Hammers get down to business in Austria
Slaven Bilic and his first-team have been getting down to work in our first tour of pre-season at The Bad Waltersdorf Training Camp as their fifth day in Austria dawns. The boys have been being put through their paces in fitness based drills in the first few stages of the tour and First-Team Coach Edin Terzic has had this to say about the start: “It’s very important to be together as a group again, to build a bond and prepare well for the friendly games”. The Croat was speaking to WHUFC.com, as the first friendly of the tour against a Sturm Graz B is scheduled for Monday. The boys have also had the time to complete a match and weight training on the pitch of the camp. Defensive duo Angelo Ogbonna and Sam Byram have been pictured taking ice baths under the blazing sun of a summer in Continental Europe. The camp is also located in the same place that we spent summer 2012 following our Play-Off Final victory over Blackpool. Monday’s tie will be followed by another tie against Championship side Fulham in seven days-time.
Gunners eye Quina
It has been rumoured this week by Sky Sports News HQ that our Premier League Rivals Arsenal are interested in a move for young Hammer Domingos Quina. The 17-year-old is currently at The European U19 Championship with Portugal, where he has impressed in helping his side progress from the group stages. However, the starlet has found first-team chances few and far between under Slaven Bilic, only making two Europa League appearances last pre-season. Despite this fact, Quina enjoyed a marvellous season with the U23’s where he was nominated for PL2 Player of the Season as his side gained promotion to The PL2 Division One via a Play-Off victory over Newcastle. The former Chelsea man also scored a Goal of the Season contender against The Foxes when he lobbed the keeper from almost inside his own half. Arsene Wenger reportedly tried to sign the youngster before his move to The London Stadium and is understood to be willing to battle hard to make the move happen now. So, will Domingos Quina be able to resist the lure of a move to The Emirates Stadium?
Transfer gossip: Hammers eye double loan swoop
It has also reported in the last few days by Sky Sports News HQ that we are ramping up our interest in a loan move for Manchester City keeper Joe Hart. The England number one spent last season on loan at Serie A side Torino, after being told by new manager Pep Guardiola that he is not part of his future plans. It is understood that Bilic made an effort to sign the 30-year-old last summer before he made his move to Italy. However, the shot stopper is known for being mistake prone and this was personified during EURO 2016 when Hart made two key errors against Wales and Iceland which led to England’s exit from the tournament and his own Citizens exit. Guardiola is rumoured to be willing to loan the keeper out, but the club are more likely to hold out for a permanent move in the near future. Could Hart prove to be the man to tighten up our defence next season?
It has been rumoured in the last few days by The Mirror that Gold and Sullivan are eyeing another loan move, this time for young Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa. The 20-year-old impressed for Brazil on their way to Olympic Gold at last summer’s games, which resulted in a subsequent £20 million move to Italian giants Inter Milan. However, the starlet is yet to start a Serie A game and is reportedly on the loan list to go out to an English club. The only stumbling block with the short-term deal could prove to be in Premier League regulations, Barbosa may find difficulty in obtaining a UK work permit required to play in England. So, could the exciting youngster get his move to The London Stadium over the line?