Bellamy urged to join West Ham by his Welsh team-mates

Bellamy, recently named Wales captain in the wake of Ryan Giggs' retirement from international football, is believed to be a summer target for the Hammers with a £9m fee mooted.

Scroll down for more

With Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez needing to sell players to bolster his transfer kitty, Bellamy and Harry Kewell could well be sacrificed.

Bellamy, already a target for Aston Villa, Blackburn and Newcastle, is wanted by West Ham boss Alan Curbishley as a partner for Dean Ashton with a £70,000 a week wages package on offer.

And Bellamy's arrival at Upton Park would meet with the approval of West Ham and Wales defenders Danny Gabbidon and James Collins.

Gabbidon said: He would love it at West Ham. He would be an instant fans' favourite. Craig is a quality player but what West Ham fans would love is that he never stops running, even if the team are 3-0 down.

"He is a defender's nightmare, like a terrier snapping at your heels. I have never known him give less than 100 per cent."

He added: "Craig would be a great signing for us and would definitely improve the squad.

"The manager has a lot of money to spend and Craig is the kind of player the club are trying to attract to improve the team so we do not have any relegation troubles next season.

"We have got Dean Ashton returning after missing last season after suffering a broken ankle. Dean and Craig would make a great partnership, Dean is a tall and skilful front man while Craig is a hard-working, quick striker with great movement."

Benitez needs to make a quick decision over Bellamy's future now he believes the proposed major funding from the new US owners of the club, George Gillett and Tom Hicks, will not be as much as he had expected.

But suggestions that he could walk away from the club this summer as the debate over funding continues, is wide of the mark with Benitez having already told friends he has no intention of taking that option.

But it is clear he will not have the sort of cash to buy the likes of Samuel Eto'o. However, with Liverpool making £29m from their run to the Champions League final, plus the Sky TV and Premiership prize money to come, Benitez can expect £40m plus to spend this summer.

With maybe £15m from the sale of fringe players, including a possible fee from Marseille for Djibril Cisse, Benitez can bolster his cash kitty considerably.

Benitez is now being linked with Real Zaragoza striker Diego Milito, who scored a stunning goal against Real Madrid on Saturday while being watched by Liverpool scouts.

Also linked with the Anfield club is Villarreal's Diego Forlan, who is on the verge of scoring 20 goals in a La Liga season for the third campaign on the trot.