Kieron Dyer is expected to be unveiled as West Ham's latest
summer signing today after a £5million fee was finally agreed with
Newcastle for the England midfielder. Dyer, 28, was in talks with
Hammers manager Alan Curbishley last night after pulling out of
Newcastle's preseason friendly at Hull, which the Championship club
won 1-0, to travel to London.
The former Ipswich star, who has been at St James' Park for eight
years, was first linked with a move to Upton Park a fortnight ago
and stunned Newcastle boss Sam Allardyce last week by requesting a
move for 'family reasons'. The final straw for Dyer, who has never
enjoyed a close rapport with Newcastle fans, came this week when
his house was pelted with eggs.
Allardyce has been holding out for a reasonable offer for Dyer, who
has become one of the highest earners on Tyneside with wages in
excess of £80,000 a week, a figure which only West Ham seem
prepared to match.
Newcastle's other significant wage earner, Michael Owen, also
pulled out of last night's game at the KC Stadium after failing to
shake off the thigh strain which has ruled him out of almost two
weeks of pre-season. Owen's absence gave 18-year-old Andy Carroll
another opportunity to impress Allardyce, along with a handful of
other young players. Carroll, who has been linked with a loan move
to Hull, had few chances to penetrate the home defence as the hosts
bossed most of the first half.
