OTHER SPORT

WE'LL MAKE HIM A HAMMER

Friday May 11,2007

By Harry Harris

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WEST HAM want to keep controversial Carlos Tevez – but it could cost £31million.

That, at a stroke, will astound their fans while raising fresh questions about who controls the player.

The Daily Express was told last night that Tevez has been offered to five clubs by the offshore investment group who claim to effectively own him, Media Sports Investment, and West Ham are one of the would-be buyers.

This is the outfit that has denied Hammers have torn up existing contracts between themselves and the club. And the current transfer talk simply underlines the fears of West Ham’s angry rivals – the Gang of Four – that the player is still under the influence of a third party.

If West Ham are trying to buy Tevez then he must be owned and controlled by another party – MSI – but last night they told the Express that no talks are currently taking place.

There are four clubs, plus West Ham, interested in taking Tevez and talks are on-going

Sources close to MSI said: “There are four clubs, plus West Ham, interested in taking Tevez and talks are on-going.”

Last night a Hammers spokesman insisted they were doing no wrong.

He said: “There are no negotiations relating to Carlos Tevez. The issue of the player’s future will be considered once the season is over.”

The spokesman admitted they will speak to Tevez and MSI after the final fixtures – but that throws up more questions than answers.

This will not impress Charlton, Fulham, Wigan or Sheffield United, who want the Hammers’ £5.5m punishment for

playing ineligible players reviewed.

I understand an agreement has been struck allowing the MSI and West Ham deals to be ‘parked’ but enforced after the season.

A Premier League spokesman said: “If something else is going on and West Ham are not telling the Premier League then they would be crazy.”

Javier Mascherano and Tevez once interested Chelsea and their boss Jose Mourinho before they went to Hammers, with the former going on to join Champions League finalists Liverpool.

STOP THE CAMPAIGN...

13.05.07, 11:56pm

Now that the season has come to an end, and Mr Harris and his campaign to spread idol gossip and his obviously biased opinions about West Ham has come to nothing, will we finally get back to talking about football.

If Mr Harris has any evidence, send it to Mr Scudamore, if not give it a rest. Poor Harry used to be one of my favourite football columnists but has obviously lost the plot on this one.

I do feel for Sheffield United and their fans, but at the end of the day here is what happened. The disiplinary commitee sat, made their descision, and though I agree it was probably the wrong one, it was made independently, through the process that was agreed upon by all the teams in the league. END OF STORY.

If the teams affected by the commitees decision don't like it they should be trying to get the league to change the rule book.

• Posted by: 2Dubya • Report Comment

READ THE RULE BOOK

11.05.07, 2:34pm

It has been established VERY clearly that the Premier League rules have been followed to the letter and there is nowhere to go on this one.
The smell of sour grapes is overpowering here - Dave Whelan, whose company was fined massively for price-fixing, is the most hypocritical of all. Pure self-interest is driving these clubs and the slightest chance that they might find a sneaky way to make up for their inadequacies on the pitch, they're on it like a rash.

And as for the anti-West Ham branch of the media, instead of pillorying the club, why haven't you gone after the real villains of the piece - Joorabchian, Brown and Aldridge? The word 'fit' and 'proper' come to mind. Thank God we'll have no more to do with at least two of them.

This kind of negative coverage has been going on all season - it's about time you left us alone.

• Posted by: DaDon • Report Comment