Vodaphone Stadium?
It has been rumoured this week in The Daily Mail that we are set to announce a six-year contract for the naming rights of The London Stadium with telecommunications company Vodaphone. The London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) are said to be in advanced talks with the broadband and internet provider over the multi-million-pound deal, however an announcement isn’t expected until May.
The naming rights for the stadium have previously been linked with companies like supermarket giant Tesco, but now it looks to be heading to Vodaphone with the club being entitled to 50 percent of the proceeds. Vodaphone also sponsor the new Stadium of Slaven Bilic’s former club, Turkish side Besiktas, the Vodaphone Arena opened in April 2016 and holds 41,000 people. So, with Vodaphone set to add The London Stadium to their impressive repertoire of stadia, Hammers fans will be hoping the new sponsor brings better luck with results at home.
Transfer gossip: Hammers eye City defensive duo
It has been reported this week by Sky Sports that we are interested in a summer move for Manchester City defenders Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna. Both Zabaleta and Sagna are out of contract in the summer and it is being rumoured that the two veterans will not be offered new deals at the club.
Zabaleta has been played in many different positions by Pep Guardiola this season, including right back, centre back and central midfield. The Argentine has helped City to two Premier League titles during his time in Manchester and has even captained his side a number of times this season in Vincent Kompany’s absence, but the 33-year-old’s time at the club does seem to be drawing to a close.
Bacary Sagna has played 24 times in all competitions this season for City, but has struggled to impress in Guardiola’s wing backs system. The 34-year-old is said to be the man who could solve our right back crisis, four midfielders have been played in the position this season as injury has struck our two conventional right backs in Sam Byram and Alvaro Arbeloa. So could the veterans be the answer to our on-going defensive issues?
Antonio to be offered new deal
It has been rumoured this week in The Mirror that our top goal scorer Michail Antonio will be offered a new deal which will see his wages rise up to a reported £80,000 per week. The Englishman has enjoyed another fantastic season in Claret and Blue which has seen him get called up to the England squad numerous times, however he is still yet to be capped, pulling out of Gareth Southgate’s latest 3 Lions squad with a hamstring injury. Antonio has scored 18 goals in 67 appearances, since joining from Nottingham Forest for £7 million in summer 2015. A new long-term deal could be key in securing the crucial player’s long-term future in Claret and Blue.
Cresswell injury extent revealed
The true extent of Aaron Cresswell’s knock which he sustained in last Saturday’s 2-1 defeat to Hull City has been revealed by Slaven Bilic in his pre-Arsenal press conference. Bilic said “Cresswell is out. He will miss the next couple of games and will return to training next week”. The 27-year-old missed the start of the season with an injury from pre-season, not returning until October and now having missed last night’s trip to the Emirates, Cresswell will not be involved in Saturday’s key Premier League tie with Swansea City. Arthur Masuaku will get the chance to step up in the Englishman’s absence as we continue our struggle for Premier League survival.
On This Day – 1996
We drew 1-1 with Wimbledon at Upton Park with a side that included current 1st team manager Slaven Bilic and 1st team coach Julian Dicks. Dicks opened the scoring on 7 minutes before Vinnie Jones equalised for the Wombles just four minutes later. The game would finish 1-1 as we gained a point that afternoon on our way to a 10th place FA Premier League finish under Harry Redknapp.