It has been confirmed, no joke!
In one of the most surprising transfer deals ever sealed in English
football, West Ham have signed coveted Argentina stars Carlos Tevez
and Javier Mascherano - beating off competition from Manchester
United, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and AC Milan. And Portsmouth.
The pair will join the Hammers from Brazilian club Corinthians on a
season-long loan but it could become permanent if all parties are
happy, though whether West Ham could afford them is unclear, since
both carry price tags in excess of £15m.
Tevez broke the news of the transfer on his official website.
"Carlitos Tevez - along with his former Corinthians team-mate,
Javier Mascherano, has signed - a contract to play with West Ham
United of England," read the statement.
The move is nothing short of sensational: never before have two
world-class players yet to reach their prime - both are only 22 -
rejected a host of elite clubs in order to join a middling
one.
It is unquestionably a major coup for Pardew and gives last
season's FA Cup runners-up one of the most impressive-looking
squads in the Premiership.
With the addition of Tevez, a prolific striker who's capable of
being both subtle and barnstorming, Upton Park is now home to one
of the most fearsome strikeforces in England. The Argentinian will
surely be an automatic first choice, leaving Pardew the luxury of
choosing between between Dean Ashton - when he returns to fitness -
Bobby Zamora, Marlon Harewood, Carlton Cole and Teddy
Sheringham.
Their midfield will also be formidable, with Mascherano, who Sir
Alex Ferguson reportedly rated as the world's most worthy recipient
of the "new Roy Keane" tag, likely to slot in alongside Reo-Coker,
Benayoun and Matthew Etherington.
All of a sudden West Ham look an excellent bet to win this season's
Uefa Cup - and have been transformed into genuine contenders for a
Champions League spot.
