelsea 5 Watford 0: match report Rampant Chelsea rout Watford in FA Cup tie at Stamford Bridge. telegraph.co.uk |
Stoke pull out of loan deal for James • Stoke had set deadline for James deal of midday today• Team insist keeper was only ever one of a number of optionsStoke City have ended their interest in the Portsmouth goalkeeper David James, the club have confirmed. Stoke's manager, Tony Pulis, said yesterday he was keen on bringing the goalkeeper to the Britannia Stadium on loan until the end of the season.They had set a deadline for completing the deal of midday today, however, so that James would be available for tomorrow's game against Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium. Once that had passed, they immediately withdrew from the deal."Stoke City have confirmed that they have pulled out of a bid to sign England goalkeeper David James," read a statement on the club's website. "In confirming his interest in the experienced keeper at his pre-match press conference yesterday, manager Tony Pulis made it clear the attempt to sign James on loan was one of a number of transfer options."It is believed that Stoke's proposed deal hinged on Portsmouth's willingness to pay a portion of James's wages, but Portsmouth's financial situation may have precluded such an agreement.James has been named in Portsmouth's squad to play Birmingham at Fratton Park tomorrow.Stoke CityPortsmouthTransfer windowPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Redknapp keen on Van Nistelrooy • 'He was fantastic in England and a great goalscorer'• Manager rules out bid for Ben Foster or David JamesHarry Redknapp has confirmed he is interested in signing Ruud van Nistelrooy from Real Madrid as Tottenham Hotspur prepare to battle it out for a Champions League place. The manager, speaking before tomorrow's game against Liverpool, at Anfield, admitted that the Dutch striker was one player he was looking at this transfer window."It's interesting but it depends what the deal is," Redknapp said of the possibility of landing Van Nistelrooy. "The chairman would deal with that side but he's an interesting player. He was fantastic in England and a great goalscorer. If he was available it could be of interest. It's not impossible ... if it was right we could be interested."The manager admitted that - if the Dutch striker was brought in - Roman Pavlyuchenko would have to leave the club. "Pav is looking to move," he said. "He was tremendous in training this morning. Only if someone came in and it was a good offer though, otherwise it would not be possible. I could not have five. It is difficult enough with four and I find it hard leaving one out of picture."One area Redknapp is not looking to strengthen, however, is the goalkeeping department. There have been reports of a possible bid for Manchester United's Ben Foster but the Spurs manager said: "As for Foster, I never made any offer whatsoever. Ben's a good keeper but I'm looking for back-up. Foster and David James [the Portsmouth goalkeeper] want to go to World Cup - not sit on the bench as a No2."Tom Huddlestone is a doubt ahead for the game against Liverpool because of a knee problem while Alan Hutton, Aaron Lennon (both groin), Benoît Assou-Ekotto (hip), Jonathan Woodgate (groin) and Carlo Cudicini (wrist/pelvis) remain sidelined. Jamie O'Hara, however, back from his loan spell at Portsmouth, is available for selection.Tottenham HotspurTransfer windowHarry RedknappPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Frings omission hardly a shocker The World Cup in South Africa is five months away, but it is already over for one of Germany's best players in recent years: Werder Bremen captian Torsten Frings. cbc.ca |