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Lucas Neill quits West Ham
04.06.09
Manchester City are among the clubs rumoured to be chasing Lucas Neill's signature after the Australia defender opted to leave West Ham.
The Hammers made a "significant offer" to the out-of-contract full-back, 31, who was keen to secure a 12-month deal in order to take him up to next summer's World Cup in South Africa.
However, Neill, who controversially turned down an offer from Liverpool to join the London club in January 2007, rejected their proposal in order to pursue "other opportunities", according to West Ham's website.
Joining the former Blackburn player through the Upton Park exit are Diego Tristan, Lee Bowyer, Walter Lopez, Kyel Reid, Tony Stokes and Jimmy Walker.
In addition, the loans of Jan Lastuvka, Radoslav Kovac and David Di Michele have ended and will not be renewed.
Coming the other way are Calum Davenport and Julien Faubert, whose respective loan spells at Sunderland and Real Madrid have ended.
Reader views (2)
West Ham are well rid as he was always a liability and is only in the game for the money.
- Paul From Leeds, Leeds,England
He can be quite a good player but he's very slow and so ends up giving away bad free-kicks just outside the penalty area. You rarely get something for nothing so if Man City get him they will soon find out why West Ham only offered him a short contract. Besides, you'd have thought City would have learnt their lesson regarding buying from the Hammers after paying well over the top for the injury prone and temperamental Craig Bellamy. I'm sure that West Ham will find a better replacement on lower wages during the summer so i don't think many Hammers fans will be upset by him leaving.
- Paul R, London
