Reports claim Hammers will offload Argentinians in January
despite Pardew's praise for Tevez
West Ham are reportedly set to sell Argentinian flops Carlos Tevez
and Javier Mascherano when the transfer window reopens in
January.
The pair have both failed to settle at Upton Park having joined the
club in the summer and are struggling to get regular games in Alan
Pardews side.
According to reports on Sunday, there is a clause in Tevez and
Mascheranos contracts which allows the Hammers to terminate the
deals during the transfer window.
West Ham achieved impressive back-to-back victories over Blackburn
and Arsenal recently without either player on the pitch while Tevez
featured in Saturdays 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.
Iranian business Kia Joorabchian helped bring the Argentines to
Upton Park in a bid to secure a takeover of the club. But that plan
seems to have backfired and now Brazilian club Fluminense are
willing to bring the players back to South America.
However, Hammers boss Pardew was delighted with the contribution of
Tevez in the defeat at Stamford Bridge.
"Weve been patient with him and hes been patient with us," said
Pardew of Tevez.
"I think he showed why he is renowned in terms of his reputation.
And hopefully we are going to see that against Sheffield United
next week, and the week after that and the week after that. I was
buoyed by his performance. You can talk about his quality, which
was great, but his workrate was fantastic for a world-class player,
and I thought that hes taken on board what we do at West Ham, and
thats important."
Pardew added: "Hes comfortable playing in four positions - up on
the left, the right, through the middle or dropping off. His
versatility is one of his gifts. Its his understanding of the
Premiership - hes suddenly realised what it has to take. Chelsea
players are an example of that. They are world-class players but
you have to work very hard to stay in the team, and Tevez showed
that."
