Hammers
set to pip Kop to Neill
LUCAS NEILL will sign for West Ham after delivering an amazing snub
to Liverpool. The Aussie full-back had been locked in talks with
Kop chiefs about a £2million, £35,000-a-week switch from Blackburn.
But he turned his back on Rafa Benitez and a supposed dream move
to Merseyside after being offered £50,000-a-week to switch to East
London.
Neill, 28, was last night putting the finishing touches on a
2½-year contract to join Alan Curbishleys relegation dogfight. The
signing is a major boost for Curbs after continually banging his
head against the transfer window since it opened.
A source close to Neill said: Lucas said in the summer he wanted
out at Blackburn and is delighted to have finally sorted everything
out. He had talks with Liverpool but couldnt agree personal terms
so when West Ham came in he was very interested.
Neills arrival shows money talks in the Premiership with the
Aussie international willing to swap chasing a Champions League
spot for a grim battle to avoid the drop. The news is a bitter blow
for Benitez, who wanted Neill to shore up his leaky Liverpool
backline.
The Kop boss had become increasingly impatient as the Rovers
skipper dithered. Benitez said: We are continuing to work on these
things but we will not wait. If a player wants to come to play for
Liverpool, he must say yes quickly. If he thinks about it for too
long, maybe its a signal its time for us to look for other
players. We have alternatives.
