OMEN
01-19-2009, 03:50 PM
West Ham United have accepted a bid from Manchester City for striker Craig Bellamy.
The Wales striker has been given permission to speak to City boss Mark Hughes after the Blues' bid was accepted, with an equal offer from Tottenham Hotspur turned down.
Bellamy, 29, demanded a transfer to Spurs on Friday but his club were unwilling to sell to their rivals and also had private concerns over how their striker's head was turned.
The Hammers received bids of around €15m for their Wales international but only City's offer was accepted and Bellamy is now expected to complete a medical.
Bellamy was left out of the Hammers squad which defeated Fulham on Sunday, with manager Gianfranco Zola stating the player was 'not in the right frame of mind'.
Bellamy was offered a fresh contract last week in a bid to keep him at Upton Park but he turned the deal down.
Hammers fans turned on Bellamy during the 3-1 victory over Fulham, while Spurs fans also used internet forums to protest against signing the striker.
City have already had three separate bids for Bellamy turned down, and it was thought the much-travelled striker would have preferred to join Spurs.
And, with the Hammers refusing to do business with their London rivals, it appears Bellamy has accepted the lure of life at Eastlands.
Redknapp could still sign Wilson Palacios from Wigan Athletic, with suggestions that City would drop their interest in the Honduras midfielder after a breakthrough with Bellamy.
Hughes knows Bellamy well, both with Wales and at Blackburn Rovers, and has never had a problem with the player's temperament.
It is not expected there will be any problem with the player's medical, and personal terms should be a formality too, given the amount of money City have at their disposal.
It seems that Bellamy will not be the only new arrival at City this week, either, as Holland midfielder Nigel de Jong should complete his big-money move from Hamburg.
Both men are expected to be in Hughes' squad for the 28 January meeting with Newcastle United.
RTE
The Wales striker has been given permission to speak to City boss Mark Hughes after the Blues' bid was accepted, with an equal offer from Tottenham Hotspur turned down.
Bellamy, 29, demanded a transfer to Spurs on Friday but his club were unwilling to sell to their rivals and also had private concerns over how their striker's head was turned.
The Hammers received bids of around €15m for their Wales international but only City's offer was accepted and Bellamy is now expected to complete a medical.
Bellamy was left out of the Hammers squad which defeated Fulham on Sunday, with manager Gianfranco Zola stating the player was 'not in the right frame of mind'.
Bellamy was offered a fresh contract last week in a bid to keep him at Upton Park but he turned the deal down.
Hammers fans turned on Bellamy during the 3-1 victory over Fulham, while Spurs fans also used internet forums to protest against signing the striker.
City have already had three separate bids for Bellamy turned down, and it was thought the much-travelled striker would have preferred to join Spurs.
And, with the Hammers refusing to do business with their London rivals, it appears Bellamy has accepted the lure of life at Eastlands.
Redknapp could still sign Wilson Palacios from Wigan Athletic, with suggestions that City would drop their interest in the Honduras midfielder after a breakthrough with Bellamy.
Hughes knows Bellamy well, both with Wales and at Blackburn Rovers, and has never had a problem with the player's temperament.
It is not expected there will be any problem with the player's medical, and personal terms should be a formality too, given the amount of money City have at their disposal.
It seems that Bellamy will not be the only new arrival at City this week, either, as Holland midfielder Nigel de Jong should complete his big-money move from Hamburg.
Both men are expected to be in Hughes' squad for the 28 January meeting with Newcastle United.
RTE