West Ham must sell players to fund £12.5m deal for striker Loic Remy

In demand: Hammers target Loic Remy says two other Premier League sides are interested in signing him
11 April 2012

West Ham's hopes of signing French striker Loic Remy from Nice look doomed unless they can sell at least two players to help fund the deal.

Remy, who made a flying visit to England yesterday to talk to Stoke, has said that he has two more Premier League clubs to meet before he makes a decision on a £12.5million move.

West Ham have been tracking Remy for several weeks but the Upton Park club, who have been busy in the transfer marker this summer, must move on some of their squad if they are to make a firm offer.

A main stumbling block for West Ham is that Nice are demanding £7.5m of the £12.5m transfer fee in the first 12 months and the East London club, who are rumoured still to be more than £90m in debt, are in no position to pay out that sort of money up front.

There had been speculation that Stoke were poised to offer around £9m for Carlton Cole but West Ham's Premier League rivals have denied any interest, while Cole himself is reluctant to move north.

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has already confirmed that he is open to offers for every player with the exception of Scott Parker.

England defender Matthew Upson plus midfield pair Valon Behrami and Alessandro Diamanti have already been linked with moves away from Upton Park.

The club, who play Spanish side Deportivo La Coruna in their final pre-season friendly at Upton Park tomorrow, brought their summer signings total to five today, when they confirmed the arrival of New Zealand international defender Winston Reid for £4m.

The 22-year-old, who can play either in the centre of defence or at right-back, has joined West Ham on a three-year deal from Danish Premier League club FC Midtjylland.

Reid, born in New Zealand of Maori heritage, moved to Denmark at the age of 10 and is a product of the country's impressive youth academy.
He played international football at Under-19 and Under-21 level for Denmark but then switched to New Zealand earlier this year.

Reid played in all of the Kiwis' group matches in the World Cup and scored the equaliser in the 1-1 draw against Slovakia.

"My dream has been to come and play in the Premier League and I am happy I am a West Ham player," he said.

"The club have a great history and the league is one of the best in the world. I am looking forward to the challenge ahead."

West Ham are also rumoured to be closing in on a loan deal to take Serbian forward Miralam Sulejmani from Dutch club Ajax.

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