Ambitious West Ham in bid for McCarthy

By Brenz
July 6 2005

South African striker Benni McCarthy has been linked with a move to newly promoted Premiership side West Ham United. According to The Independent, the Hammers are set to table a £6m bid for the Porto striker after their £6m bid for Southampton’s Peter Crouch was turned down this week.

Although Blackburn and Bolton were said to be interested in the South African, they were unable to meet the £6m buy out clause for the 27 year old forward.

Blackburn made a £4m offer for McCarthy, but this was turned down by Porto, who are now looking to hold on to their top scorer following new coach Co Adriaanse’s admission of his admiration for the striker and the losing of Brazilian striker Luis Fabiano. Adriaanse was Head of Development at Ajax Amsterdam during McCarthy’s spell at the club in 1997.

West Ham manager Alan Pardew is looking for a top quality striker to partner first choice Bobby Zamora up front, and with the London club having a £7m bid for Strasbourg's Mamadou Niang rejected, they can afford to meet McCarthy’s buy clause, hence making the South African’s dream of playing in the English Premiership become a reality.