The Indie:
What seemed like the transfer coup of the decade took on a more prosaic appearance yesterday as it was revealed that Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were hawked around several clubs before being offloaded to West Ham United at the 11th hour because they were the only club to agree to a raft of unusual conditions.
Media Sports Investment, the company that owns the players and has control over their destinies, initially wanted to sell both in the wake of the World Cup for a substantial profit on the $35m combined (then around £20m) they paid for the pair in 2004. Then, both players moved from Argentina to Corinthians in Brazil, a club controlled by MSI.
But this summer several big European clubs, including Manchester United, baulked at the price for one or both of the players. David Gill, the United chief executive, confirmed that yesterday. Arsenal, Chelsea, Seville and Roma were also reportedly among those not interested.
Instead MSI was left desperately seeking a club that would act as a "surrogate mother" for the players, on several conditions, including a contractual obligation to play them in every match, and a contractual obligation to let them be sold for profits - for MSI to pocket - at a time of MSI's choosing. Portsmouth were unwilling to take the players under such conditions, and neither were Manchester United willing to take Mascherano as part of such a deal. Gill said United were never interested in Tevez.
So while West Ham acquired two of Argentina's World Cup stars, both aged 22, on transfer deadline day, the way they will deploy them is being dictated by forces outside the club. On the plus side, West Ham reportedly paid nothing for the pair in fees, and will need to pay only half their wages, of £1.5m per year for Tevez and £1m for Mascherano.
In a bizarre twist to the saga, the man behind their move to West Ham, Kia Joorabchian, claimed in an interview with the News of the World that West Ham can become bigger than Chelsea "in the very near future". West Ham have confirmed exploratory talks about a takeover are under way with an unknown bidder with anonymous backers, believed to be Joorabchian. Joorabchian said: "When you see two players like that joining West Ham then there is no doubt in my mind the club can become massive."
The Sun:
Russian billionaire Badri Patarkatsishvili revealed last night he fancies investing in West Ham.
The Georgian, who made his fortune working for exiled Boris Berezovsky, has revealed he and Berezovsky had invested in Brazilians Corinthians and were now thinking of doing so with the Hammers.
He said: "I have a couple of football investments with friends that I am reluctant to mention. I think money has a wonderful habit of flowing where it feels comfortable."
Corinthians is supposedly owned by MSI, the company ready to take over at Upton Park for £100million.