Hammers announce Hernandez terms agreed
After weeks and months of widespread speculation, the agreement of personal terms between the club and Bayer Leverkusen striker Javier Hernandez were finally announced on Thursday. “Chicharito”, as he is known throughout the world of Football, became Mexico’s all-time leading goal-scorer earlier in the year, and is scheduled to have his medical at Spire Roding on Monday. The move has been praised by many a football fan and pundit alike, after Gold and Sullivan activated his release clause of £13 million at the Bundesliga club. The former Red Devil is a two-time Premier League winner and is the third player with those credentials to have joined us in this transfer window. So, will our new winning mentality carry us in good stead for the start of the 2017/2018 Premier League season which occurs in less than a month?
Boro confirm Randolph deal
EFL Championship side Middlesbrough have announced the signing of our Republic of Ireland international keeper Darren Randolph. The deal comes in the light of our recent signing of England keeper Joe Hart from Manchester City, with the 30-year-old not wanting to play second or third fiddle to the first-team keeper. Randolph’s move to The North-East was confirmed to be in the region of £5 million and was announced on Friday night, but with the shot-stopper only being unveiled yesterday. The former Charlton Athletic man was signed by Slaven Bilic in summer 2015, only making a handful of appearances in his first season in East-London. However, the Irishman enjoyed his biggest run as first team number one mid-way through last season and put in some superb performances, but a string of mistakes saw him dropped for Adrian San-Miguel in April. The EURO 2016 star’s final appearance in a West Ham shirt came in Thursday’s 2-1 victory over Fulham in Austria, before he made the trip back to England to agree personal terms at The Riverside. So, with Randolph out of the equation, Hart and Adrian are set for a feisty battle for the number one spot next season.
Hammers depart Austria for Germany
Slaven Bilic and his squad concluded the tour of Austria on Friday, before heading East to Deutschland for the second leg of pre-season. We enjoyed a draw and a victory during our time in Austria, against Sturm Graz ll and Fulham respectively. However, we will face much sterner opposition in Germany and Iceland, with friendlies scheduled against Altona 93 and Manchester City. Sandwiched in between, we will face off with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen in the two-legged Betway Cup, the first leg being in Schneverdingen and the second in Lohne. So, how will we fare in the rest of our pre-season endeavours?
Hammers announce Arnautovic signing
After a long and agonising wait for Hammers up and down the land, the signing of Stoke City winger Marko Arnautovic was finally unveiled yesterday. The announcement was made modern by the club, as camera-fitted glasses followed the Austria international while he underwent his medical at Spire Roding Hospital. The fee of £23 million makes Arnautovic a club-record signing, as he surpasses the £20 million that we paid for fellow attacker Andre Ayew last summer. The former Inter Milan man has notched over 20 goals in over 100 appearances for The Potters and possesses a fast, physical and attacking style of play. Arnautovic is also expected to soon join up with Slaven Bilic and the boys in Germany and could make his Claret & Blue debut against former club Werder Bremen in The Betway Cup later this month.