Tomkins in mega Hammers offer
WEST HAM are ready to hand James Tomkins a five-year deal worth around £25,000 a week to head off interest from Newcastle.
That contract would double the 22-year-old defender's current salary and include a sizeable appearance bonus.
An insider said: "Tomkins is seen as a focal point of the future at the club."
The Hammers are also preparing a fresh £4million bid for Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes
the mirror
Allardyce v Everton over in-demand striker
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is making a new £4million bid for Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes - and hopes to get an answer at the weekend.
Allardyce is trying to offer more money than Premier League Everton are able to pay, and his offer will also push Celtic out of the chase for the new Scotland striker.
Rhodes has rattled in 20 goals this season in League One. While he would accept a personal promotion to the Championship leaders, Huddersfield are desperate to keep him in the hope he can fire them into the second tier.
West Ham will press Terriers owner Dean Hoyle for a decision when he returns from holiday this weekend.
Everton could find the cash to nab Rhodes if it was spread evenly over the length of his contract, but Hammers have edged in front of the Toffees with their large bid.
the star
Newcastle have tabled a £4m bid for James Tomkins
JOHN TOMKINS’ NEWCASTLE TRIP
NEWCASTLE have tabled a £4m bid for James Tomkins.
And their hopes of landing the defender received a huge boost yesterday when he told West Ham he wants to quit.
Toon boss Alan Pardew has had two bids for Tomkins – including a second of £2.5m – rejected.
But Newcastle upped the stakes to £4m yesterday and Pardew hopes it will be third time lucky.
The Geordies raised the bar after learning of rival interest from Tottenham. Spurs view Tomkins as a cheaper alternative to Gary Cahill, who is in talks with Chelsea, and Blackburn’s £8m-rated Chris Samba.
Ex-England Under-21 man Tomkins took a huge step towards the Upton Park exit door.
Tomkins, who is now looked after by boss Sam Allardyce’s representative Mark Curtis, is understood to have handed in a transfer request
the mail
In demand: West Ham have improved their offer to sign Rhodes (left)
West Ham improve bid to sign Huddersfield striker Rhodes
West Ham have offered £4million for Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes, 21, after having a £3m bid rejected.
Sam Allardyce also wants Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong, 25, on loan but has been rebuffed in a move for Reading winger Jimmy Kebe, 27.
the mail
Bolton, QPR and Sunderland are among clubs that have been discussed but West Ham have come forward with manager Sam Allardyce keen to recruit Premier League standard for his team.
Tottenham would prefer to sell Bassong but their blossoming interest in James Tomkins could influence any deal.
west ham till i die
Poll Result: We Want Jordan Rhodes!
On the morning the Daily Mail reports we have upped our bid for Jordan Rhodes (and the Daily Star reports James Tomkins has handed in a transfer request – gulp), this is the result of the Striker Poll. I gave you a list of transfer targets and asked which one striker you’d most like to sign. More than 1,000 of you voted.
Jordan Rhodes 43%
Bobby Zamora 18%
Nicky Maynard 15%
Billy Sharpe 14%
Peter Whittingham 6%
Andy Johnson 4%
club call
Hall targets successful year
West Ham striker Rob Hall hopes 2012 will be the season he establishes himself in the first team.
The 18-year-old joined the Hammers at the age of nine and has impressed this season during a loan spell with Oxford where he scored six times in 14 appearances.
That prompted manager Sam Allardyce to bring him back to his parent club and give him his first-team debut at Derby on New Year's Eve.
"I wouldn't go too far and start saying I am a first-team player," Hall told the club's official website. "I think I need to do a lot more and work harder and stake more of a claim, then I'll start feeling more relaxed. I can't be relaxed at the stage I am now.
"Being at Oxford taught me a lot and made me more mature and helped me to grow up a lot quicker.
"Everybody says 2012 is going to be a good year, so hopefully it can be."
official site
david gold exclusive
http://www.whufc.com/articles/20120104/ ... 84_2565819" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Aston Villa have said that striker Darren Bent is not for sale at any price, despite continued interest from Liverpool.
talkSPORT
However, Villa could make a sensational move for Chelsea forward Didier Drogba as they prepare to receive January bids for their own star striking asset Bent.
Goal.com
Striker Thierry Henry's loan deal to Arsenal has hit a problem over his proposed return date to New York Red Bulls.
Metro
Chelsea's hopes of signing Gary Cahill are under threat because the Bolton defender is upset his negotiations over personal terms have been made public.
London Evening Standard
Meanwhile, the Blues are lining up £12m move for Marseille right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.
Daily Mirror
Manchester City are believed to be planning a swoop for Roma midfielder Daniele de Rossi - but only if striker Carlos Tevez exits Eastlands before the end of January.
Manchester Evening News
Blackburn midfielder Mauro Formica says he has been denied a loan move to his former club Newell's Old Boys in Argentina.
Daily Mail
North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham are going head-to-head in the race to sign Lille striker Moussa Sow.
talkSPORT
QPR have reportedly bid £3m for Aston Villa defender James Collins and £2.5m for Man City defender Nedum Onuoha.
Daily Mirror
Fulham's attempt to bring Calcio Catania striker Maxi Lopez to Craven Cottage may be derailed by the Argentine's desire to keep playing top-flight football in Italy.
London Evening Standard
Chelsea, Aston Villa and Malaga are reportedly keeping an eye on out-of-favour Borussia Dortmund striker Lucas Barrios.
Bild (in German)
Tottenham's pursuit of Blackburn defender Christopher Samba has been boosted by the news that Rovers boss Steve Kean must sell to finance any major January moves.
Daily Express
Liverpool have joined Paris St Germain and Marseille in the hunt for Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon, amid reports that the 27-year-old is unsettled in the North East.
Metro
Chelsea are believed to be watching £35m-rated Napoli striker Edinson Cavani, with a view to a possible transfer.
Daily Mail
Swansea are poised to tie up three new signings - and manager Brendan Rodgers is also hoping to add a fourth new face at the Liberty Stadium.
South Wales Evening Post
Liverpool may enter the race to sign FC Twente's highly rated 21-year-old striker Luuk De Jong but will face hefty competition from Tottenham and Chelsea.
Footybunker
Scotland manager Craig Levein has revealed Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been suffering with a serious illness for almost four years.
Manchester Evening News
Blackburn boss Steve Kean faces a fight to keep hold of his assistant manager Paul Clement - less than three months after bringing him to Ewood Park. Newly appointed Paris St Germain boss Carlo Ancelotti is keen on being reunited with Clement, having worked with him during his management tenure at Chelsea.
Lancashire Telegraph
Newcastle playmaker Hatem Ben Arfa is unhappy with his bit-part role at Sports Direct Arena.
the Sun
Norwich defender Adam Drury insists the Canaries will not get carried away with their lofty Premier League position. Paul Lambert's side are currently ninth in the table.
Eastern Daily Press
Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's mum has launched a passionate defence of her son in the wake of the Patrice Evra racism row.
Liverpool Echo
With the London 2012 Olympics a matter of months away, the Royal Mint has produced a series of coins, with one explaining the football offside rule.
babe of the day
http://www.nuts.co.uk/images/gallery/20 ... uk_71_.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
days
