Bellamy - BBC

[DUFF]

West Ham close in on Bellamy deal
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer



Benitez looks set to offload Bellamy
West Ham have moved closer to signing Liverpool's Craig Bellamy after holding talks with the Wales striker.

BBC Sport understands Bellamy met West Ham officials on Thursday and will agree a £70,000-a-week contract.

Liverpool and West Ham will now hold fresh negotiations about a fee after an initial £7m bid was turned down.

Bellamy, 28, is rated at £8m, and a swap with West Ham's Yossi Benayoun has stalled over Liverpool's valuation of the Israel midfield star.

West Ham would be happy to do a straight exchange between the two players, but Liverpool believe Benayoun is only rated at around £3.5m.

Bellamy has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield following boss Rafael Benitez's summer signings of Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin.

He would help to plug any gap at Upton Park left by the possible departure of Argentine international Carlos Tevez to Manchester United.

The Wales captain joined Liverpool from Blackburn for £6m in June 2006.

After starting his career with Norwich City, he has also had stints with Coventry City, Newcastle United, plus a loan spell at Celtic.

Bellamy scored nine goals in 42 appearances for the Reds.

We have some names. We are especially looking for wingers

Reds boss Rafael Benitez

But the addition of £20m signing Torres this week means Liverpool have five senior strikers on their books - with Bellamy, Peter Crouch, Dirk Kuyt and fellow new-boy Voronin making up the total.

Asked, at the unveiling of Torres, if he was happy the player was at the club and part of his plans, Benitez said: "Are you talking about Torres?"

Told Bellamy was the subject, he said: "I'm really happy with Torres here."

He added: "We have some clubs asking about Bellamy and it's a possibility.

"He knows my idea. He is our player at the moment and we will see what happens in the future.

"It is clear we have new players here and then it could be more difficult for some of the players.

"The only thing I can say is that Crouch will be staying with us. I have said to Crouch that he must fight for his position and he will stay with us."

Striker Djibril Cisse is already close to the exit door as he is set to be sold to Marseille after a spell on loan at the French club.

Benitez played down a move for Manchester United left-back Gabriel Heinze and instead insisted he was trying to sign new wingers.

The Reds boss believes he needs to add to the signing of Torres to help his side challenge for the Premier League title.

"It is clear we need to improve to be contenders. You will ask if we can fight for the title with Torres. I think we need something more," he stated.

"It is clear we will improve with Fernando but if we can find other players good enough I think we will have better balance.

"When you talk about the Premier League you talk about nine months and you need a big squad.

"We have some names. We are especially looking for wingers."

[23 Carra Gold]

Adios for 8m and Benayoun

[Sweeney287]

"West Ham would be happy to do a straight exchange between the two players"

I bet they fucking would!!!