Newcastle to get West Ham fire sale going
West Ham co-owner David Gold admitted earlier this month that it was unrealistic to expect the club's England internationals stay for a spell in the Championship, prompting speculation that this will be one of the busiest summers in their history as they completely overhaul their squad.
Former boss Alan Pardew is reportedly keen to kick things off by attempting to bring Carlton Cole to Newcastle, with the Daily Mirror gossiping that a £7 million bid is being plotted for the striker that the 49-year-old tactician brought to the Boleyn Ground for a fee of around £2 million five years ago.
The Magpies ([2.54] for a top-half finish) aren't short of funds after selling Andy Carroll to Liverpool for £35 million and though only a fraction of that will be reinvested, they should have enough to afford the seven-time England international, who has hit double figures in the last three seasons.
David Sullivan is less pessimistic than his business partner Gold with regards to West Ham avoiding a fire sale, predicting that "maybe not as many will leave as people think" and revealing that he has offered new deals to two players, one of whom is thought to be goalkeeper Robert Green.
Scott Parker appears certain to leave however having accepted his third successive Hammer of the Year award on Monday night with what was effectively a leaving speech, and numerous big teams have been linked with the midfielder, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Demba Ba is sure to attract interest after scoring seven goals in ten starts, captain Matthew Upson and several others are out of contract and Thomas Hitzlsperger is believed to have a relegation clause, while the Daily Telegraph anticipate academy product Mark Noble also heading for the exit.
Which West Ham players would you take at your team? Tell us below...
Published: 17 May 2011
Geordiedoonsooth (May 17, 2011 10:02 AM) said:
Please god no we don't want Carlton Cole his goals per game record is worse than Shola Ameobi's. We want a top centre forward not some usless cockney
beatski (May 17, 2011 10:07 AM) said:
7mil for that carthorse? i'd be dissapointed if newcastle signed him on a free.
(also, i'm pretty sure he's not 49)
Stevokidd (May 17, 2011 10:15 AM) said:
Cole? really? not exactly the player id imagine we would replace Andy Carroll with. Demba Ba definitely. Come on Pardew don't be so predictable and re-sign players who u have signed in the past, reo-corker has been mentioned too.
JimmyBoy (May 17, 2011 10:17 AM) said:
I definitely don't want Carlton F****** Cole at Newcastle, he'll be just another Ameobi!
ashtoonboy (May 17, 2011 11:39 AM) said:
demba ba is a must before that donkey they call cole surely 7mil wud get ba i know who i wud choose cmon pardew do wat we all think & put a bid in 4 ba now b4 we miss out a another talent that has hit the prem in style snap him up quick
Hammer66 (May 17, 2011 11:42 AM) said:
Cole is a big factor in our demise. Calling him a striker is like calling Audley Harrison a boxer! 1 on1 with a keeper always results in no goal. He can't head the ball and is consistently flagged offside. 5 prem goals this season tells the story and the feeling of failure will spread through any prem team he plays in however, pitch him against reserve player (in cup matches or average Championship quality) he can cope & score. I will chuckle and feel sorry for the fans of the club that buys him!
Ciaran (May 17, 2011 1:20 PM) said:
BOBBY ZAMORA!!!
Blimey (May 20, 2011 9:26 AM) said:
All you Toon Army fans slagging off Carlton Cole? He's better than any of your current strikers and no worse than Andy Carroll, whose goal tally season before last was worse than Coles.
He wouldn't want to go Up Nooorth anyway, He cannie speak the lingo....