Kia Joorabchian is ready to bring a third South American player
to Upton Park if his prospective takeover of West Ham United goes
through. The Iranian-born businessman was instrumental in the
arrival of Argentina's Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano from
Corinthians, and would like to sign the Brazilian attacking
midfielder Carlos Alberto from the same club in January.
Alberto has fallen out with his coach, Emerson Leao, and is close
to Joorabchian, who oversaw his £4.5m transfer from Porto to
Corinthians in 2005 through Media Sport Investment (MSI), the group
that runs Corinthians and facilitated the moves of Tevez and
Mascherano to Upton Park. Alberto was due in London yesterday to
discuss his future with Joorabchian.
A transfer for the 21-year-old to West Ham would be contingent on
Joorabchian taking control at Upton Park. He is close to completing
due diligence and, provided that is to his satisfaction, is
expected to make a formal offer for the club by the end of next
week.
It will cost his consortium at least £70m to buy the shares, and he
enjoys considerable financial backing from the Israeli property
magnate Eli Papouchado. The pair visited West Ham's training ground
this week.
Alberto won the European Cup at Porto in 2004 under Jose Mourinho,
now Chelsea manager, and scored the opening goal in the 3-0 victory
over Monaco in the final. He joined Porto from Fluminense in 2004
but left after a year having been lured back to his homeland by
Corinthians
If Joorabchian becomes West Ham's owner, one of his first tasks
will be to address the future of the manager, Alan Pardew. The team
have lost eight successive games and are in the Premiership's
relegation zone. If he opts for a British manager, Alan Curbishley
would be a candidate. Curbishley, a former West Ham player, has
been out of work since leaving Charlton at the end of last
season.
West Ham is becoming a training
ground for south american imports... What are the odds... an
Iranian and an Israeli working together...
