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Zola eyes Germany star as Bellamy replacement
Ken Dyer and David Smith20 Jan 2009
West Ham, who today agreed a £14million deal to sell Craig Bellamy to Manchester City, will waste no time in signing a replacement.
Favourite to join the Upton Park club is Ugandan-born Brescia striker Savio Nsereko, a German Under-19 international and one of the brightest young stars in Italian football.
West Ham technical director Gianluca Nani got to know Nsereko well when he worked for Serie B club Brescia and the East London Premier League club are on the verge of making a £6m bid for for the teenager, who scored twice in a 4-0 win over Pisa at the weekend.
Another option for West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola is a loan deal with Fiorentina to sign 23-year-old Pablo Osvaldo.
The Argentina-born forward has dual nationality and played for the Italian Under-21 national side coached by Zola before he joined West Ham in September.
Bologna remain the favourites to sign Osvaldo on a permanent £7m deal but the player is said to favour a move to either Spain or England.
A third player linked to West Ham has been Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli, although club president Massimo Moratti has recently discounted a January move for a player who is rated highly by manager Jose Mourinho.
Speaking after the 3-1 win over Fulham, Zola underlined the importance of signing a replacement for Bellamy, who was in Manchester today agreeing personal terms and having a medical.
He said: “I will have money to sign a replacement and it is important to solve the situation as soon as possible because I need to know where to go. It has to be quick.”
West Ham, though, face fierce competition for their top target from Juventus, Fiorentina, Napoli and Roma, who also all want to sign Nsereko.
Bellamy has spent much of his two seasons at Upton Park injured and Carlton Cole believes the Hammers can shine without him.
“We proved it,” said Cole, who scored as West Ham made it five games without defeat esterday. “Last season Craig was injured and we did well without him. I don't see why we can't do it again.”
The former Chelsea player insisted the controversy surrounding Bellamy has not disturbed the spirit among Gianfranco Zola's squad.
Cole added: “We're all professionals. We get on
with the job. We've had worse thrown at us. Craig is a professional player and he's got his own beliefs. We're professional, too, and we just carry on.”
City, meanwhile, have also agreed a £15m deal with Hamburg for midfielder Nigel de Jong. The move is subject to the 24-year-old Holland international agreeing personal terms.
Reader views (3)
Dud player going to a dud club
- Hatchet, Newcastle Australia, 20/01/2009 04:57
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Fantastic team performance yesterday, Bahrami and PArker were outstanding in midfield. There has been a massive improvement with Zola/Clarke, espesh Carlton Cole. I dont think we need Bellamy, he was injured most of the time with us and as soon as someone waves some more cash in front of him, he went on strike. typical of him though. Come on Duxbury, you are lucky to still be in your job, make the most of your good fortune and give Zola some cash to push for Europe.
- Hibsy, Essex, 19/01/2009 10:55
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It makes me frustrated to see players sign and be under contract with a team and then just leave when they feel like it. When Bellamy joined West Ham he should have had a release clause in his contract if another club came in for a bid. If West ham had the money i would have liked to see them stick him in the reserves for the rest of his 3 year contract, or say you pay off your remaining contract if you wish to leave. It will leave a big hole in the team, but as Mr Zola says 1 man does not make a team. Zola and Clarke are doing a great job at Upton Park, i still think we are missing a speedy left and right winger to whip some good balls in, Cole is playing well now he has some confidence and a decent run in the side, Parker is a typical sleeves rolled up and get stuck in midfielder, Collison is showing some good touches, and Behrami is like road runner with so much energy. I think Illunga is a very much unsong hero, a superb left back who i thinh West Ham should sign permanantly ASAP!
Well done West Ham for playing decent football and ignoring all the negative news around the club.
- David Vaughan, Plymouth, UK, 19/01/2009 10:18
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