HAMMERS' SPENDING SPREE
WEST HAM are embarking on a £45million spending spree to safeguard
their Premiership future.
The Hammers aim to follow up the signing of Newcastle's Scott
Parker by targeting Everton duo Andy Johnson and Mikel
Arteta.
They are also locked in a battle with the Magpies over Australian
striker Mark Viduka.
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Parker's move to Upton Park is yet to be finalised after the
Hammers' valuation fell short of Newcastle asking price of
£7m.
The deal is expected to go through at the start of the week
because, contrary to reports there is no interest in Parker from
Tottenham.
Viduka, who is currently on holiday in Melbourne, has been given
the weekend to decide on a move to West Ham or Newcastle.
The latter are favourites to clinch his signature, despite offering
him less money than the Hammers to make a switch from their
North-East rivals Middlesbrough.
West Ham are currently scouting a number of European targets but
have ruled out any plans to make a move for Manchester City's
troubled midfielder Joey Barton.
But while the Hammers step up their recruitment campaign they are
having major problems off-loading nearly £40m worth of players put
up for sale by Alan Curbishley at the end of the season.
Offers deemed derisory by the club have been rejected while there
have been no inquiries for captain Nigel Reo-Coker.
ASTON VILLA and Everton are set to raid Wolves for Michael Kightly
- after the £3m-rated wonderkid admitted he would consider quitting
Molineux.
Kightly, 21, the find of the season after his £25,000 move from
non-league Grays in January, has privately confided that he wants
to hear from interested Premiership clubs after Wolves' playoffs
failure.
A source close to Kightly said: "Villa and Everton are the main
clubs interested, as they have been for some months."
MANCHESTER UNITED are set to offer a contract to Irish wonderkid
Shay Brady, tipped to be the next Wayne Rooney.
The 16-year-old is already in the first team at St Patrick's in the
Irish League, and United are prepared to sign him on a £5,000-aweek
deal in January when he is 17.
But Liverpool are fierce rivals for the Republic of Ireland youth
international, and even invited him to the Champions League
Final.
