SEARCH FOR A STRIKER
Last updated : 29 December 2003 By Editor
The Mirror reports that our feeder club have turned down a
United attempt to take Viduka on loan for the remainder of
the season. Meanwhile West Ham boss Alan Pardew has
commented on the availability of Jermaine Defoe:
“If any player wants to go, it’s very difficult to stop him.
There is a strong financial element surrounding Jermain’s
position.
“With 18 months left on his current deal, we don’t want to
find ourselves losing him for a lot less money than he is
worth. We stole Harewood from Forest in those sort of
circumstances and if Jermain and his agent won’t put pen to
paper, then we will have to do some business.
“Jermain is a genuine talent and I hope he will be on the
England plane which flies to Euro 2004. He can achieve that
with West Ham United, as I keep telling him. He’s got a
great chance and — although, like 14 sides in the
Premiership, we know we are susceptible to the top clubs — I
hope he stays put. He knows I rate him extremely highly. But
beyond that, everything else is out of my control.”
